Alsace Flashcards
When did Alsace receive its AOC status?
1962
Name the major wine growing regions of Alsace.
- Haut-Rhin
- Bas-Rhin.
Which mountain range is present in Alsace?
Vosges Mountains
Which river flows through Alsace?
River Rhein.
Name the major villages of Bas Rhin.
- Marlenheim
- Wangen
- Wolxheim
- Heiligenstein
- Barr
- Mittelbergheim
- Andlau
- Dambach-la-Ville
Name the major villages of Haut Rhin.
- Bergheim
- Ribeauville
- Riquewihr
- Bennwihr
- Kayserberg
- Wintzenheim
- Wettolsheim
- Eguisheim
- Rouffach
- Orschwihr
- Guebwiller
- Berrwiller
- Thann
What is the soil profile of Alsace?
The land is a geologic mosaic, with granite, limestone, schist, clay, gravel, chalk, loess, and a local pink sandstone.
What is the name for the pink limestone in Alsace?
Grés de Vosges.
How does the soil in Alsace vary as per the vineyard location?
- Steeper mountain slopes - schist, granite, and volcanic sediment.
- Lower slopes - limestone base.
- Plains - richer alluvial clay and gravel soils.
Name the “noble” grapes of Alsace.
- Riesling
- Pinot Gris
- Muscat (Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains, Muscat Rosé à Petits Grains, or Muscat Ottonel)
- Gewurztraminer.
Which grapes other than the “noble” grapes are allowed in Alsace AOP?
- Pinot Blanc (Klevner)
- Chasselas (Gutedel)
- Sylvaner
- Pinot Noir.
If a wine label says “Pinot” in Alsace, what grapes are used?
- Pinot Noir
- Pinot Blanc
- Pinot Gris
- Auxerrois.
What is the grape for Klevener de Heiligenstein?
Klevener aka Traminer (Savagnin Rose).
Which communes can bottle Klevener de Heiligenstein?
- Heiligenstein
- Bourgheim
- Gertwiller
- Goxwiller
- Obernai.
What does “Edelzwicker” mean?
Edelzwicker, meaning “noble mixture,” usually indicates its own inverse: an inexpensive blended wine.
What does “Gentil” mean?
- The unofficial term gentil is a superior designation for blends that contain a minimum of 50% noble grapes.
- Any other Alsace AOP grape may compose the remainder, and the base wines must be vinified separately.
What is the min. alcohol % for Alsace Grand Cru?
- Riesling & Muscat - 11% ABV
- Gewurztraminer & Pinot Gris - 12.5% ABV.
Which was the 1st Grand Cru in Alsace?
Schlossberg - 1975.
Which is the latest Grand Cru in Alsace?
Kaefferkopf - 2007.
Name the Grand Cru’s which allow blending.
- Altenberg de Bergheim - Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Noir & Muscat.
- Kaefferkopf - Gewurztraminer, Riesling, Pinot Gris & Muscat.
What are the grapes for Zotzenberg Grand Cru?
- Riesling
- Gewurztraminer
- Pinot Gris
- Sylvaner (instead of Muscat).
When was Vendanges Tardives and Sélections de Grains Nobles introduced?
1984.
What is the sweetness levels for VT & SGN wines?
VT and SGN wines are not obligated by statute to be sweet; in practice, SGN wines are always dessert-like, but VT wines may vary in actual sugar and can be quite dry.
What is minimum sugar level for grapes at harvest for VT wines?
- Muscat and Riesling - 244 gms/L
- Pinot Gris and Gewurztraminer - 270 gms/L.
What is minimum sugar level for grapes at harvest for SGN wines?
- Muscat and Riesling - 276 gms/L
- Pinot Gris and Gewurztraminer - 306 gms/L.
Which is the only permitted red grape in Alsace?
- Pinot Noir.
Chardonnay is allowed in which AOP in Alsace?
- Crémant d’Alsace AOP.
What are the permitted varietals in Crémant d’Alsace?
- Auxerrios
- Pinot Blanc
- Pinot Gris
- Pinot Noir (Rose)
- Riesling
- Chardonnay
Where is Côtes de Toul AOP?
Lorraine neighbouring Alsace.
What are the grapes for Côtes de Toul AOP?
Red - Pinot Noir
White - Auxerrois and Aubin
Rosé (vin gris) - Gamay and Pinot Noir.
What are the grapes for Moselle AOP?
- Auxerrois and Pinot Noir.
Which river forms a border between Luxemburg and Germany?
- River Moselle.
Name the Pinot Noir producing villages of Alsace.
Bas Rhein
- Marlenheim
- Ottrott
- St. Leonard
- Boersch
Haut Rhein
- St. Hippolyte
- Rodern
Who produces ‘Clos Sainte Hune’? Which Grand Cru?
Trimbach - Rosacker Grand Cru - Hunawihr - Riesling.
Cuvée Frédéric Emile is a blend of which Grand Cru sites?
A blend of Geisberg and Osterberg Grand Crus. Named for Frédéric Emile, who is known for providing a new guarantee of quality and authenticity for Trimbach in 1898.
Where is Trimbach located?
Haut-Rhin - Ribeauvillé
Who produces ‘Clos Saint Urbain’? Which Grand Cru?
Zind-Humbrecht - Rangen Grand Cru - Riesling
Which grape varieties are planted in the Rangen Grand Cru?
Grand Cru Rangen de Thann: acquired in 1977, including the steep, south-facing 5.5-ha Clos Saint Urbain on sedimentary volcanic soil; planted to 2.7 ha Pinot Gris, 2.3 ha Riesling, 0.5 ha Gewurztraminer.
Where is Zind-Humbrecht located?
Haut-Rhin- Turckheim.
Name the Alsace Grand Crus which permit Pinot Noir.
- Alsace Grand Cru Hengst - Haut Rhine
- Alsace Grand Cru Kirchberg de Barr - Bas Rhin
What is the minimum alcohol % for Alsace Grand Cru Rouge?
- Alsace Grand Cru Hengst - 12.5% abv
- Alsace Grand Cru Kirchberg de Barr - 12% abv
What standards does the Alsace Grand Cru Rouge must adhere to?
- They must undergo malolactic fermentation (maximum allowed malic acid content is 0.4 grams per liter)
- They must be dry (maximum allowed level of fermentable sugars is 2 grams per liter)
- They must be aged until (at least) October 1 of the year following the harvest
- As is true of all Alsace Grand Cru AOC wines, they must vintage-dated and packaged in the traditional Flûte d’Alsace bottle
Name the 13 Alsace Communal AC villages.
- Bergheim - Gewurztraminer
- Rodern - Pinot Noir
- Blienschwiller - Sylvaner
- Saint Hippolyte - Pinot Noir
- Coteaux de Haut Koenigsbourg - Riesling & Gewurztraminer
- Scherwiller - Riesling
- Côtes de Barr - Sylvaner
- Vallée Noble - Riesling, PG, Gewurztraminer
- Côte de Rouffach - Riesling, PG, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Noir
- Val Saint Grégoire - Pinot Blanc, Auxerois, PG
- Klevener de Heiligenstein - Savagnin Rose
- Wolxheim - Riesling
- Ottrott - Pinot Noir
