Alsace, Jura & Savoie Flashcards
What GC is Clos Häuserer at the foot of? Who owns it? What grape is produced here?
Hengst; Zind-Humbrecht; Riesling
What do the terms tradition, typé, and sous voile describe in the Jura?
Wines made in a more oxidative fashion, without being topped up
For what other appellation is 90% of Marc du Jura used for?
Macvin du Jura
What cru of Savoie was its own AOP until 2009?
Crèpy
What are the minimum sugar levels at harvest for VT and SGN wines?
VT: 235 g/L for Muscat & Riesling; 257 g/L for Pinot Gris & Gewurztraminer
SGN: 276 g/L for Muscat & Riesling; 306 g/L for Pinot Gris & Gewurztraminer
Where would you find the subzones Marestel, Monterminod, Fragny, and Monthoux?
Roussette de Savoie AOP
What grapes are allowed to be labeled for the Zotzenberg AOP?
Riesling, Gewürztraminer, PG, and Sylvaner (no Muscat)
What is Trousseau also known as?
Bastardo in Portugal
Where is Côtes de Toul AOP? What styles of wine from what grapes are made there?
Lorraine; reds from Pinot Noir, whites from Auxerrois and Aubin, rosé in a vin gris style from Gamay and Pinot Noir
What two vintages in the 1980s would you find the most SGN wines in Alsace?
1983 and 1989
What grape is permitted in Cremant du Jura and Marc du Jura, but no other appellations of the Jura?
Pinot Gris
Passerillage is associated with what Alsatian labeling designation?
Vendange Tardive
What is Bugey Cerdon?
AOP for Métode Ancenstrale sparkling rosé from Savoie, produced from Gamay and Ploussard.
What grapes are allowed for Macvin du Jura Blanc vs. Macvin du Jura Rosé and Rouge?
Blanc – Chardonnay & Savagnin
Rosé and Rouge – PN, Poulsard, Trousseau
What are the main grapes of Bugey Blanc, Rosé, and Rouge?
Blanc - min. 70% Chardonnay
Rosé - min. 70% Gamay and Pinot Noir
Rouge – Gamay, Mondeuse, and Pinot Noir (single varietal)
What are the lees aging requirements for Cremant du Jura?
9 months on lees/12 months total before release
What grapes are allowed in the Château Chalon AOP?
Savagnin only
What is the minimum must weight for vin de paille? Because of this, what is the resultant structural profile of the finished wine?
320 g/L; high alcohol, sugar content, and acidity
What is Macvin du Jura? What colors may it be? What are its aging requirements?
A vin de liqueur made in the Jura; may be white, red, or rosé from the Savagnin, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Trousseau, and Poulsard; must be aged for at least 1 year in oak after mutage
What is the range of alcohol required for Macvin du Jura?
16-22%
What three red grapes are primary in Vin de Savoie Rouge and Rosé?
Min. 90% Pinot Noir, Mondeuse, and Gamay
For what cru of Savoie are red grapes more dominant?
Chautagne
What what percentage of production in the Jura does vin jaune make up? Cremant du Jura?
4%; 25%
What are the subzones of Roussette de Savoie AOP?
Marestel, Fragny, Monterminod, Monthoux
Where is Maison Pierre Overnoy based? Who now runs the estate?
Pupillin, in Arbois. Emmanuel Houillon
What is Klevner?
Another name for Pinot Blanc in Alsace.
What is Weinbach’s Cuvée Ste Catherine now known as?
Cuvée Collette, after the matriarch of the family, starting in 2014.
Where is Domaine de Montborgeau based?
L’Etoile
What styles of wine are made in the Roussette de Bugey AOP?
Blanc sec from 100% Altesse
What was the last of the major French growing regions to receive AOC status? In what year?
Alsace; 1962
What does “Hors Choix” translate to, and who uses it as a labeling designation?
“Super Choice” - Trimbach. Used it for their 1989 and 1959 Clos Ste. Hune VT.
What is the grape of still wines from the Seyssel AOP? Sparkling wines?
Still wines - 100% Altesse, though molette can be labeled varietally as well. Sparkling wines - min. 10% Altesse, can be blended with Molette & Chasselas
What style of wine was pioneered by Jean Hugel in the early 1980s?
