Alsace Flashcards
Alsace
Alsace
Alsace climate
Warm, sunny, unusually dry continental climate due to protection of Vosges mountains
Westerly winds carry clouds but most of rain falls on western side of Vosges
- Eastern side (Alsace) has only 600mm (half of west)
- drought can be issue
- irrigation is not permitted for AOC
- dry harvest period, wet August
- high sunshine hours
Föhn wind
- drying influence
- raises temperature
- marked diurnal difference
Alsace topography
Best vineyards 200-250m (up to 450m)
- south, south-west exposure for max sunlight
- free draining, low fertility soils
Lower quality vineyards on floor by Rhine river
Wind warming up Alsace
Föhn
- drying influence
- raises temperature
Grape varieties in Alsace
Riesling Pinot Blanc Gequrztraminer Pinot Gris Pinot Noir Sylvaner
Riesling
cold-hardy, buds late
Needs long season and good site to fully ripen
- good quality on relatively high yields (70 hl/ha)
Good resistance to disease (downy, powdery, botrytis)
Medium to pronounced in aroma, unoaked and high in acidity
Alsace style is typically dry, medium to full body, medium alcohol, medium to high acidity, citrus (lemon, grapefruit) and stone fruit.
Pronounced stony/steely character
Gewurztraminer
Early budding, early ripening
Rapidly accumulates sugar
- in Alsace picked late to achieve fully ripe skins to maximise aroma and avoid bitterness.
Vigorous (needs careful pruning and canopy management)
Moderately productive due to coulure.
Can suffer from chlorosis and disiccation of the stems
Vulnerable to powdery mildew, grape vine moths, grey rot.
- Virus-free stock was produced by research stations in Alsace
Medium lemon colour, pronounced aroma of lychee, peach and apricot, rose and spice
Medium to high alcohol, medium to full body, low acidity
Dry to sweet in Alsace
Pinot Blanc
flavour profile
Light intensity of apple and peach, medium acidity and alcohol
Used for Cremant d’Alsace
Auxerrois
sometimes labelled Pinot Blanc
Early ripening, low aromatic with low acidity
Used for Cremant d’Alsace
Pinot Gris
early budding, early ripening
Moderate yields
Susceptible to botrytis and downy mildew
Accumulates high sugar levels leading to medium to high alcohol (and drop of acidity)
Medium intensity peach, apple, full body, med acidity
Best examples have rich oily texture and capacity to age and develop honeyed and smoky notes.
Full range of styles (dry to sweet)
Aromas Pinot Gris develops with age
Honey and smoke
Pinot Noir Alsace
+ producers
the only black grape allowed in AOC wines
Raising quality with both unoaked and oaked wines.
Domaine Mure and Domaine Albert Mann
Sylvaner
in decline.
Stock of old vines
2 types of Muscats in Alsace
Muscat Blanc a Petit Grains and Muscat Ottonel
Vineyard management
Single or double Guyot required by AOC
- typically traing high to reduce risk of frost and humidity and to maximase sunlight for grapes
- wide rows to avoid shading (4000 vines per ha)
- terracing on slopes if necessary
Reduced risk of fungal diseases due to wind.
15% of organic vineyards
Harvest
Long harvest period
AOC requires Grand Cru to be picked by hand
Winemaking
most wine from single varieties
Aim to preserve primary aroma
- pre-fermentation skin contact (or keeping grapes longer in press)
- extracting flavour and texture
- Cool ferment for Muscat, Riesling, Sylvaner
- Mid range for Gewurztraminer (higher sugar, higher alcohol and avoiding banana aroma)
- inert vessels (old large oak or steel)
- Preference of ambient yeast
- malo usually avoided
- very little new oak
- no lees stiring usually
Cellars are naturally cool enough
- temp control still used
Fermentation temperatures for Muscat, Riesling, Sylvaner and Gewurztraminer
Cool ferment for Muscat, Riesling, Sylvaner
Mid range for Gewurztraminer
- making sure yeast reliably ferment plentiful sugar in the grapes
- avoiding banana flavours
Sweetness levels of dry wines
Little consistency of RS
Number of proucers indicate sweetness on back label
Chaptalization
Allowed within EU rules
Max yield for white wine in Alsace AOC
80 hl/ha
Number of communes Alsace
13 communes whose names can appear on the label
What labelling terms can appear on label?
Commune name (13 communes)
Lieu-dit names
Grand cru
Vendage Tardive
Yield for wines labelled with commune name or lieu-dit
72 hl/ha commune
68 hl/ha lieu-dit
Max yield for Alsace Pinot Noir AOC
60 hl/ha
Grand cru wines max yield
55 hl/ha (in some cases 50 hl/ha)
Grand cru regulations
55 hl/ha (in some cases 50 hl/ha)
Single varietal wines from noble varieties
- Riesling, Muscat, Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer
- 3 vineyards are allowed to produce blends or Sylvaner
51 Grand Cru vineyards which can set their own rules
- few applied for authorization of Pinot Noir
Discussion of introducing a Premier Cru classification
Noble varieties
Riesling
Muscat
Pinot Gris
Gewurztraminer
allowed in Grand Cru wines
Which appellations can produce Vendage Tardive and Sélection de Grains Nobles
Both Alsace AOC and Grand crus
Vendage Tardive and Sélection de Grains Nobles regulations
only from noble varieties
High minimum sugar levels at harvest required
- Muscat or Riesling
- VT - 235 g/l, SGN - 276 g/l
- Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer
- VT - 257 g/l, SGN - 306 g/l
Vendage Tardive
- does not have to be botrytised
- does not have to be sweet
Sélection de Grains Nobles
- must be from botrytis affected grapes
- must be sweet
Minimum sugar levels at harvest for Sélection de Grains Nobles
Muscat or Riesling
- 276 g/l
Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer
- 306 g/l
Minimum sugar levels at harvest for Vendage Tardive
Muscat or Riesling
- 235 g/l
Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer
- 257 g/l
Alsace wine business
average vineyard holding 3.5 ha
Many growers sell to cooperatives or larger producers
- 40% cooperatives (quality wine reputation)
- Cave de Turckheim
Strong reputation for gastronomical wines
- 75% sold in France
- export - Belgium, Germany, Netherlands, North America
All AOC wine has to be sold in typical tall thin flute bottle
No bag in the box allowed
Notable for producers covering most styles
- 20-35 bottlings are normal
Hugel, Trimbach, Zind-Humbrecht
Alsace producers and cooperatives
Hugel, Trimbach, Zind-Humbrecht
Cooperative: Cave de Turckheim
Bottling requirements
All AOC wine has to be sold in typical tall thin flute bottle
No bag in the box allowed
