Alsace Theory Flashcards by Chris Dunaway

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

Thirty Years War (1618-1648/France claims Alsace)
Franco-Prussian War (1871/Germany claims Alsace)
WWII (Germany occupied then French Reclaimed)

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

1945
German wines remained classically sweet, whereas Alsace producers fermented to dryness for a more powerful and food-friendly wine.

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

1962

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What are the two departments of Alsace and which has the highest percentage of Grands Crus?

Haut-Rhin and Bas-Rhin

Haut-Rhin has the highest percentage of Grands Crus with 2/3 of Alsace’s Grand Cru vineyards.

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

Vosges Mountains

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The better vineyards of Alsace face what direction?

Southern, southeastern, or warm eastern exposures are the best

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

Loire and Northern Burgundy due to the sheer number of sunlight hours in the summertime.

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What is the name of the pink sandstone unique to Alsace? What are the other 7 soil types found here?

grés de Vosges

granite, limestone, schist, clay, gravel, chalk, loess are the others

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

Mountain Slopes have schist, granite, and volcanic sediment

Lower Slopes sit on a limestone base

Plains consist of richer alluvial clay and gravel soils

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

90% of AOP wine is white

18% of France’s total AOP still white wine is made in Alsace

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What are the four noble grapes of Alsace?

Riesling
Pinot Gris
Muscat
Gewürztraminer

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What three permutations of Muscat exist in Alsace?

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

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

Auxerrois

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

May contain any proportion of related varieties-Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, and Auxerrois

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

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

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

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

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

Edelzwicker (noble mixture)
Usually indicates its own inverse: an inexpensive wine. Edelzwicker do not need to be vintage-dated, nor are they even legally obligated to contain more than one grape. Blends in practice, but do not need to indicate any % or grapes on the label.

Gentil (superior designation for blends)
Requires a min of 50% noble grapes. Any other Alsace AOP grape may compose the remainder, and the base wines must be vinified separately.

Field Blends
Grapes are typically blended together and produced under a vineyard name.

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

due to a pronounced acidity and minerality

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How does Alsatian Riesling compare in style to German Riesling?

Alsatian Rieslings are characteristically dry, more powerful, and higher in alcohol than their German cousins.

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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?

2008

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

Tokay d’Alsace

Tokay Pinot Gris

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In regards to style how does Gewürztraminer compare to Muscat?

Muscat shows fragrant floral and grape notes whereas Gewürztraminer tends toward perfumed, sweet spices and tropical fruit.

Both are lower acidity, but Gewürztraminer is higher in alcohol and more likely to be off-dry.

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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?

Bas-Rhin

Klevener is the local star grape here (aka Savignin Rose)

It is a variant of Traminer

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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?

Bas-Rhin

Klevener is the local star grape here (aka Savignin Rose)

It is a variant of Traminer

Synonymous with Savignin in the Jura

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What are the 5 communes that produce Klevener AOP wines?

``` Heiligenstein Bourgheim Gertwiller Goxwiller Obernai ```

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

Pinot Noir

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? What two noble varietals are not allowed for production here?

Crémant d'Alsace Riesling, Pinot Gris, Auxerrois, and Pinot Noir Muscat and Gewurtztraminer are not allowed

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?

9 months on the lees | 9 months on the lees with 12 months total aging starting from the 2012 vintage onward

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

min 4 atm

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?

1975 (Schlossberg) 24 Grand Cru vineyards added in 1983 An additional 25 were recognized in 1992 with the last and most recent recognized in 2007 Kaefferkopf was the most recent

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

What are two Grand Cru vineyards notable for blending?

Altenberg de Bergheim | Kaefferkopf

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

Zotzenberg Sylvaner

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?

11% for Riesling and Muscat 12.5% for Gewurtztraminer and Pinot Gris Though some vineyards mandate higher amounts

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

Smallest: Kanzlerberg (3ha) Largest: Schlossberg (80ha)

What grape(s) are allowed in Crémant d'Alsace rosé?

Exclusively Pinot Noir

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?

The rapid development of the Alsatian grand cru system, coupled with the lack of an intermediary premier cru level, has engendered controversy. Some producers choose not to utilize grand cru labeling as the politics of vineyard selection may have, they feel, outweighed the specificity of site. Trimbach has traditionally released their Clos-Ste-Hune as Alsace AOP without any mention of the larger Rosacker Grand Cru on the label. (Though they released their first vintage of Geisberg Grand Cru in 2009) Hugel also chooses not to use the Grand Cru AOP

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?

Rosacker

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

Marcel Deiss

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