Vendanges Tardive
What is the largest Grand Cru in Alsace? Smallest? What is the size of each?
Kanzlerberg at 3 ha; Schlossberg at 80 ha
What is the main grape used for Cremant d’Alsace AOP? What other grapes are used?
Pinot Blanc; Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Gris, Auxerrois
What style of wine is a speciality of Crèpy?
Petillant Chasselas
What grapes can be used in Côtes du Jura rosé and red wines?
80% combined PN, Poulsard, and Trousseau, with Chardonnay and Savagnin
What styles of wine are made in L’Etoile and what grapes are allowed?
Only white wines (blanc, vin de paille, and vin jaune) generally produced in an oxidative style; Chardonnay, Savagnin, and Poulsard (only small amounts allowed). Blanc must be 80% combined Chardonnay and Savagnin. Vin de Paille can be all three grapes. Vin Jaune, only Savagnin.
What grape are GCs Spiegel and Saering most known for? What is the soil type? Name one producer.
Muscat; sandstone; Dirler-Cadé
What grapes are allowed to be varietally labeled under the Alsace AOP? What percentage of the grape must a bottle contain to be varietally labeled? What is the exception to this rule?
Riesling, Muscat, Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Blanc (Klevner), Chasselas (Gutedel), Sylvaner, Pinot Noir; 100%, except Auxerrois can be blended with Pinot Blanc and still varietally labeled.
What are the subzones of Bugey AOP?
Cerdon, Manicle, Montagnier
What varietal wines are permitted in the Altenberg de Bergheim AOP?
Varietal wines from Riesling, Gewürztraminer, and PG.
Who makes Vin Fou and what appellation is it?
Henri Maire; Cremant du Jura
Is vin de paille a botrytis infected wine?
No; ripe but not botrytised grapes are picked then left out to dry
Where would you find the producers Michel Quenard, Boniface, and Dupasquier?
Savoie
What are the assemblage requirements for Cremant du Jura Blanc vs. Rosé?
Blanc – min. 70% combined Chard, PN, Trousseau
Rosé – min. 50% combined PN, PG, Trousseau, and Poulsard
Savagnin is also permitted
What vintages of the 2000s in Alsace favored dry wines over nobly sweet?
2000, 2004, 2007, 2010
What is Savagnin locally known as in the Jura?
Naturé (which usually describes the grape being made in a non-oxidative style where it is topped up in barrel)
What is the most commonly grown grape of Savoie?
Jacquère
Name three crus of Savoie that are located in la cluse de Chambery? What grape are they known for?
Chignin, Apremont, Abymes; Jacquere
What is the only AOP of Savoie to lie fully on the West Bank of the Rhone River?
Bugey AOP
What wines does Maison Pierre Overnoy make?
Arbois Pupillin blanc (Chardonnay/Savagnin) and Arbois Pupillin rouge (100% Poulsard)
Name three requirements of SGN/VT wines of Alsace AOP.
- Cannot be chaptalized
- Must be vintage dated
- Must be hand harvested
- SGN must be botrytis affected and harvested in tries
- VT can be botrytis affected and must be late harvested
- Neither can be released before June 1 of the year after harvest
What is the primary white grape of the Côtes du Jura AOP? What grape is allowed to be blended with it?
Chardonnay; Savagnin (plantings must be a minimum 80% of the two for Côtes du Jura blanc)
What is Lake Geneva known as in France, and what growing region’s climate does it most affect?
Lac Léman; Savoie
What lakes moderate the continental climate of Savoie?
Lake Bourget and Lake Geneva (Lac Leman)
What is the most planted grape in Hengst? What non-noble grape is it best known for?
Gewürztraminer makes up 45% of plantings (PG is 30%, Riesling 14%, and PN 7%). Hengst is known as a great site for Auxerrois.
What are the best vintages of the 2000s in Alsace for SGN and VT wines?
2001 (variable year, but good SGN & VT)
2005 (high quality year overall with lots of botrytis)
2006 (hot and humid, lots of botrytis.)
2009 (warm and dry, high quality, healthy grapes made for good SGN and VT)
What is Vin de Glacé?
