alsace Flashcards
what kind of climat does alsace have ?
1) it has a cool to moderate continental climate
2) the Vosges mountains shelter the vineyards from the prevailing westerly rain- bearing (winden die regen meedragen)
3) the lack of clouds results in sunny summers and dry autumns
the climat conditions of alsace ensure that the grape can achieve high levels of sugar ripeness, although in the driest years drought can be a problem
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what about aspect ?
1) the best vineyards are located on the steepest slopes, with east and south east aspects
2) the more northernly part of the vineyard area has the coolest climate and the least protection of the vosgues
3) the lesser vineyards are laying in the plain (vlakte) between the vosges mountain foot and the Rhine
4) there is a great variety of soils in the vineyards that lie on the foothills of the vosges
grape growing practices vary depending on whether the vineyards are on a slope or on the plain:
1) on the slopes: the vines are trained low to benefit from the radiated heat, and the rows oriented to maximise the vines exposure to the sun, and harvest is done by hand
2) on the plains vines are trained high because of the ris of frost
—- organic and biodynamic argiculture is widely practiced, cause of the sunny and dry conditions
many growers needs to harvest a long time, because the varieties ripen at different times. the vintage may be spread over a quite long period.
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what are the noble varieties of alsace and why are they the noble varieties ?
1) Riesling
2) gewurztraminer
3) pinot gris
4) muscat
- – they are the only grapes that can be used for VT( vendenges tardivees) grand cru and sgn (selection de grains noble
what are gentil and edelzwicker ?
The vast majority of alsatian wines are made from a single grape variety.
blended wines tend to be inexpensive so they mix them and call them gentil or edelzwicker. sometimes there could be a blend of grand cru vineyards. but high quality is very rare
how are the most alsatian wines made ?
Alsace grape varieties are most aromatic varieties:
1) focus on retaining the aromas and flavours of the grape
2) traditional producers ferment their wine in 100 year old wooden barrels, there is an tartrate deposit which prevents the wood to from having any influence on the wine
—- modern cellars: stainless steel vessels
3) mlf is mostly not used
4) bottling is mostly in the spring following the vintage and are mostly all on drunk
— but there are much wines who can age long
!! now there are a lot of Grand crus and other wines that have a note of sweetness this is a problem because there is no indication for the consumer
5) VT wines can vary from dry to med sweet without indication on bottle
6) SGN: always sweet
how is a high quality riesling from alsace ?
1) med to full bodied
2) dry with medium alcohol
3) high acidity
4) displays aromas of citrus and stonefruit and a pronounced stony / steely character
how is a gewurztraminer from alsace ?
1) spicy nose: lychees, roses and sweet baking spices
2) the skin of the grape has a light pink tinge (tint) givin a golden colour to some wines
3) they tend to be full bodied with a richy oily texture, low to med acidity and high alc wines of 14°c abv arent uncommon
What about pinot gris?
1) the best pinot gris are rich, full bodied and high in alc
— mostly with more acidity than gewurztraminer
theyre less aromatic, but can give a similar colour
2) on the palate they can be richly textured and have a pronounced flavour intensity with fresh and dried fruits and a honeyed character
Aaand muscat ?
there are 2 forms of muscat in alsace:
1) muscat blanc a petit grains:
- - intensely aromatic with flavours of orange blossom, rose and grape
- - light to med body and low to med acidity
- —- unfortunately Muscat a petit grains is prone (gevoelig) to fruit set and rot
2) thats why the less aromatic muscat ottonel is more widely planted because he can be relied on te crop (betrouwbaarder voor meer oogst)
Pinot blanc:
he’s widely planted, but more on the fertile soils of the plain
- hes grown for the production of sparkling wines
- – still wine: generally light and refreshing
what are other grape varieties in alsace:
1) auxerrois: light and little spicy
2) sylvaner: it can give wines with delicat perfume but way less than gewurztraminer
3) pinot noir as black grape: light, fresh fruity red or rosé
aop’s:
1) Alsace: vast majority of the regions production , mostly from 1 variety, the wine needs to be 100 % from that variety
2) Alsace grand cru: 50 vineyards with grand cru status, they need to be from one of the noble grape varieties
3) Vendanges Tardives: noble varieties and they need to have a certain level of sugar ripeness. the best will have undergone passerillage.
4) Selection de grains nobles: four noble varieties, min sugar higher than VT and are usually achieved by noble rot
