Alsace, Jura, and Savoie COPY

Question 1

If a wine is white and labeled Bugey “Manicle” what grape is used to produce it? What if it’s red?

Answer 1

100% Chardonnay if white

100% Pinot Noir if red

Question 2

What are the two late harvest designations in Alsace? When were each first produced?

Answer 2

Vendanges Tardives
Selections de Grains Nobles

Both were introduced in 1984

Question 3

What is the synonym for Pinot Blanc in Alsace? Chasselas? Savagnin?

Answer 3

Klevner (Pinot Blanc)
Gutedel (Chasselas)
Klevener (Savagnin)

Question 4

What type of soil type dominates the higher altitude vineyards of the Jura? The lower altitude sites?

Answer 4

Jurassic limestone and marl (higher altitude vineyards)

Clay (lower sites)

Question 5

Which late harvest designation correlates to wines that suppress varietal character in return for the complexities of botrytis? What style (sweetness) are these wines in practice?

Answer 5

Selections de Grains Nobles

Dessert-like sweet

Question 6

How does Alsatian Riesling compare in style to German Riesling?

Answer 6

Characteristically dry, more powerful, and higher in alcohol than their German cousins

Question 7

Clos-Ste-Hune is considered one of the greatest expressions of Riesling in the world. From what Grand Cru vineyard does the fruit used for its production come from?

Answer 7

Rosacker

Question 8

Why are Alsatian Rieslings considered to be among the most long-lived white wines in the world?

Answer 8

Pronounced acidity and minerality

Question 9

If a still wine is labeled Bugey “Montagnieu” what grape is used to produce it? What if it’s Mousseux/Pétillant? What three grapes must comprise a minimum of 70% for its production?

Answer 9

100% Mondeuse

Mondeuse, Chardonnay, and Altesse must comprise minimum of 70% for its production.

Question 10

In what style is rosé usually produced in within the Côtes de Jura? What does this mean? What grapes are used most commonly in its production? (5)

Answer 10

Vin Gris style. Wine gets its color from a pressing for exclusively rosé where the grapes are almost immediately pressed after a short fermentation. Poulsard, Trousseau, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Traminer.

Question 11

Why do some producers, while producing wine with fruit from Grand Cru vineyards, choose instead to bottle their wines as Alsace AOP without mention of the vineyard on the label? What is the most notable example of this?

Answer 11

The rapid development of the Alsatian Grand Cru system coupled with the lack of an intermediary premier cru has many producers feeling that the politics of the vineyard selection has far outweighed the specificity of the site as many vineyards are delisted too largely.

Question 12

What are the main red and white grapes respectively used for the production of Moselle AOP wines?

Answer 12

Pinot Noir for red

Auxerrois for whites

Question 13

What are two Grand Cru vineyards notable for blending?

Answer 13

Altenberg de Bergheim

Kaefferkopf

Question 14

Which noble grape is considered the most planted in Alsace?

Answer 14

Riesling

Question 15

What is the minimum atm measure of pressure that a bottle of Crémant d’Alsace must be bottled under?

Answer 15

4 atmospheres is the minimum

Question 16

With sweetness creeping upwards in recent years, Alsatian AOP law mandates that from what year forward that the standard Riesling must be dry in style?

Answer 16

2008

Question 17

Which Grand Cru vineyard produces its varietal bottlings from a non-noble grape? What’s the grape?

Answer 17

Zotzenberg

Sylvaner

Question 18

What is the name of the appellation that produces exclusively Vin Jaune?

Answer 18

Château Chalon

Question 19

What three permutations of Muscat exist in Alsace?

Answer 19

Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains
Muscat Rosé à Petits Grains
Muscat Ottonel

Question 20

The AOP of L’Etoile is named after what? What style of wine is produced here and from what grapes?

Answer 20

Takes its name from a local fossil, shaped like a five-pointed star

Oxidative style is the norm here made from Chardonnay, Poulsard, and Savagnin

Question 21

What soils are mostly present on the Mountain slopes in Alsace? The lower slopes? The plains?

Answer 21

Schist, granite, and volcanic sediments (Mountain slopes)

Limestone base (lower slopes)

Richer alluvial clay and gravel (plains)

Question 22

Rosacker is located in what village? What is the major soil type here?

Answer 22

Hunawihr

Dolomitic Limestone is the main soil type here.

Question 23

Where does Jura get its name?

Answer 23

Jurassic limestone that it sits on top of

Question 24

What are the four noble grapes of Alsace?

Answer 24

Riesling
Muscat
Gewürztraminer
Pinot Gris

Question 25

What mountain range separates Alsace from the rest of France and is responsible for the dry climate of the region?

Answer 25

Vosges Mountains

Question 26

Sparkling wine is produced in Vin de Savoie AOP and is labeled with one of which two designations? What’s the difference?

Answer 26

Vin de Savoie Mousseux (bottled under higher pressure, more effervescent) Vin de Savoie Pétillant

Question 27

What grape is commonly blended with Pinot Blanc and can actually be labled Pinot Blanc without any blended in?

