Cremant d'Alsace Flashcards
How much of the total production of wine does Cremant account for in Alsace?
about 25%
About how many producers make Cremant in Alsace?
500
How has the area of vineyard declared each year for Cremant grown in Alsace?
by about 15% over the last 10 years to 3600 hectares - shows increase in demand
What is the most important varietal for sparkling wine in Alsace?
Pinot Blanc
SAT for Pinot Blanc Cremant
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
Where are vineyards mostly found for sparkling wines in Alsace?
eastern flanks of the Vosges foothills
what are the elevations of most Alsace vineyards
200-400 m
What protects vineyards in ALsace from prevailing westerly winds
Vosges
What is the climate in Alsace?
sunny and continental; dry and hot during growing season and rain at harvest can be a problem
Why is shortage of water a problem in Alsace?
irrigation is not permitted
How does the climate in Alsace help with grape ripening?
ripening progresses with hot days and cool nights giving flavor ripeness while retaining the high acidity which is ideal for traditional method
How has spring frosts become more of an issue recently for Alsace region?
warmer and earlier bud break in turn makes vines more vulnerable to spring frost and leads to reduction in yields
What are the best vineyard sites reserved for in Alsace?
noble varieties such as Riesling to be made into still wines
What kind of sites are PInot Blanc grown in Alsace?
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
What are the varieties used for Cremant d’Alsace?
PInot Blanc, Auxerrious, Chardonnay, Riesling, PInot Gris and Pinot Noir - all suited for traditional method
How much of the total vineyard area in Alsace does Pinot Blanc carry?
20%
What are two things Pinot Blanc are prone to?
spring frosts (early budding)
fungal disease
Why is harvesting for Pinot Blanc much earlier than other varieties?
it is early ripening and the early picking that is necessary for sparkling wines
What does Pinot Blanc contribute to Cremant?
pear and apple aromas and high acidity
What varieties are not permitted in Cremant from Alsace?
Gewurztraminer and Muscat
Why will some growers add Pinot Gris to Pinot Blanc Cremant wines?
to raise quality
What is the only Alsace appellation that allows the use of Chardonnay? what vineyard area it makes up there?
Cremant d’Alsace
only makes up 1% total vineyard area
What grape is Cremant d’Alsace Rose made from
Pinot Noir
SAT for Cremant d’Alsace Rose
very good quality
med to med+ flavor intensity of red berried fruit
What is the max yield permitted in Cremant d’Alsace?
80 hl/ha
How are grapes intended for Cremant pruned and why?
pruned to a greater crop load than for still wines, as the base wines do not need a high concentration of flavors
In Alsace, when must a grower declare they are going to make Cremant from particular vineyards?
July
When in harvest for Cremant in Alsace? why
last days of August to first part of September
this is when just ripe fruit with high acidity is sought
Is harvest by hand or machine for Cremant? why?
hand - whole bunch pressing is mandatory to produce high quality juice with low phenolic content
Because the potential alcohol is low in Cremant wines, what often needs to be done?
chaptalization
What winemaking procedure is followed for Cremant wines?
standard procedure for the traditional method to produce fully sparkling wines
Are reserve wines made in cremant?
no - they are made entirely from a single vintage
How long is time on lees typically during 2nd fermentation for Cremant wines? what does this do to the wines?
relatively short (12 months)
results with wines showing primary fruit flavor
Some top producers will increase time on lees in Cremant, by how much? and for what purpose?
at least two years
results in wines with brioche and/or biscuit autolytic notes and more complexity
What style are the majority of Cremant sparkling wines made at?
Brut
What are the typical dosage levels for Cremant sparkling wines? why?
8-10 g/l
sugar balances high acidity
How are Cremant Rose sparkling wines made?
maceration on the skins for 12-24 hours to get desired depth of color.
How is production divided in Cremant d’Alsace
43% co-operatives
37% merchant houses
20% independent growers
What is the largest single company in Cremant d’Alsace?
the co-operative Maison Bestheim
Through mergers and acquisitions how many hectares does Maison Bestheim own?
1,400
half of these vineyards owned by the company
half of these vineyards owned by 450 growers
How much has production grown in cremant d’Alsace between 2000-2020
more than doubled and produces nearly 40 million bottles per year
Where are most Cremant d’Alsace wines sold?
France although exports are also rising
What is Cremant d’Alsace Emotion
prestige category that was launched in 2012 to create top quality category for Alsace sparkling wine
What are the requirements of Cremant d’Alsace Emotion?
min 75% pinot Blanc, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir separately or together
min 24 mths on lees
How popular is the new category of Cremant d’Alsace?
not proving to be popular