The French term for Eiswein.
What style of wine is Louis Pasteur credited with doing fundamental research on?
Vin Jaune; Pasteur is from the Jura and found that the only difference between vinegar and vin jaune is the type of yeast that settles on the surface of the wine (Mycroderma aceti vs. mycroderma vini)
What is the minimum alcohol, RS, less aging, and atmospheres of pressure for Bugey Cerdon?
ABV: 8.5%
RS: 40 g/L
Lees: 2 months
Pressure: 3 atmospheres
What is the climate and soil of the Jura?
Continental climate, very hilly (200-450m elevation), with Jurassic limestone and marl, some clay at lower sites. Slopes face south and west. Quite cool and wet. 50% more rain than Burgundy.
What AOPs of Alsace is Chardonnay allowed in?
Cremant d’Alsace AOP
What is a synonym for Savagnin Rose?
Roter Traminer
How many major soil types are there in Alsace? Name three.
There are 13.
Volcanic, granite, gneiss, schist, sandstone, limestone, marl, sand, loess, and loam (alone or in combination).
What is a synonym for Altesse? What two appellations are based on this grape?
Roussette; Roussette de Savoie AOP & Roussette de Bugey AOP
In what region do the Joigny mountains and Mt. Granier influence the topography?
Savoie
What region does the IGP Allobrogies cover?
Savoie
What is the name and size of the bottle that vin jaune is bottled in? Why was that size chosen?
Clavelin; 62 cl; it is said that after 6 years aging, the amount of wine left from an original liter is 62 cl.
What is the primary soil type of Altenberg de Bergheim?
Clay/marl/limestone
What is the principal grape of blended Kaefferkopf wines? What is Kaefferkopf? What grapes can be made varietally?
Kaefferkopf is the 51st Grand Cru of Alsace. Blends from this GC must be 60-80% Gewurztraminer, 10-40% Riesling, and maximum of 30% Pinot Gris and 10% Muscat. Riesling, Gewürztraminer, and PG may be varietal (no Muscat).
What are the two most significant crus of Savoie in terms of volume?
Apremont and Abymes
What is the parentage of Auxerrois Blanc?
it is a Gouais Blanc x Pinot cross
What is the minimum alcohol of Sylvaner in Zotzenberg?
11%
What does it mean to find “Gentil” on a bottle of Alsace wine?
Gentil is a superior designation for blends; must contain at least 50% noble grapes
In what cru of Savoie would you find the Gringet grape?
Ayze
What methods of production may be used in Cremant du Jura AOP?
Traditional method sparkling wines only (min. 3.5 atmospheres of pressure)
What styles of wine can be made in the Seyssel AOP?
- Blanc Sec & Demi-Sec from 100% Altesse
- Blanc Sec from 100% Molette
- Vin Mousseux Blanc, min. 10% Altesse, plus Chasselas and Molette
What grape approved for the Côtes du Jura AOP may not be used in its vin de paille production?
Pinot Noir
In what GC is Zind Humbrecht’s Clos St-Urbain?
Rangen
What vermouth is made in Savoie?
Dolin Vermouth de Chambery
What grapes is Rangen most famous for?
Pinot Gris and Riesling
What grape is Mambourg Grand Cru best known for? Name three producers.
Gewürztraminer; Pierre Sparr, Weinbach, Paul Blanck, Marcel Deiss
What is the synonym for Roussanne in Savoie?
Bergeron
What are the cepage requirements for Marc du Jura?
Must be a minimum of three grapes, one being Savagnin. The others can be: Chardonnay, PG, PN, Poulsard and Trousseau.
What are the four noble grapes of Alsace?
Riesling, Muscat, Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer
What grape must be present in Bugey Cerdon?
Gamay; Poulsard is the supporting grape but may not be 100% (Gamay may be varietal)
Why aren’t vines planted above 500m in elevation (for the most part) in Savoie?
Frost is an issue at higher elevations
Who in Alsace makes: A) Clos Ste-Hune B) Cuvee Ste. Catherine C) Clos Windsbuhl D) Cuvee Frederic Emile E) Cuvee Laurence
A) Trimbach B) Weinbach C) Zind-Humbrecht D) Trimbach E) Weinbach
What is the local pink sandstone of Alsace called?
