Cremant d’Alsace Flashcards
An overview of Cremant d’Alsace (5)
1) Important part of Alsace vineyard: 25% of wine produced
2) Aprox 500 producers make Cremant
3) Many producers make alongside their other wines
4) Most important variety is Pinot Blanc
5) Most wines: Brut style
What are the climatic conditions in Alsace?
1) Vineyards situated on the eastern flank of the Vosges
2) Vosges protects vineyards form the westerlies
3) Semi-continental climate, sunny, rather dry and hot during summer
4) Hot days and cool nights: ripeness, retains acid
5) Spring frost can be a problem: warmer, earlier springs cause early bud break - making vines more vulnerable to frost
What are the main 4 considerations in site location for the production of sparkling wine in Alsace?
1) Best sites: reserved for Riesling and other noble varieties
2) Elevations: between 200 and 400m ASL
3) Pinot blanc (spk wine): usually planted on lower elevations, higher fertility
4) Also in cooler sites (higher valleys), where grapes would struggle to achieve full ripeness.
What are the 6 grape varieties permitted in the production of Cremant d’Alsace? Comment.
1) Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Auxerrois, Chardonnay, Rieslling and Pinot Noir.
2) Aromatic grapes are not permitted.
3) Pinot blanc (most important): 20% of vineyard area (figures include Auxerrois).
4) Early budding, early ripening, prone to fungal diseases.
5) Yield: 80hl / ha
7 main winemaking considerations in Cremant d’Alsace
1) Potental alc is low (minimum 8.5%)
2) Must is often chaptalised
3) Follow standard procedure for TM spk wine production
4) Wines are typically 100% of a single vintage
5) Typically relatively short lees ageing during 2nd ferment (12 months)
6) Come top coops age their wines longer
7) Roses are made by skin maceration (12-24h)
8) Wines are typically Brut (8-10/L dosage)
What is the structure of the appellation and main target market?
1) Coops: 43%
2) Merchant houses: 37%
3) Independent producers: 20%
4) 80% of the wine is sold to domestic market
5) Production more than doubled in the years 2000 - 2014.
What is Cremant d’Alsace Emotion?
1) Prestige category launched in 2009
2) Minimum of 75% of Pinot Blanc, Chardonnay or Pinot Noir (sep or together)
3) Min of 24 moths on lees
4) Not a popular category
