Alsace Quiz Flashcards

1
Q

Alsace weather threats

A

FROST

Very few weather threats eg no hail, frost, T-storms since Vosges rain shadow

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2
Q

The best vineyards in Alsace are on slopes.

In which direction do they face?

A

South/Southeast

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3
Q

Central Alsace sits around which latitude?

A

48˚N

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4
Q

One of the consequences of Germanic influences has been the shape of the Alsace wine bottle. What is the name of this tall, slender bottle?

A

Flûte d’Alsace

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5
Q

When did Alsace return to France?

A

Post WW I

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6
Q

Alsace was the first region in France to have, what?

A

A biodynamic wine estate

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7
Q

When are grapes for Crémant picked?

A

Early

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8
Q

How are vines grown on the plains and why?

A

Trained high
To mitigate frost

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9
Q

Alsace principal training method?

A

Guyot

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10
Q

How to mitigate frost?

A

High training

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11
Q

What are the four noble grapes of Alsace?

A

Riesling
Gewurtraminer
Pinot Gris
Muscat

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12
Q

Only red grape allowed in Alsace?

A

Pinot Noir

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13
Q

Grand Cru Zotzenberg

A

Sylvaner
Only Grand Cru allowed

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14
Q

Grand Cru Altenbery de Berheim

A

1 of 2 allowed for blended wine
50%-70% Riesling

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15
Q

Domaine Marcel Deiss

A

Most Famous Grand Cru Altenberg de Bergheim

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16
Q

Grand Cru Kaefferkopf

A

1 of 2 allowed to blend
Gewurztraminer 60%-80%

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17
Q

2 Grand Crus allowed to blend

A

Kaefferkopf

Altenbery de Berheim

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18
Q

Only 2 Pinot Noir Grand Crus

A

Hengst
Kirchberg de Barr

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19
Q

1st & 2nd Largest production?

A

Alsace AOC - 64%
Crémant d’Alsace

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20
Q

What percentage of Alsace’s wine production is blended wines?

A

20%

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21
Q

What is unique about Grand Cru Zotzenberg?

A

The AOC allows Sylvaner

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22
Q

How many AOCs and Grand Crus?

A

53 AOC
51 Grand Cru

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23
Q

In which century was Alsace first incorporated into France?

A

The Seventeenth Century

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24
Q

Klevener de Heiligenstein

A

Ancillary Grape Varieties

AOC Alsace ONLY
Dry ONLY

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25
Q

Chasselas

A

Ancillary Grape Varieties

AOC Alsace ONLY
Dry ONLY

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26
Q

Pinot Noir

A

Primary Grape Varieties

AOC Alsace & Grand Crus
Dry ONLY

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27
Q

Muscat

A

Primary Grape Varieties

AOC Alsace & Grand Crus
Dry + Sweet
Grapes and flowers

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28
Q

Pinot Blanc

A

Primary Grape Varieties

AOC Alsace ONLY
Dry ONLY

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29
Q

Gewürztraminer

A

Primary Grape Varieties

AOC Alsace & Grand Crus
Dry + Sweet
Ginger, rose, lychee

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30
Q

Pinot Gris

A

Primary Grape Varieties

AOC Alsace & Grand Crus
Dry + Sweet
Pear & honey

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31
Q

Chardonnay

A

Ancillary Grape Varieties

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32
Q

Sylvaner

A

1 Grand Cru Zotzenbery + other AOC Alsace

Primary Grape Varieties
Dry ONLY

33
Q

Riesling

A

Primary Grape Varieties

AOC Alsace & Grand Crus
Dry + Sweet

Citrus, honeysuckle, apple, linden, floral, petrol

34
Q

Auxerrois

A

Ancillary Grape Varieties

AOC Alsace Only
Dry ONLY

35
Q

Alsace Climate

A

Continental

36
Q

Which mountains protect Alsace?

A

Vosges

37
Q

Of the grape varieties permitted to be used for Vendanges Tardives and Sélection de Grains Nobles production, two are used much more frequently than the others. Which are they?

A

Pinot Gris

Gewürztraminer

38
Q

For an Alsace wine to be varietally labeled, what percentage of the grape specified on the label must be used?

A

100%

39
Q

Gentil

A

At least 50% noble grapes, vinified separately – vintage must be declared

39
Q

Edelzwicker

A

Any permitted white grapes, can be vinified together – declaration of vintage is optional.

40
Q

An Alsace wine labelled Pinot Blanc can contain what?