Grés de Vosges
What is the minimum alcohol for Alsace Grand Cru?
Riesling & Muscat: 11%
Pinot Gris & Gewurztraminer: 12.5%
What producer was the first to promote a “super SGN”? What was it called and in what year?
Weinbach; Quintessence de Grains Nobles; 1983 (Gewürztraminer Furstentum)
What is the primary soil type of Schlossberg? What is the most important grape? Name three producers.
Granite; Riesling; Weinbach, Paul Blanck, Albert Mann, and now TRIMBACH! (Starting with 2014 vintage)
What are the aging designations for Marc du Jura?
Vieux - 5 yrs
Tres Vieux - 8 yrs
Hors d’Age - 10 yrs
Where is Cote d’Arve?
Cote d’Arve is a region of Savoie, home to the Ayze cru of Vin de Savoie. This is where the highest vineyards in Savoie are at 550m, and home to the Gringet grape.
What do the terms ouillé, floral, and naturé describe in the Jura?
A wine made by being topped up – a less oxidative style of wine
Where would you find the cheeses Reblochon, Tomme de Bauges, and Beaufort made?
Savoie
What are the exceptions to the rule that Grand Cru Alsace wines must be varietal wines from noble grapes?
Altenberg de Bergheim and Kaefferkopf are allowed to blend; Zotzenberg can use Sylvaner varietally
Name three certifying bodies for biodynamics?
Biodyvin, Ecocert, and Demeter
Is hand harvesting mandatory for Grand Cru Alsace?
Yes
What red grapes are allowed in production of Côtes du Jura AOP wines?
Poulsard (Ploussard), Trousseau, and Pinot Noir
Name three producers of Hengst.
Josmeyer, Zind Humbrecht, Barmes Buecher, Albert Mann
Name the two Muscats grown in Alsace.
Muscat à Petit Grains Blanc
Muscat Ottonel
Name the best vintages of Chateau Chalon since the 1980s.
1983, 1985, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1996, 2002, 2005, 2009
Where would you find the lieu-dits Heimbourg, Herrenweg, and Clos Jebsal?
Turkheim in Alsace, near Brand GC.
Name three producers of Furstentum. What grapes are most important here?
Weinbach, Albert Mann, Paul Blanck, Bott-Geyl; Riesling, Gewürztraminer, and PG
Where would you find the subzones Montagnieu and Virieu-Le-Grand?
Roussette de Bugey AOP
What grapes are permitted for Vin de Paille production in Côtes du Jura AOP? L’Etoile? Arbois?
Côtes du Jura & Arbois – Chardonnay, Savagnin, Poulsard, Trousseau
L’Etoile - Chardonnay, Savagnin, and Poulsard
What are the best vintages of the 1990s in Alsace?
1990, 1997. 1995 and 1996 are also highly regarded.
What are the minimum alcohols of Alsatian wine labeled by subzone or lieu-dit?
Riesling/Muscat: 10.5%
Gewürztraminer/PG: 12%
Name three producers in Alsace who have made vin de paille?
Ostertag, Hugel, Deiss, Zind-Humbrecht
Who makes “L’Inédit”?
Domaine Weinbach; a special bottling of Cuvée Ste. Catherine Schlossberg made in only certain years. Off-dry, super ripe, high botrytis. Made in 01, 03-07, 09, 11, 13, 15, 16.
What producer is based in Sommerberg? What grape are they known for from this GC?
Albert Boxler; Riesling
What is ouillage?
The practice of topping up barrels; frequently referred to in the Jura in terms of making “conventionally-styled” wines without oxidation
What is the principal soil type of Brand? What is the principal grape? Name three producers.
Granite, with limestone and marl; Riesling (with some good PG and Gewürztraminer in warmer vintages); Zind-Humbrecht, Josmeyer, Boxler
In what AOP would you find the subzones Manicle, Montagnier, and Cerdon?
Bugey AOP
What was the last Grand Cru of Alsace to be designated? In what year? Why was it last?
Kaefferkopf in 2006 (over 20 years after the last designation in 1985); historically, grand crus were not supposed to be blended wines, which is what Kaefferkopf was known for.
