Cremant d'Alsace

Question 1

What is the style of Cremant based Pinot Blanc ?

Answer 1

1. Medium intensity apple and pear
2. Brioche and/or biscuit autolytic notes
3. Medium (+) to high acidity
4. Light to medium body
5. Most wines are in the Brut style

Question 2

Describe the climate and growing environment for Cremant d’Alsace.

Answer 2

The vineyards for both still and sparkling wine are mainly on the eastern flanks of the Vosges foothills at elevation ranging from 200 to 400m. The Vosges protect vineyards from prevailing westerly winds.

As a result, the climate is sunny and continental. It is often dry and hot during the growing season, though rain at harvest can be a problem.

Shortage of water can be a problem, as irrigation is not permitted.

In this climate, grape ripening progresses with hot days and cool nights (due to the continental climate), giving flavour ripeness while retaining the high acidity that is ideal for traditional method sparkling wine.

Spring frost can be a problem and has become worse in recent years with warmer and earlier springs resulting in early bud break. This is turn makes the vines more vulnerable to spring frost and leads to reduction in yields.

Question 3

What are grape variety used for Cremant d’Alsace ?

Answer 3

Pinot Blanc
Pinot Gris
Pinot Noir
Chardonnay
Riesling
Auxerrois

Gewurztraminer and Muscat are not permitted.

Question 4

What is black grape variety used to make Cremant d’Alsace Rose ?

Answer 4

Pinot Noir

Question 5

Describe Pinot Blanc roles in Cremant d’Alsace production

Answer 5

1. It is early budding, making it vulnerable to spring frosts. It is prone to fungal diseases.
2. It is also early ripening, which combined with the early picking necessary for sparking wines, means that the harvest is much earlier than other varieties.
3. Pinot Blanc contributes pear and apple aromas and high acidity
4. It’s inexpensive variety

Question 6

What is the max yield grapes for Cremant d’Alsace ?

Answer 6

80 hl/ha, very similar to that allowed in Champagne

Question 7

Explain the winemaking of Cremant d’Alsace

Answer 7

1. As potential alcohol is low, the must is often chaptalised.
2. Winemaking then follows the standard procedure for traditional method to produce a fully sparkling wine.
3. Wines are typically made entirely from grapes from a single vintage. i.e. no reserve wines.
4. Time on the lees during secondary fermentation is typically relatively short (e.g. 12 months), resulting in wines that show mainly primary fruit. However better producers increase the time on lees substantially, this results in wines with brioche and/or biscuit autolytic notes and more complexity.
5. The vast majority of wines are Brut. Dosage levels typically 8-10g/L range with the sugar balancing the high acidity.
6. Rose wines are made by maceration on the skins for 12-14 hours to get the desired depth of colour.

Question 8

Mention one of the largest co-operatives and pioneers of Cremant d’Alsace

Answer 8

Maison Bestheim

Question 9

Describe the harvest for grapes in Cremant d’Alsace

Answer 9

Harvest is early (the last days of Aug to first part of Sept) because just-ripe fruit with high acidity is sought.

Harvest is by hand, as whole-bunch pressing is mandatory. This is with view to producing high-quality juice with phenolic content.

Question 10

What is the requirement for Cremant d’Alsace Prestige category

Answer 10

Minimum 75% Pinot Blanc, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, separately or together.

Minimum 24 months on lees.