``` Vendanges Tardives (VT) Sélections de Grains Nobles (SGN) ``` 1984 was the first year both were allowed

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? Hint: RM & GP

Vendanges Tardives 235g/L for Riesling and Muscat 257g/L for Gewurtztraminer and Pinot Gris Selections de Grains Nobles 276g/L for Riesling and Muscat 306g/L for Gewurtztraminer and Pinot Gris

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

Vendanges Tardives

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?

Selections de Grains Nobles dessert-like sweet

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

Pinot Noir for Red Auxerrois and Aubin for White

What grape(s) are allowed in Crémant d'Alsace rosé?

Exclusively Pinot Noir

Côtes de Toul Vin Gris must contain what grapes in what %s?

Max 85% Gamay with min 10% Pinot Noir (both must be present) Max 15% Pinot Meunier, Auxerois, and Aubin

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

Red from Pinot Noir | White from Auxerrois (min 70% combined with Muller Thurgau and Pinot Gris; unless property is less than 2ha)

Côtes de Toul Vin Gris must contain what grapes in what %s?

Max 85% Gamay with min 10% Pinot Noir (both must be present) Max 15% Pinot Meunier, Auxerois, and Aubin

Moselle AOP Rosé must be made with what grapes?

min 70% Pinot Noir, with Gamay

Other than Auxerrois, what other two white grapes are bottled varietally in Moselle AOP?

Pinot Gris | Muller Thurgau

Where does Jura get its name?

The region lends its name to the Jurassic Era, where the geologic limestone formations of the age were first studied.

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

Jurassic limestone and marl on the higher altitude/lower slopes of the Jura Mountains Clay dominates the lower sites

What three AOPs comprise the larger Côtes de Jura AOP?

Arbois AOP L'Etoile AOP Château Chalon AOP

Vin Jaune can be bottled under what four AOPs?

Château Chalon AOP Arbois Vin Jaune AOP Côtes du Jura Vin Jaune AOP Vin Jaune de L'Etoile AOP

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

Poulsard (Ploussard) Trousseau Pinot Noir

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

Gamay Blanc is the Jura synonym for Chardonnay Savagnin is the other grape and it is often called Naturé in the Jura and Traminer elsewhere.

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)

Usually produced in Vin Gris style Vin Gris essentially means a wine made like a white wine using red grapes. It's synonymous with rosé by most accounts.

What is straw wine known as in the Côtes de Jura? What kind of grapes are used in its production? For how long are they left to dry after harvest? What must weight do they surpass following the drying process? Are the grapes botrytized?

Vin de Paille Ripe but not botrytized grapes are left to dry for a minimum of six weeks after harvest. They surpass must weights of 320g/L

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?

Aged for a minimum of three years prior to release. 18 months must be spent in neutral wood barrels

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

Pupillin

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

Takes its name from a local fossil shaped like a five-pointed star Oxidative-styled wines are usually the product here made from Chardonnay, Savagnin, and Poulsard If white, min 80% Chardonnay

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

1980 and 1984 Côtes du Jura AOP

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?

Due to the oxidative, nutty style of the wine and because of the development of a film-forming yeast (voile) in untopped up barrels during maturation, Vin Jaune is often compared to Sherry.

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

December 15th of the sixth year following harvest.

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?

No topping off occurs. The clavelin is the traditional bottle (62cL)

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

Château Chalon

What is the VDL appellation in Jura? How is it produced (ingredients)? How long must it be aged?

Macvin du Jura Aged Marc is added to unfermented grape must, resulting in a sweet, unfermented but alcoholic grape juice. Must be aged for one year following mutage.

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.

Whether the wine is made in an oxidative style or not.

What is the synonym for Roussanne in Savoie? What three other grapes are commonly used in the production of white wine in the Vin de Savoie AOP?

Bergeron Jacque, Altesse, and Chardonnay

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

Gamay, Mondeuse, and Pinot Noir

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

Mousseux/Pettilant

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

Chignan-Bergeron

Roussette de Savoie AOP wines are made from 100% of what grape that is synonymous with Roussette?

Altesse

Which four communes may append their name to the Roussette de Savoie AOP?