What is the primary grape of Clos Windsbuhl?
Pinot Gris (there are still plantings of Riesling and Gewürztraminer, but they will not be replanted)
In what year did Alsace receive AOC status?
1962
What region is influenced by Massif des Bauges?
Savoie
What is the difference between Weinbach’s Cuvée Ste. Catherine, Schlossberg, and Cuvée Ste. Catherine Schlossberg bottlings?
Cuvée Ste. Catherine – from the bottom of the Schlossberg slope, not all GC
Schlossberg – from the top section of the GC slope
Cuvée Ste Catherine Schlossberg – from the old vines at the middle of the Schlossberg slope
What is the closest Grand Cru site Clos Windsbuhl? Who makes this Clos?
Rosacker in Hunawihr; Zind-Humbrecht
Name four AOPs of Savoie other than Vin de Savoie AOP.
Roussette de Savoie AOP, Seyssel AOP, Bugey AOP, Roussette de Bugey AOP
What are the aging requirements for Château Chalon?
Must be kept in barrel until December 15th of the 6th year following harvest, including 60 months under voile without topping up. May not be released until January 1, 7 years after harvest. (Same aging requirements as Côtes du Jura vin jaune)
What does “Edelzwicker” translate to?
“Noble mixture”
What styles of wine are permitted in the Vin de Savoie AOP?
Blanc, Rosé, and Rouge + Vin Mousseux (all sec)
What is the minimum potential (after drying) and acquired alcohol of Vin de Paille?
19%/14%
What is Château Chalon?
An AOP for vin jaune in the Jura
Name two producers who abstain from the Grand Cru system in Alsace. What are their main issues with it?
Trimbach & Hugel; politics have outweighed terroir in the division of Grand Cru land and yield requirements are outrageously high, though both seem poised to get into the GC game.
What are the requirements for blends made in the Altenberg de Bergheim AOP?
50-70% Riesling
10-25% PG
10-25% Gewürztraminer
Max. 10% Chasselas, Muscat, PN, and PB (had to have been planted before 2005)
What two communes is Alsace divided between? Which contains more Grand Crus and is thought to produce higher quality wine?
Haut Rhin (in the south) and the Bas Rhin (in the north); The Haut Rhin has 2/3 of the Grand Crus of Alsace and is thought to produce higher quality wines.
What is the minimum amount of time that grapes must be left out to dry for vin de paille? What minimum must weight must they achieve after drying?
6 weeks; 320-420 g/L
What is the only Alsatian Grand Cru that allows for Sylvaner?
Zotzenberg
Under what appellations can vin de paille be made in the Jura?
Arbois, L’Etoile, or Côtes du Jura
At what stages do coulure and millerandage affect the vine?
Coulure – after bud break
Millerandage – at flowering
What is passerillage?
The development of complex flavor/chemical compounds that come from grapes being isolated from the nourishment of the vine and dehydrated
What is the only single village appellation of Savoie?
Seyssel
What are the mutage requirements for Macvin du Jura?
Must be fortified with an eau-de-vie of at least 52% ABV (that has been aged in oak for at least 14 months)
What two Grand Crus is Trimbach’s CFE made from?
Geisberg and Osterberg
What is the primary soil type of Hengst?
Marl/limestone/sandstone
Where are Ottrott, Rodern, and Saint Hippolyte subzones? What style of wine is permitted?
Alsace AOP; they are subzones for rouge only
What is Savagnin also known as? What are the hallmarks of the grape?
Traminer; think-skinned, high acid, low juice. Seldom suffers from gray rot and thrives on marl.
What Grand Cru is Clos Ste Hune made from? What village?
Rosacker in Hunawihr
What is the maximum yield for Vin de Paille in the Côtes du Jura AOP?
20 hl/ha
What are the aging requirements for vin de paille?
Must be aged for a minimum 3 years before release, with at least 18 months in neutral oak.
What appellation of the Jura takes its name from a local fossil shaped like a star?
L’Etoile
Name three crus of Savoie that produce white wines from Jacquere?
Apremont, Abymes, Cruet, Montmelian, St-Jeoire-Prierre, Chautagne, Chignin, Jongieux (the last three almost produce red wines)
What is the minimum must weight for Grand Cru wines in Alsace?
