Alsace: Grapes Allowed Flashcards
What are the four noble grapes of Alsace?
The four “noble” grapes of Alsace—Riesling, Pinot Gris, Muscat (Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains, Muscat Rosé à Petits Grains, or Muscat Ottonel), and Gewurztraminer—occupy the premier sites and are, with minor exceptions, the only grapes planted in the region’s grand cru vineyards.
What grapes does Alsace AOP allow to be bottled varietally?
Alsace AOP (or Vin d’Alsace AOP), allows the aforementioned noble grapes, Pinot Blanc (Klevner), Chasselas (Gutedel), Sylvaner, and Pinot Noir to be bottled varietally.
What grapes does Alsace AOP allow to be bottled as a blend?
Alsace wines generally state the grape on the label. With the exception of Pinot Blanc, which is often blended with the similar but not synonymous Auxerrois, all varietally labeled Alsace AOP wines must contain 100% of the printed grape.
If a wine is labeled Pinot what grape varieties are allowed in the blend?
White wines simply labeled “Pinot,” on the other hand, may contain any proportion of related varieties—Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, and Auxerrois.
If a wine is labeled Pinot Blanc what grape varieties are allowed?
Pinot Blanc, is often blended with the similar but not synonymous Auxerrois.
What communes allow Klevener (a pink berried variant of Traminer aka known as Savagnin in Jura) to be bottled varietally?
Five communes may bottle this wine varietally under the existing Alsace AOP: Heiligenstein itself, Bourgheim, Gertwiller, Goxwiller, and Obernai.
aka Savagnin Rose, or Klevener de Heiligenstein.
What grapes are allowed in a bottled labeled Edelzwicker?
An Alsatian wine may be a blend. The term Edelzwicker, meaning “noble mixture,” usually indicates its own inverse: an inexpensive blended wine. Alsace AOP wines labeled Edelzwicker do not need to be vintage-dated, nor are they even legally obligated to contain more than one grape. In practice, however, they are blends and do not need to indicate any percentages or grapes on the label.
What does the term Gentil imply?
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 producer is known for advocating field blends?
Finally, some producers advocate field blends as the best approach for serious wines. In this case, the grapes are typically vinified together and produced under a vineyard name. Marcel Deiss is one of the staunchest advocates of using this approach as a means of emphasizing Alsatian terroir.
What grape(s) make for the largest volume of appellation produced?
When considered collectively, Pinot Blanc and Auxerrois represent the largest volume of appellation production.
In Alsace Pinot Blanc is also known as?
Klevner
In Alsace Klevener is also known as?
Another pink variant of Traminer (known as Savagnin in the Jura) retains a few plantings around the commune of Heiligenstein in the Bas-Rhin; the grape is known locally as Klevener. This Savagnin Rose, or Klevener de Heiligenstein, is less intensely aromatic than Gewurztraminer but higher in acidity.
In Alsace Chasselas is also known as?
Gutedel
In the neighboring Lorraine region what are the grapes used for making red, white and rose wines?
Blanc: Auxerrois and Aubin
Vin Gris:
Principal Varieties: (85% Individual Max., both required) Gamay, min. 10% Pinot Noir
Accessory Varieties: Max. 15% combined Pinot Meunier, Aubin, and Auxerrois
Rouge: 100% Pinot Noir
In the neighboring Moselle region what are the grapes used for making red, white and rose wines?
Varietally labelled Müller-Thurgau and Pinot Gris.
Red/White/Rose: Principally from Auxerrois and Pinot Noir