A

100% Pinot Blanc
or
Any blend of Auxerrois + Pinot Blanc
or 100% Auxerrois

41
Q

What is another local name for Pinot Blanc in Alsace?

A

Klevner

42
Q

How has the Germanic cultural influence left its mark on the wines of Alsace?

A
  1. Flûte d’Alsace
  2. Riesling
  3. Varietal Labeling
43
Q

Where are most of the Alsace vineyards planted?

A

On the slopes of the Vosges Foothills and face S/SE

44
Q

What grapes can be used in Pinot d’Alsace

A
  1. Pinot Gris
  2. Pinot Blanc
  3. Auxerrois
  4. Pinot Noir
45
Q

Why does the harvest in Alsace run from September to November?

A
  1. Diff varieties ripe diff times
  2. Some sites warmer
  3. Sparkling needs acidity = early
  4. Sweet needs more ripe = later
  5. 13 different soil types
46
Q

What are Alsace Communal and Alsace Lieu-Dit considered?

A

Not separate AOCs
SUB CATEGORIES of Alsace AOC

47
Q

Gewürztraminer is the aromatic version of the non-aromatic Savagnin Rose. What is the Alsace name for Savagnin Rose?

A

Klevener de Heiligensten

48
Q

Since 2008, Pinot Gris – other than Grands Crus, Lieu-Dits and dessert wines – has to be made in a dry style. True or False?

A

False

49
Q

How many major soil types are there in Alsace?

A

13

50
Q

What are the seven focus grapes of Alsace?

A

Riesling

Pinot Blanc

Pinot Gris

Gewurztraminer

Muscat

Sylvaner

Pinot Noir

51
Q

Where is Riesling indigenous?

A

Riesling is indigenous to Germany’s Rhine Valley.

52
Q

Sylvaner, although grown in Alsace, is believed to be native to which country?

A

Austria

53
Q

How has climate change impacted the historically dry wine style of Alsace?

A

Sugar levels are rising and more off-dry wines are being produced.

54
Q

What is the traditional synonym for Pinot Blanc in Alsace?

A

Klevner

55
Q

Which Alsace AOC produces sparkling wine?

A

Crémant d’Alsace AOC

56
Q

What is an “Edelzwicker”?

A

A white Alsace wine made from a blend of any of the approved white grapes of Alsace. Vintage dating is optional.

57
Q

What is a “Gentil”

A

A blended white wine containing at least 50% of the four noble grapes of Alsace.

58
Q

What type of bottle is commonly used for the wines of Alsace?

A

The “flute d’Alsace” – a tall, tapered bottle.

59
Q

What are the two categories of dessert wines produced in Alsace?

A

Vendanges Tardives and Sélection de Grains Nobles

60
Q

What are the Grand Cru classified as?

A

Each is a AOC

61
Q

“Sélection de Grains Nobles” wines must be made from grapes affected ….

A

by botrytis.

62
Q

What is a “lieu-dit”?

A

A parcel of land within a single commune that is a legally registered cadastral unit.

63
Q

How are most grapes harvested?

A

By hand

64
Q

Which topographical feature contributes to the dry, sunny climate of Alsace?

A

The Vosges Mountains

65
Q

What is a “Graben”

A

Geologically-speaking, a graben is a trench that has sunk between two parallel fault lines.

66
Q

What is a “Foudre”

A

A traditional, large, oak cask.

67
Q

How much of Alsace’s total production consists of blended wines?

A

20%

68
Q

Generally, in Alsace, if a grape variety is shown on the label, it must comprise what % of that wine?

A

100% –

Pinot Blanc is the exception to this rule.

69
Q

What is the principal vine training method in Alsace?

A

Guyot

70
Q

How many Grands Crus allow blends?

A

2 – Altenberg de Bergheim and Kaefferkopf

71
Q

How many Grand Cru AOCs allow the use of Sylvaner?

A

1 – Zotzenberg

72
Q

What are Vendanges Tardives and Sélection de Grains Nobles classified as?

A

These are wine styles within the Alsace AOC
and the Alsace Grand Cru AOCs.

73
Q

How many Grands Crus permit the production of red wines made from
Pinot Noir?

A

2 – Hengst and Kirchberg de Barr

74
Q

What is the name of the wine region on the western side of the Vosges Mountains?

A

Lorraine

75
Q

Crément d’Alsace

A

Regional AOC

76
Q

Can Auxxerois be used in Pinot d’Alsace?

A

Yes

77
Q

What grapes can be used for Alsace Muscat?

A
  1. Muscat à Petits Grains Blanc
  2. Muscat Ottonel