Alsace

Question 1

What makes the labelling of wine in Alsace unique ?

Answer 1

On most wines, grape variety is mentioned

Question 2

What wine styles are produced in Alsace ?

Answer 2

Dry to off-dry or sweet still aromatic white wines, and some red.

Question 3

What is the climate like in Alsace ?

Answer 3

Cool to moderate continental climate

Question 4

Which are the natural factors that influence the climate of Alsace and how is the impact on the grapes ?

Answer 4

The Vosges mountain shelter the region from the prevailing western rain-carrying winds

=> sunny summers and dry autumns

=> high level of sugar ripeness in grapes.

Question 5

Where are the best vineyards in Alsace located ?

Answer 5

On steep slopes facing southeast and eastwards on the foothills of the Vosges.

The most northernly part has the coolest climate and the least protection from the Vosges.

The lesser vineyards are located on the plain between the foothills of the Vosges and the Rhine.

Question 6

What is the dominating type of soil in Alsace ?

Answer 6

Soil types vary a lot

=> variety of styles of wine produced

=>small plots with different varieties

=>ripen at different times

=> vintage spread over a long period (mid sep to end of nov) (begin dec for VT and SGN)

=> difficult for growers.

Question 7

In which way do viticultural practices differ when on the slopes versus the plains in Alsace ?

Answer 7

Slopes: low training

=> benefit from heat, southeast (?)-orientation to maximise exposure to sun, hand-harvesting.

Plains: high training to minimise risk of spring frost.

Question 8

Which are the most important grape varieties grown in Alsace ?

Answer 8

Riesling

Gewurztraminer

Pinot Gris

Muscat

The “noble” varieties and the only ones that can be used for VT, SGN and grand cru wines.

Question 9

Most Alsatian wines are made from a single grape variety. How should a blended wine be labelled ?

Answer 9

Edelzwicker or Gentil (or the producer’s brand name)

Question 10

How are Alsatian varietal wines typically produced ?

Answer 10

• most of Alsace’s grape varieties are aromatic and production therefore aims at retaining the aromas and flavours of the grapes.
• Traditionally they are fermented in large old oak barrels (where tartrate deposits prevent the wine from influencing the wine)
• Modern fermentation on stainless steel
• MLF normally not
• Bottling usually the spring after the vintage - Wines ready to drink young and fresh (some may evolve further on bottle)

Question 11

How can you tell if a wine from Alsace is dry or sweet ?

Answer 11

Traditionally, the best wines were dry (with the exception of SGN and VT)

Recently, the grand cru level and others have been made with noticeable sweetness, but there is no official labelling scheme for sweetness.

VT can be from dry to medium sweet, but again, there is no official labelling to indicate this.

SGN is always sweet.

Question 12

Describe a quality Riesling from Alsace

Answer 12

Medium to fullbodied, dry with medium alcohol, high acidity and citrus and stone fruit aromas, often pronounced stoney/steely character.

Today with some residual sugar.

Not as floral as the German Riesling.

Question 13

What are the principal appellations for still wines from Alsace ?

Answer 13

Alsace and Alsace Grand Cru.

Vendanges Tardives and Sélection de Grains Nobles are also classifications, depending on the sugar ripeness of the grapes.

Both Alsace and Alsace Grand cru can apply to the two terms.

Question 14

What are the requirements in Alsace when featuring a grape variety on the label ?

Answer 14

100 % of the grapes must be of the named variety.

Question 15

How many vineyards are grand cru in Alsace ?

Answer 15

Over 50

Question 16

What are the requirements for labelling an alsace Grand cru wine ?

Answer 16

The label must state name of the vineyard vintage where appropriate, grape variety

Question 17

Describe, in short, what a VT is ?

Answer 17

Vendanges tardive made on one of the 4 noble varieties minimum requirement to sugar ripeness levels, depending on the grape variety the best: passerillage (drying on the vine ?) and maybe some influence of noble rot.

Question 18

What is a SGN ?

Answer 18

Sélection de Grains Nobles made on one of the 4 noble varieties minimum requirement to sugar ripeness levels, depending on the grape variety (higher than VT), usually achieved with noble rot. Not produced every year and only ever in small quantities.

Question 19

Describe a typical Gewürztraminer from Alsace

Answer 19

Pungent, aromatic, spice nose, hint of lychees, roses and sweet baking spices.

The skin has a light pink tinge => a golden colour to some of the wines.

Tend to be full-bodied with rich, oily texture, low to medium acidity and high alcohol: 14 % not uncommon.

Question 20

Describe a typical Pinot Gris from Alsace

Answer 20

The best are rich, full-bodied, high alcohol, often more acidity than Gewürztraminer, can have a similar golden colour, less aromatic.

Richly textured, pronounced flavour intensity with fresh and dried fruits and honeyed character.

Question 21

Describe a typical Muscat from Alsace

Answer 21

There is a number of grape varieties called Muscat, 2 of them are grown in Alsace.

The best wines are made from Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains, intensely aromatic with flavours of orange blossom, rose and grape.

Tend to have light to medium body, low to medium acidity.

Muscat Blanc à Petits grains often poor fruit set, or rot, => less aromatic.

Muscat Ottonel more widely planted, more robust, crops more regularly.

Question 22

Describe the typical Pinot Blanc from Alsace

Answer 22

Widely planted in the more fertile soils of the plains, for sparkling wines.

As a still wine, light, simple, refreshing, non-aromatic.

Question 23

What grape varieties are planted in Alsace apart from the 4 noble varieties ?

Answer 23

Auxerrois is similar, but slightly spicier and more full-bodied.

Sylvaner can give delicately perfumed wines with some richness, but far less than Gewürztraminer. Best drunk young.

Pinot Noir is the only black grape permitted in Alsace. Typically lighter and less concentrated than the Burgundian Pinot Noir, often light fruity red or rosé.