Riesling/Muscat - 168 g/L
Gewürztraminer/PG - 193 g/L
Name a producer of Muenchberg Grand Cru Alsace AOP. What grapes? Where is it?
Muenchberg is in Nothalten in the Bas-Rhin. It is most famously made by Ostertag, both PG and Riesling. The vineyard site is also known for Sylvaner, which is not allowed by the AOP.
Bastardo is also known as what?
Trousseau, Trousseau Noir, Cabernet Gros
Where is Knipperlé a traditional grape?
Alsace, dominated vineyards in the 18th and 19th centuries.
What styles of wine are permitted in Roussette de Savoie AOP?
Blanc sec from 100% Altesse
What two actions are prohibited in the winemaking of Bugey Cerdon?
Tirage and dosage.
Where is the Moselle AOP? What style of wine is made there from what grapes?
Lorraine; white, red, and rosé, principally from Auxerrois & Pinot Noir
What grape is grown in Marestel? Where is it?
Marestel is a cru of Roussette de Savoie (Altesse grape) on the West Bank of Lake Bourget.
Name three producers based in Arbois?
Overnoy, Jean Rijckaert, Tissot, Puffeney, Domaine de la Tournelle, Domaine de l’Octavin, Domaine Rolet
What is the primary soil type of Rangen?
Volcanic
Name three crus of Savoie for which Chasselas is the dominant grape?
Crépy, Marignan, Marin, Ripaille
Name three labeling designations used by Alsatian producers to indicate an amplified SGN.
Quintessence, Super, Hors Choix
Where is Chignin-Bergeron and what kinds of wine are made there?
A cru in the Vin de Savoie AOP; 100% Roussanne
Who makes Clos Jebsal? What grape and style?
Clos Jebsal is a monopole vineyard of Zind-Humbrecht in Turkheim. Since 1989, it has only made PG from SGN and VT styles.
What are the three communal appellations of the Jura?
Arbois AOP, L’Etoile AOP, and Chateau Chalon AOP
What styles of wine are made in Arbois AOP? What commune may append its name to Arbois?
White, red, and rosé, vin de paille, and vin jaune; Pupillin
Name three important geographical features of the Savoie region?
Lake Geneva, Lake Bourget, Massif des Bauges, Chartreuse Mountains, Rhone River
How many Grand Crus are there in Alsace? When were they designated?
51 total: 25 in 1983, 25 in 1985, and 1 in 2006
Name three producers who have historically been against the Grand Cru system in Alsace?
Hugel, Trimbach, Beyer
Where is Domaine Macle based?
Chateau Chalon
Put from north to south: Ripaille, Bugey, Apremont, Seyssel
Ripaille (Crepy also up here), Seyssel, Bugey, Apremont
What style of wines can be made in the Bugey AOP?
The traditional Bugey Cerdon – methode ancenstrale rosés from Gamay and Poulsard – as well as still wines of all three colors
What are the subzones of Roussette de Bugey AOP?
Montagnieu and Virieu-le-Grand
What is the only grape that is confined to one geographic area in Alsace?
Klevener de Heiligenstein.
What is the maximum RS for Alsace AOP Riesling from the 2008 vintage going forward? What styles do these numbers not apply to?
6 g/L (if chaptalized)
9 g/L (if TA is less than 6 g/L)
12 g/L (if TA is greater than 6 g/L)
Does not apply to VT, SGN, or Riesling labeled with a lieu-dit
Where are Marignan, Marin, Ripaille, and Crépy? What is the predominant grape grown?
All crus of the Vin de Savoie AOP on the southern shores of Lake Geneva; min. 80% Chasselas
What is the main difference between vin jaune and sherry?
Vin jaune is not fortified.
What is the principal soil type of Furstentum?
Limestone (with marl and sandstone)
For which appellation of the Jura is chaptalization not allowed?
Only L’Etoile Vin de Paille.
When were the designations for late harvest wines created in Alsace? What are they, and what qualities do each try to express?
1984; Vendanges Tardives – emphasis on varietal purity; Selection de Grains Nobles – suppress varietal character in favor of botrytis