Frangy Marestel Monterminod Monthoux

A still dry or off-dry wine produced in Seyssel AOP will be produced from what grape?

100% Altesse

A sparkling wine from Seysell AOP must contain a minimum 10% of what grape? What other grapes are allowed in the blend? (2)

Min 10% Altesse With Molette and Chasselas

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?

Bugey Cerdon Gamay and Poulsard. May not be exclusively Poulsard Must age for a min 2 months and have min atm of 3atm min 40g/L RS

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

Chardonnay if white | Pinot Noir if red

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?

Rouge is 100% Mondeuse Min 70% Chardonnay, Chardonnay, and Altesse must be used if Mousseux/Petillant.

Other than Auxerrois, what other two white grapes are bottled varietally in Moselle AOP?

Pinot Gris | Muller Thurgau

Marc d'Alsace is brandy made from the marc of what grape pressings?

Gewurztraminer

Marc d'Alsace is brandy made from the marc of what grape pressings?

Gewurztraminer

What is the name of the red-stemmed strain of Chardonnay in Arbois that is often made in an oxidative style?

Melon

What style of wines do vineyards with heavier clay and marl soils produce as a general rule?

Wines with broader flavors, more body and weight

What style of wines do vineyards with lighter limestone or sandy soils produce as a general rule?

Wines with more elegance and finesse

What style of wines do vineyards with flint, schist, shale, and slate soils produce?

Wines with a characteristic oily, minerally aroma reminiscent of petrol and sometimes described as 'gunflint', especially those made from the riesling grape.

What is the predominant vine training method used in Alsace?

Single Guyot, with up to 15 buds left on the cane, or double Guyot, with up to 8 buds on each cane. There's also some Cordon-Trained vines with spur pruning generally on older vines.

How are vines located on the plains trained in regards to height? On the slopes?

Vines on the plains are trained high to avoid frosts, while sloping vineyards can be trained closer to the ground, benefiting to the maximum from the available sunlight.

Why is there such a high amount of Pinot Blanc and Auxerrois planted in Alsace despite their non noble status?

They're among the first to ripen and are viticulturally easy to please. They're also the workhorses for Crémant d'Alsace which accounts for about 20% of the regions wine output.

Which department accounts for the highest amount of plantings of Gewürztraminer?

The Haut-Rhin

How does young Alsace Riesling present itself expressively? Aged?

Young Riesling can display floral aromas, although it is sometimes fairly neutral. With age it take on complex, gunflint, mineral aromas, with crisp steely acidity and very pure fruit flavors.

Why is Gewürztraminer a strong candidate for late-harvest sweet wines and most frequent varietal found as Vendange Tardive?

Because of its naturally high sugar levels

What are the two synonyms for Pinot Blanc in Alsace?

Clevner and Klevner

What is Chasselas most commonly used for?

Blending. Most commonly found in Edelzwicker

How do winemakers in Alsace measure the sugar content of the grapes prior to harvest?

Oechsle scale

What wines may not be chaptalized in Alsace?

late-harvest wines and as of 2011, Alsace Grand Cru

What kind of yeasts are used in Alsace?

Indigenous mostly except in exceptionally wet vintages, then cultured yeasts are used with more frequency.

Is malo practiced in Alsace?

Only with Pinot Noir. Most winemakers deliberately prevent Malo in white wines by keeping them cool and lightly sulfured, preferring to keep the fresh grape aromas.

What type of vessel is traditionally used in Alsace for fermentation?

Large oval wood casks, many over 100 years of age are traditionally used. The build-up of tartrates forms a glass-like lining to the cask, and there is no likelihood of oak flavors masking the wine's character.

If a new barrel for fermentation must be replaced how is it treated to insure no oak flavors make it to the best wines?

The barrels are washed out and then will be used for fermenting Edelzwicker until all oak flavors have disappeared.

What is the Oechsle scale reading for VT wines for Riesling/Muscat and Gewurz/Pinot Gris?

RM: 95 PG: 105

What is the most common varietal used for VT? Rarest?

Gewurztraminer is the most common and Muscat is the most rare.

In regards to dryness, what is the range of style that VT can be produced in?

Bone dry to medium sweet

What is the Oechsle scale number for SGN Riesling/Muscat vs Gewurz/Pinot Gris?

RM: 110 | G/PG: 120