Alsace Flashcards
Why did Hugel et Fils change their name to Hugel UND Söhne?
Because Germany took over France in World War 2 and everything was renamed.
Location of Alsace?
Lies between 47° & 49° North parallel
120 km in length
5.8 km in width
Vine plantings of Alsace?
Vine production: 21,200 ha
Vines planted: 198-396 m
Facing South & Southeast
Climate of Alsace?
Continental climate. Hot summers, cold winter’s.
Vosges mountains provide rainshadow effect.
Lowest rainfall in France: 15.5-19.5 inches/year
1800 hours of sunshine
What is a graben?
A grave like trench whose vertical uplifts.
Alsace on one side.
Baden on one side.
Rhine river flows through the center.
Soils of Alsace?
Granite Schist Limestone Gneiss Sandstone Marl Sand Loess Loam
Laws for Crémant de Alsace?
Aging
Dosage
Wines are aged for 9 months of lees.
Additional 3 months in cellar before release.
Extra Brut: No dosage Brut: <1.2% RS Extra Sec: 1.2 - 1.7% RS Sec: 1.7 - 3.2% RS Demi Sec: 3.2 - 5% RS
Which is France’s first biodynamic producer?
Where is it located?
Eugene Meyer
Alsace
AOC approved yields for Alsace AOC and Grand Cru AOC?
Alsace AOC: 4.8 tons/acre (highest in France)
Grand Cru: 3.3 tons/acre
Which year did the following receive an AOC status?
Alsace
Crémant
Grand Cru
Alsace: 1962
Grand Cru: 1975
Crémant d’Alsace: 1976
How many AOC’s in Alsace?
51 Grand Cru
+
Alsace AOC: Communal & lieu-dit
Labelling laws for
Pinot Blanc
Pinot d’Alsace
Klevner
If labelled,
Pinot Blanc: 100% Pinot Blanc or 100% Auxerrois Blanc or a blend of both.
Pinot d’Alsace/Klevner: can contain Auxerrois Blanc, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris
No maximum or minimum required
Can be produced 100% but usually is a blend of several varieties.
Difference between Gentil & Edelzwicker?
Gentil:
Must contain minimum 50% of 4 noble variety and/or 50% of Sylvaner, Chasselas and/or Pinot Blanc.
NOT AN AOC.
Edelzwicker:
A blend of any grape allowed in Alsace AOC.
No vintage on the label
NOT AN AOC
Blending laws for Altenberg de Bergheim?
Altenberg de Bergheim:
Can be a single variety or blend of Gewurztraminer, Riesling or Pinot Gris.
If a blend at least 50% Riesling
+
no more than 10% each of Gewurztraminer or Pinot Gris, +
no more than 10% each Chasselas, Muscat Ottonel, Muscat à Petits Grains Blanc, Pinot Blanc & Pinot Noir IN SUM.
Blending laws of Kaefferkopf?
Can be a single variety or a blend of Riesling, Pinot Gris or Gewurztraminer.
If a blend, At least 60-80% Gewurztraminer 10-40% Riesling No more than 30% Pinot Gris. No more than 10% blend of Muscat Ottonel, Muscat à Petits Grains Blanc, Muscat à Petits Grains Roses, IN SUM.
What is the difference between Klevner and Klevener?
Klevner is Pinot Blanc, a genetic mutation of Pinot Gris.
Klevener is Savagnin Rose, a secondary grape in Alsace.
On which bottles of Alsace wine is vintage labeling optional?
Edelzwicker
What are four German influences on Alsace wines?
Varietal labelling
Flute bottle
Riesling
German phonics
T or F? Grass may be planted between rows of vines to increase grape yields.
False.
Grass is planted to decrease yields (because grass competes with the vines for nutrients).
T or F? Wines in Alsace may be designated AOC, IGP or Vin sans IG.
False.
All wines in Alsace are AOC. in 2011, the number of AOCs expanded from 3 to 53!
The Sylvaner grape, although grown in Alsace, is believed to be native to?
Austria
In which century did Alsace reach its peak of prosperity?
The sixteenth (Late Renaissance).
T or F? Machine harvesting is common in Alsace.
False.
Most vineyards are hand-harvested.
T or F? A wine labeled “Vendages Tardives” must be affected by noble rot.
False.
Noble rot is not a requirement for late harvest wines.
On an Alsatian bottle what can mean a blended product?
Pinot Blanc
Edelzwicker
Gentil
Crement d’Alsace
Which two Alsace Grand Crus can be blends?
Kaefferkopf
Altenberg de Bergheim
