Alsace + Webinar Flashcards
When was the Thirty Year’s war? Who were the opposing parties?
1618-1648
The French and the Spanish (Catholic) Habsburg house
At the end of the Thirty Year’s war, who had ownership over Alsace?
The French
When did Germany regain ownership over Alsace after the Thirty Years war?
1871
But the French regained it after the abdication of Germany’s Kaiser Wilhelm rough the end of WWI.
Nazi Germany had a short occupation in the early 1940’s, but since, Alsace has remained French.
When does Alsace wine growing date to?
The first millennium. There were 160 Alsation villages growing grapevines by the year 1000, a trend that peaked in the 16th century.
What was the impact of the thirty year’s war on the region?
The thirty years’ war (1618-1648) demolished wine growing in the region and the political instability of the following 300 years repressed the resurgence of wine
Many of Alsace’s current vineyards date to which year and after?
1945 and after. After the French regained Alsace and WWII ended.
When did Alsace achieve AOC status?
1962
The last major French winemaking region to do so.
Alsace is broken up into two départements, the Haut-Rhin and the Bas-Rhin. Generally speaking, where do the premier wine originate from?
The Haut Rhin. Which ironically is the southern part of Alsace and the Bas-Rhin is in the Northern part of Alsace.
The Haut-Rhin contais of two-thirds of Alsaces grand cru vineyards
Which mountain range separates Alsace from the rest of France?
The Vosge mountains.
Which also provide a rain shadow effect. As a result of this rainshadow, Alsace is the one of France’s driest and sunniest climates.
Where are the vineyards of Alsace located.
The vineyards of Alsace exist in a thin strand along the lower slopes and foothills of the Vosges.
The exact aspect and location of each vineyard is of importance in this semi-continental climate.
The better vineyards enjoy souther, southeastern or warm eastern exposures to maximize sunlight
What is grés de Vosges?
Local pink sandstone
What are Alsace’s soil types? Are they varied? Homogenous?
Alsace’s soul types are incredibly varied: granite, limestone, schist, clay, gravel, loess, and local pink sandstone (gres de Vosges).
Although there’s a lot of variance, In the steeper mountain slopes there is a lot schist, volcanic sediment and granite.
The lower slopes sit on a limestone base
The lain at the foot of the mountains consists of richer alluvial clay and gravel soils
Are white or red grapes paramount in Alsace?
White.
90% of AOP wine is white
This represent about 20% of Frances total AOP still wine production
What are the 4 noble grapes of Alsace?
Riesling Pinot Gris Muscat -muscat blanc a petit grains -muscat rose a petits grains -Muscat Ottonel Gewurztraminer
In the Alsace AOP, which wines can be bottles varietally?
The noble grapes (Riesling, Pinot Gris, Muscat and Gewurztraminer and:
- Pinot Noir
- Sylvaner
- Pinot Blanc
- Chasselas
In Alsace, what is a common blending partner for Auxerrois?
Pinot Blanc
What is a synonym for Klevner
Pinot Blanc
Which is the most planted grape in Alsace?
Riesling
Which is the last noble grape to ripen in Alsace?
Riesling
How do Alsatian rieslings compare to their German cousins?
Generally, they are dry, more powerful and higher in alcohol than their German cousins.
They are among the longest-lived dry whites in the world, due to a pronounced acidity and mineralogy.
Are Alsatian Rieslings dry or sweet?
Sweetness was creeping up in Alsatian rieslings, however from 2008 forward the Alsatian AOP law mandates that standard Riesling wines be dry in style.
What’s a synonym for Tokay d’Alsace?
Pinot Gris also called Tokay Pinot Gris
Pinot Gris achieves its fullest, richest expression with spicy-smoky qualities and noticeable-though hardly high-acidity.
Which are the two highly aromatic grapes of the noble 4?
Muscat and Gewurztraminer
Muscat show fragrant floral and grapes notes
Gewurztraminer tends towards perfumed, sweet spices and tropical fruit.
Both are lower in acidity, but Gewurztraminer is higher in alcohol and more likely to be off-dry.
Is new oak common with the noble grapes of Alsace?
Not common. Though producers do use large neutral casks for fermentation and aging.
Gewurztraminer is a pink-berried clone of which grape?
Traminer
Gewurztraminer steadily replaced it in Alsace’s vineyards throughout the latter half of the 19th century.
Another pink variant of Trainer (known as Savagnin in the Jura) retains a few plantings around the commune of Heiligenstein in the Bas-Rhin. Locally, the grape is known as Klevener
What is a synonym for Klevener in Jura?
Savagnin
In Alsace AOP, Klevener can be bottled in 5 communes - which is the dominate commune?
Heiligenstein
The others are:
Bourgheim
Gertwiller
Goxwiller
Obernai
What does the term Edelzwicker mean on an Alsatian label?
“noble mixture”
Which usually actually means its own inverse - an inexpensive blended wine. Edelzwicker wines do not need to be vintage-dated, nor are they even legally obligated to contain more than one grape.
What does gentil indicate on a label?
The unofficial term lentil is a superior designation for blends that contain a minimum of 50% noble grapes. Any other Alsace AOP grape may compose the remainder, and the base wine must be vilified separately.
When was was the first Alsace Grand Cru AOP decreed? What was the site?
1975
Schlossberg Grand Cru
How many grand cru vineyards are there in Alsace?
51
Which is the largest grand cru in Alsace? The smallest?
Schlossberg: 80 ha
Kanzlerber: 3ha
Grand Cru’s are only produced from the 4 noble grapes, though there are two exceptions…?
