Cremant d'Alsace Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
1
Q

How much of the total production of wine does Cremant account for in Alsace?

A

about 25%

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

About how many producers make Cremant in Alsace?

A

500

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

How has the area of vineyard declared each year for Cremant grown in Alsace?

A

by about 15% over the last 10 years to 3600 hectares - shows increase in demand

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What is the most important varietal for sparkling wine in Alsace?

A

Pinot Blanc

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

SAT for Pinot Blanc Cremant

A

med intensity apple and pear fruit with brioche and biscuit like autolytic notes
medium + to high acidity
light to med body
most are brut style

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Where are vineyards mostly found for sparkling wines in Alsace?

A

eastern flanks of the Vosges foothills

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

what are the elevations of most Alsace vineyards

A

200-400 m

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What protects vineyards in ALsace from prevailing westerly winds

A

Vosges

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What is the climate in Alsace?

A

sunny and continental; dry and hot during growing season and rain at harvest can be a problem

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Why is shortage of water a problem in Alsace?

A

irrigation is not permitted

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

How does the climate in Alsace help with grape ripening?

A

ripening progresses with hot days and cool nights giving flavor ripeness while retaining the high acidity which is ideal for traditional method

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

How has spring frosts become more of an issue recently for Alsace region?

A

warmer and earlier bud break in turn makes vines more vulnerable to spring frost and leads to reduction in yields

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What are the best vineyard sites reserved for in Alsace?

A

noble varieties such as Riesling to be made into still wines

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What kind of sites are PInot Blanc grown in Alsace?

A

range of sites - usually lower level elevations (high fertility and therefore not suited to top quality grapes for still wines) and some cooler sites in the higher valleys

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What are the varieties used for Cremant d’Alsace?

A

PInot Blanc, Auxerrious, Chardonnay, Riesling, PInot Gris and Pinot Noir - all suited for traditional method

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

How much of the total vineyard area in Alsace does Pinot Blanc carry?

A

20%

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What are two things Pinot Blanc are prone to?

A

spring frosts (early budding)
fungal disease

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Why is harvesting for Pinot Blanc much earlier than other varieties?

A

it is early ripening and the early picking that is necessary for sparkling wines

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What does Pinot Blanc contribute to Cremant?

A

pear and apple aromas and high acidity

20
Q

What varieties are not permitted in Cremant from Alsace?

A

Gewurztraminer and Muscat

21
Q

Why will some growers add Pinot Gris to Pinot Blanc Cremant wines?

A

to raise quality

22
Q

What is the only Alsace appellation that allows the use of Chardonnay? what vineyard area it makes up there?

A

Cremant d’Alsace
only makes up 1% total vineyard area

23
Q

What grape is Cremant d’Alsace Rose made from

A

Pinot Noir

24
Q

SAT for Cremant d’Alsace Rose

A

very good quality
med to med+ flavor intensity of red berried fruit

25
Q

What is the max yield permitted in Cremant d’Alsace?

A

80 hl/ha

26
Q

How are grapes intended for Cremant pruned and why?

A

pruned to a greater crop load than for still wines, as the base wines do not need a high concentration of flavors

27
Q

In Alsace, when must a grower declare they are going to make Cremant from particular vineyards?

A

July

28
Q

When in harvest for Cremant in Alsace? why

A

last days of August to first part of September
this is when just ripe fruit with high acidity is sought

29
Q

Is harvest by hand or machine for Cremant? why?

A

hand - whole bunch pressing is mandatory to produce high quality juice with low phenolic content

30
Q

Because the potential alcohol is low in Cremant wines, what often needs to be done?

A

chaptalization

31
Q

What winemaking procedure is followed for Cremant wines?

A

standard procedure for the traditional method to produce fully sparkling wines

32
Q

Are reserve wines made in cremant?

A

no - they are made entirely from a single vintage

33
Q

How long is time on lees typically during 2nd fermentation for Cremant wines? what does this do to the wines?

A

relatively short (12 months)
results with wines showing primary fruit flavor

34
Q

Some top producers will increase time on lees in Cremant, by how much? and for what purpose?

A

at least two years
results in wines with brioche and/or biscuit autolytic notes and more complexity

35
Q

What style are the majority of Cremant sparkling wines made at?

A

Brut

36
Q

What are the typical dosage levels for Cremant sparkling wines? why?

A

8-10 g/l
sugar balances high acidity

37
Q

How are Cremant Rose sparkling wines made?

A

maceration on the skins for 12-24 hours to get desired depth of color.

38
Q

How is production divided in Cremant d’Alsace

A

43% co-operatives
37% merchant houses
20% independent growers

39
Q

What is the largest single company in Cremant d’Alsace?

A

the co-operative Maison Bestheim

40
Q

Through mergers and acquisitions how many hectares does Maison Bestheim own?

A

1,400
half of these vineyards owned by the company
half of these vineyards owned by 450 growers

41
Q

How much has production grown in cremant d’Alsace between 2000-2020

A

more than doubled and produces nearly 40 million bottles per year

42
Q

Where are most Cremant d’Alsace wines sold?

A

France although exports are also rising

43
Q

What is Cremant d’Alsace Emotion

A

prestige category that was launched in 2012 to create top quality category for Alsace sparkling wine

44
Q

What are the requirements of Cremant d’Alsace Emotion?

A

min 75% pinot Blanc, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir separately or together

min 24 mths on lees

45
Q

How popular is the new category of Cremant d’Alsace?

A

not proving to be popular