Alsace Region Flashcards
What soil Types are found in Alsace?
The land is a geologic mosaic: granite, limestone, schist, clay, gravel, chalk, loess, and local pink sandstone “great de Vosges”
What are the 4 Noble grapes of Alsace?
The four Noble Grapes or Alsace are Riesling, Pinot Gris, Muscat (either Muscat Blanc a Petis Grains, Muscat Rose a Petis Grains or Muscat Ottonel) and Gewurtztraminer
Where are most of the wines in Alsace?
Over 2/3rds of Alsace’s Grand Cru vineyards are located in Haut Rhin as are most of the premier wines.
Describe the climate in Alsace?
The vineyards exist on a thin strand along the lower slopes and foothills of the Vosges. The Vosges act as a rain shadow. It’s one or the driest and sunniest climates in France. Alsatian vines ripen early and with greater regularity than those or Loire or Northern Burgundy.
What grapes are allowed for Alsace AOP?
Riesling, Pinot Gris, Muscat, Gewurtztraminer, Pinot Blanc, Chasselas, Slyvaner and Pinot Noir.
What wine is Alsace know for?
Riesling. It is the last Noble grape to ripen. Characteristically dry, more powerful and higher in Alcohol than German cousins.
They are amongst the longest lived dry white wines in the world due to pronounced acidity and minerality.
What is Alsace Grand Cru AOP?
Proposed in 1975 but first 25 vineyards didn’t appear until 1983 and 25 more declared in 1985. 51st Grand Cru Kaefferkopf added in 2006.
Grand Cru AOP wines are single varietal from the Noble Alsatian grapes with several exceptions.
Altenberg de Bergheim and Kaefferkopf may blend to certain prescribed proportions.
Zotzenberg is a historical site for Sylvaner and is permitted in Grand Cru AOP varietal wines from the vineyard.
Hand harvesting us mandatory, min sugar levels are higher and yields are restricted. Min alcohol is 11% for Riesling & Muscat, 12.5% for Pinot Gris and Gewurtztraminer.
What is Vendanges Tardives and Selections de Grains Nobles?
Two designations for late harvest wines to imply sweetness. SGN are picked in tries and suppress varietal character in return for complexities of botrytis. VT may show botrytis character but emphasize varietal purity.
SGN & VT wines not obligated to be sweet. SGN are always dessert like and VT can vary from sweet to dry. Both must be hand harvested w/min sugar levels.
VT min 235 gpl for Muscat & Riesling, 257 for Pinot Gris and Gewurtztraminer SGN 276 gpl for Muscat and Riesling, 306 for PInot Gris and Gewurtztraminer
Is red wine permitted for Alsace AOP?
Only Pinot Noir is.
What is Cremant D’Alsace
Sparkling wine done in the traditional method. Predominantly made with Pinot Blanc, but can also use Pinot Noir, Riesling, Pinot Gris, Auxerrois and Chardonnay.
Rose is made with 100% Pinot Noir
25% of production.
What are the classic dishes If Alsace?
White asparagus and mayonnaise
Baeckoffe - bakers oven - It’s made with pork, lamb, beef and sliced potatoes. Slow cooked all day in a white wine sauce, usually Pinot Blanc or Riesling.
Bibeleskas - appetizer - fromage Blanc with sour cream or yogurt, chives, parsley, bacon, garlic, potatoes.
Bouchée a la Riene - appetizers made with chicken, turkey or veal and mushrooms, turnip and puff pastry. Like a chicken pot pie.
Boudin or Blutewurst - red blood sausage
Carp Fritte - like fish and chips
Cervalas or Knack - like a mini hot dog
Munster Cheese
Charcuterie
Tarte a l’onion - Zebelekubeche
What % of wines are AOC?
All wines produced in Alsace are AOC & represent 20% of all White AOC wines in France
How is wine labelling different in Alsace from other French AOC regions?
It’s the only region that labels by varietal. Wines that incl that varietalust be made entirely by that grape.
What are 2 fundamental differences between Alsace and German wines.
90% of Alsatian wines are fermented totally dry.
Alcohol content for Alsatian wine is 11-12% and in Germany 8-9%
Name some reliable Negociants for Alsace.
Domaine Dopff au Moulin Domaine Marcel Deiss Domaine Weinbach Domaine Zind-Humbrecht Domaine F.E. Trimbach Domaine Hugel & Fils Domaine Leon Beyer
