Alsace AOCs Flashcards
Alsace / Vin d’Alsace AOC
Wine styles: Dry White, Rose, Red Sweet White
Minimum Sweet: None
Grape Varieties:
White: [P] Riesling, Pinot Blanc, Sylvaner, Musct(s) [S] Auxerrois, Chasselas
Rose/Gris: [P] Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris [S] Savagnin Rose (Kleverner de Heiligenstein
Red: [P] Pinot Noir
Grapes for the Alsace AOC can hail from any vineyard in Alsace. The wines can be white, red, or rose, dry or sweet, a blend of varietal and may boast a special cuvee on the labal. They may also be crafted as Vendanges Tardives or Selection de Grains Nobles.
Alsace Grand Cru AOCs
Wine styles: Dry White, Sweet White
Minimum Sweet: None
Grape Varieties:
White: [P]Riesling, Muscat(s) [S] Sylvaner
Rose/Gris: [P]Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris
Each Grand Cru vineyard was given it’s own AOC in order to allow for self-governance (under the auspices of the INAO)
51 Grand Crus is but 6% of Alsace’s total production.
Like Bourgogne, the vineyards are ranked, not the producer; and just Bourgogne, there can be many producer farming one Grand Cru vineyard - and with varying degrees of talent.
Trimbach’s Close Sainte Hune, a monopole within the Grand Cru Rosacker, does not display Grand Cru Rosacker on theh front label.
Altenberg de Bergheim and Kaefferkof do NOT make single variety wines. The grape variety is not a mandatory requirement on any Grand Cru Label.
Sylvaner is permitted for 1 Grand Cru only: Zotzenberg but not limited to this variety.
Cremant d’Alsace AOC
Wine styles: Sparkling White, Sparkling Rose
Grape Varieties:
White: [P]Pinot Blanc, Auxerrois, Chardonnary, Riesling
Rose/Gris: [P]Pinot Gris
Red: [P] Pinot Noir
Cremant d’Alsace is on the rise and so is the number of vineyard dedicated to Pinot Blanc, a grape variety tht is used in many of the bottlings.
There are 500 producers making sparkling wine here in a tradition tht dates back to the 19th century. Must of what is produced is a blend. (Gewurztraminer is forbidden.)
Some bottles are 100% Chardonnay, Pinot Gris or Riesling. Blanc de Noirs and rose are both 100% Pinot Noir; the rose can be made via saignee or macaration.