Answer 27

Auxerrois

Question 28

Which late harvest designation may show botrytis but emphasizes varietal purity and vary in actual RS and can be quite dry?

Answer 28

Vendanges Tardives

Question 29

For how long are Vin de Paille wines aged prior to their release? How much of this time must be spend in neutral wood barrels?

Answer 29

Minimum 3 years of aging with 18 months in neutral wood barrels

Question 30

Which appellation in Vin de Savoie AOP produces wine from 100% Roussanne?

Answer 30

Chignin-Bergeron

Question 31

What is the VDL appellation in Jura? How is it produced (ingredients)?

Answer 31

Macvin du Jura Aged Marc is added to unfermented grape must, resulting in a sweet, unfermented but alcoholic grape juice.

Question 32

In what year did a divergence in style begin between the way wine was being made in Germany compared to Alsace?

Answer 32

1945

Question 33

The better vineyards of Alsace face what direction?

Answer 33

Southern, southeastern, or warm eastern exposures

Question 34

What red and white grape(s) respectively are the major grapes used for the production of Côtes de Toul AOP wines?

Answer 34

Rouge - 100% Pinot Noir Blanc - Auxxerois and Aubin

Question 35

Prior to 2011 how many Grand Cru appellations existed for Alsace Grand Cru AOP wine?

Answer 35

1 for all Grands Crus After 2011 each Grand Cru received its own appellation.

Question 36

Which non-noble grapes can be bottled to produce AOP wine in Alsace? (4)

Answer 36

Pinot Noir Sylvaner Pinot Blanc (Klevner) Chasselas (Gutedel)

Question 37

Following fermentation, wine destined to become Vin Jaune is kept in barrel until what date?

Answer 37

Until December 15 of the sixth year following harvest.

Question 38

What is the only red grape allowed to be used in the production of Alsace AOP wine?

Answer 38

Pinot Noir

Question 39

In regards to style how does Gewürztraminer compare to Muscat?

Answer 39

Gewürztraminer is higher in alcohol and more likely to be off-dry

Question 40

What is the smallest Grand Cru vineyard in Alsace? Size? Largest/Size?

Answer 40

Kanzlerberg (3ha) | Schlossberg (80ha)

Question 41

What three wars had the most significant impact on viticulture in Alsace?

Answer 41

Thirty Years War WWI WWII

Question 42

What percentage of Alsace’s total AOP output is white wine? What % of all white French AOP white wine is produced in Alsace?

Answer 42

90% is white

Question 43

What is the synonym for Roussanne in Savoie?

Answer 43

Bergeron

Question 44

What is difficult to discern about a bottle of white wine from the Jura from just from the information provided on the label? Assume that you’re unfamiliar with the producer and the wine.

Answer 44

Whether it is oxidative or not in style.

Question 45

In what village is Zotzenberg located? What is the major soiltype of this vineyard? Grape? Who is the producer?

Answer 45

Mittelbergheim Marl-Limestone is the main soil type here Sylvaner is the grape Albert Setz

Question 46

What is straw wine known as in the Côtes de Jura? For how long are they left to dry after harvest? What must weight do they surpass following the drying process? Are the grapes botrytized? What three AOPs may this wine be labeled as?

Answer 46

Vin de Paille Ripe but not botrytised grapes are left to dry for a minimum of 6 weeks after harvest Must have minimum must weight of 320g/L Arbois AOP L'Etoile AOP Côtes du Jura AOP

Question 47

Minimum potential alcohol is higher for Grand Cru Alsace AOP wine. What is the minimum potential alcohol that must be observed prior to fermentation for each noble grape variety?

Answer 47

Riesling and Muscat (11%) | Gewürztraminer and Pinot Gris (12.5%)

Question 48

Vin Jaune can be bottled under which two AOPs?

Answer 48

Côtes du Jura AOP | Château Chalon AOP

Question 49

What three red grapes make most of the red wine produced in the Côtes de Jura AOP?

Answer 49

Poulsard (Ploussard) Trousseau Pinot Noir

Question 50

Who produces Clos St Urbain? What village is it located near? What is the soil type of this vineyard?

Answer 50

Domaine Zind-Humbrecht (Producer) Thann (Village) Volcanic Soils (Soil)

Question 51

Both styles of late harvest wines are produced from hand-harvested fruit and must contain high must weights prior to fermentation. What are the minimum must weights for each of the noble varieties for both designations?

Answer 51

Vendanges Tardives: Riesling and Muscat (235 g/L) Pinot Gris & Gewürztraminer (257 g/L) Selections de Grains Nobles: Riesling & Muscat (276 g/L) Pinot Gris & Gewürztraminer (306 g/L)

Question 52

For how long must a bottle of Crémant d’Alsace age on its lees prior to disgorging? For how long total must it age prior to release?

Answer 52

9 months on the lees before disgorgement | 1 year total before release

Question 53

What are the three blending designations in Alsace? How do they differ in regards to production and labeling?