Aletenber de Berghein
Kaefferkopf
Both may use other blending grapes to specific proportions
Also, Zotzenberg is a historical site for Sylvaner, and as such, the grape is permitted in Gran Cru AOP varietal wines from the vineyard.
What are the regulations on grand cru wine? (Hand harvesting? yields? ABV? sugar levels at harvest?)
All Grand Cru wines must be hand harvested
Minimum sugar levels at harvest are higher than those for Alsace AOP and yields are more restricted.
ABV mins (though certain vineyards mandate higher amounts than below):
Riesling and Muscat 11%
Pinot Gris and Gewurztraminer 12.5%
Is the Alsatian grand cru system more like that of Chablis or Cote d’Or?
It used to be like Chablis (there was only 1 Alsace Garnd Cru to cover all the 51 vineyards).
Now it’s similar to the Cote d’Or in that every vineyard received its own appellation in 2011.
What are the two designation for late-harvest wines?
Vendanges Tardives (VT) Sélections de Grains Nobles (SGN)
These terms imply sweetness and may be printed on either Alsace AOP or Alsace Grand Cru AOP labels, provided the wines contain a single, noble varieties and pass a blind tasting panel.
How do Selections de Grains Nobles (SGN) differ from Vendanges Tardives (VT)?
Grapes destined for Sélection de Grains Nobles (SGN) are generally picked in tries and suppress varietal character in return for the complexities of botrytis.
Vendanges Tardives, on the other hand, may show botrytis character but emphasize varietal purity.
What is passerillage?
The exposure of cut bunches of grapes to the sun in order to increase the concentration of sugar prior to winemaking.
Quality VT usually originate from a vines in a state of passerillage
What are tries?
Successives in grape harvesting and selection process that uses multiple passes to pick extra ripe grapes from the vineyards.
During the ripening process, moisture from the grapes evaporates and concentrated form of the wine components in the grapes is harvested to create a sweet wine
SGN are generally picked in tries and suppress varietal character in return for the complexities of botrytis.
Are VT and SGN wines obligated by statute to be sweet?
No.
In practice, SGN wines are always dessert-like, but VT wines may vary in actual sugar and can be quite dry.
Do VT and SGN grapes need to be hand harvested?
Yes
What are the minimum sugar levels for VT and SGN grapes?
VT
Muscat, Riesling: 244 g/liter
Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer 270g/liter
SGN
Muscat, Riesling: 276 g/liter
Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer 306 g/liter
These are among the highest minimum must weights in France
Which is the only red variety permitted for Alsace AOP wines?
Pinot Noir
Light red and rose wines are the result, although the wines can achieve depth in warmer vintages.
Pinot Noir may contribute to the Cremant d’Alsace AOP blend, although Pinot Blanc is the workhourse for these sparkling wines
What is the sparkling wine appellation in Alsace?
Cremant d’Alsace AOP
The primary grape is Pinot Blanc
Manual harvesting is mandatory
Which grape(s) are used in rose cremant d’Alsace?
Solely pinot noir.
What are the grapes allowed inCrémant d’Alsace AOP?
Riesling, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Auxerrois, Chardonnay
Rose: Pinot Noir (Maceration or Saignee)
What is the capital of the Haut Rhine?
Colmar
What is the capital of the Bas Rhine?
Strasbourg
What type of climate is Alsace?
Continental.
With a rain shadow effect from the Vosges mountains. This creates a dry climate and protects the vineyards.
What is the latitude of Alsace?
48 degrees
30-50 degrees possible in Northern and Southern Hemispheres
Is chaptalization allowed in VT and SGN?
No
grand cru production accounts for what percentage of production in Alsace?
4%
Which are the three most planted grapes in Alsace (ordered from most planted, downward)
Riesling (most planted)
Pinot Blanc
Gewuztraminer
Name one parent of Riesling
Gouais Blanc
What is a synonym for Morillon? (name used in 1250 AD)
Pinot Noir
From 2007-2017, which vintages stood out in Alsace?
2009 - Excellent (warm year)
2017- Early and warm, some frost damange
2016 - Overall very good; wet spring but great remainder
2015: Low yielding and lower acid vintage
2014: cool and acid driven
2013: Great season but rain harvested (unusually for harvest in Alsace)
2012: Good
2011: Good
2010: good
2009: Excellent
2008: challenging with rain but solid wines
2007 Very good
Who produces grand cru riesling Sommerburg?
Alber Boxler
Current winemaker: Jean Boxler
Town: Niedermorschwihr
Aged in foudre
Whow makes Ferderic Emile Riesling?
Trimbach
Blend of Grand Cru
Clay/limestone over sandstone
Aged in foudre
Also makes the famous Clos St. Hune
What is one of Hugel’s more middle of the road wines?
Gewurztraminer Tradition
Name Gewurztraminer Grand Cru wine to recommend
Weinbach Gewurztraminer
Grand Cru Mambourg
Limestone slope
Neutral oak vats
Biodynamic since 1998
Recommend a Pinot Gris from Alsace
Josmeyer Pinot Gris, Grande vineyard
Fermented stainless steel, aged in foudres
Schlumberger Pinot Gris Grand Cru Spiegel
Recommend a Alsatian Pinot NOir
Alber Mann Pinot Noir “Close de la Faille”
Town: Wintzenheim
Biodynamic
Fermented in neutral oak
What is a good rule of thumb in regard to final ABV and initial must weight
Must weight to ABV ratio:
20g/l to 1% ABV