Answer 53

Edelzwicker - Does not need to be vintage-dated and not legally obligated to use more than one grape.In practice are blends but do not need to list varietals Gentil - Superior designation for blends, requiring a minimum of 50% noble grapes.Base wines must be vinified separately Field Blends - grapes are typically vinified together and produced under a vineyard name.

Question 54

What is the only village allowed to append its name to Arbois AOP wines?

Answer 54

Pupillin

Question 55

What is the name of the méthode ancestrale wine produced in Bugey? What grapes are used in its production? For how long must it age on its lees? What is the minimum atm value of pressure that a bottle of this must be bottled under? Minimum sugar level?

Answer 55

Bugey-Cerdon Gamay and Poulsard Min 2 months on lees Min 3 atm min 40g/L

Question 56

Despite its northerly location, Alsatian vineyards ripen with greater regularity than the vineyards of what other two major French wine regions?

Answer 56

Loire and Burgundy

Question 57

Who is the most notable producer of the “Field Blend” style?

Answer 57

Marcel Deiss

Question 58

When was the first Grand Cru recognized in Alsace? When did the next 24 vineyards get recognized? When were the final 26 get recognized? What was the most recently recognized Grand Cru?

Answer 58

1975 (Schlossberg) Next 24 in 1983 25 in 1992 Last in 2007 (Kaefferkopf)

Question 59

What is the name of the pink sandstone unique to Alsace?

Answer 59

Grés de Vosges

Question 60

What are the two departements of Alsace and which has the highest percentage of Grand Crus?

Answer 60

Haut-Rhin (has most Grands Crus) Bas-Rhin

Question 61

What distilled product is derived from the final pressing of Crémant d’Alsace?

Answer 61

Marc d'Alsace

Question 62

Are barrels containing wine destined to become Vin Jaune topped off at any point during the aging process? What is the traditional bottle for Vin Jaune called that reflects this type of aging process? How many centiliters can fit inside this bottle?

Answer 62

Barrels are not topped off during the period of aging in barrel. The Clavelin (62cL) is the traditional bottle of Vin Jaune.

Question 63

What is the only appellation in Alsace that produces AOP wine that includes Chardonnay among other grapes for its production? What other grapes are allowed here (5)? What two noble varietals are not allowed for production here?

Answer 63

Crémant d'Alsace ``` Pinot Noir Pinot Blanc Pinot Gris Auxerrois Riesling ``` Gewürztraminer and Muscat are not allowed!!!!

Question 64

In what year did Alsace finally achieve AOC status becoming the last major French wine region to do so?

Answer 64

1962

Question 65

Name a producer that produces late harvest wines from both Brand and Sommerberg Grands Crus.

Answer 65

Albert Boxler

Question 66

Pinot Gris was previously known as what in Alsace? (2)

Answer 66

Tokay d'Alsace or Tokay Pinot Gris

Question 67

In what two vintages during the 1980s was Vin Jaune not produced? When was the last vintage that Vin Jaune was not produced? In both cases the wines produced from these vintages were declassified to what AOP?

Answer 67

1980 and 1984 2001 was the last vintage that Vin Jaune was not produced Declassified to Côtes du Jura AOP

Question 68

What are the three most commonly used red grapes for the production of red Vin de Savoie AOP wines?

Answer 68

Gamay Mondeuse Pinot Noir

Question 69

In what department is Heiligenstein located and what is the star grape here? What is it a variant of? What Jura grape is it synonymous with?

Answer 69

Bas-Rhin Klevener or Savagnin (variant or Traminer) Synonymous with Savagnin in the Jura Savagnin Rose or Klevener de Heiligenstein is a specialty

Question 70

Côtes de Jura whites are typically 100% Gamay Blanc though they can be blended. What is Gamay Blanc more commonly known as? What other grape is commonly blended with it? What is the local synonym for this grape?

Answer 70

Chardonnay Savagnin (Naturé is the local synonym)

Question 71

What three AOPs comprise the larger Côtes de Jura AOP?

Answer 71

Arbois AOP L'Etoile AOP Château Chalon AOP

Question 72

Vin Jaune is commonly compared to Sherry. What is the major difference between the two? What forms inside the barrel that is largely responsible for this comparison?

Answer 72

Vin Jaune is not fortified and Sherry is. The formation of the voile, a film-forming yeast that covers the wine's surface, similar to the flor in Jerez for Sherry is largely the reason the comparison is drawn between the two.

Question 73

There are three pressings used for the production of Crémant d’Alsace. What are they called and how much volume does each contain? Which is used for prestige wines? Which is used for distillation?

Answer 73

Cuvée - First pressing (50L) and used for prestige wines Taille - Second pressing (following 47 L) Final 3 Liters must be used for distillation

Question 74

If a wine is labeled “Pinot” in Alsace what grapes can be used for the production of that wine?

Answer 74

Any proportion of Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, and Auxerrois