Cremant d'Alsace

Question 1

Cremant accounts for what percentage of total production in Alsace?

Answer 1

25%

Question 2

How many producers in Alsace are making Cremant?

Answer 2

~500

Question 3

Name the most important variety for sparkling wine in Alsace

Answer 3

Pinot Blanc

Question 4

What is the typical tasting notes for Pinot Blanc-based Cremant?

Answer 4

• Medium Intensity apple and pear fruit
• Biscuit-like autolytic notes
• Medium (+) to high acidity
• Light to medium body
• Generally Brut in style

Question 5

What are the average vineyard aspect and elevation in Alsace?

Answer 5

• Most vineyards are on the eastern flank of the Vosage Mountains, facing east
• Most vineyards range from 200-400 m

Question 6

Does the Vosage cause a rain-shadow, and if so, how does that affect the region?

Answer 6

• The Vosage Mountains do cast a rain-shadow over the region

- The rain-shadow in turn the climate is sunny, continental, and dry

Question 7

Is irrigation allowed in Alsace?

Answer 7

Irrigation is not allowed in Alsace, which means that water shortages can be a problem.

Question 8

What is the biggest weather hazard in Alsace?

Answer 8

Spring frost are becoming more and more of a problem as warmer and earlier springs result in an earlier budbreak.

Question 9

Where is Pinot Blanc generally grown in Alsace?

Answer 9

Since Riesling and the other noble varieties get the best sites, Pinot Blanc is grown in areas where other grapes may struggle to ripen.

Some examples would be:

• The Valley Floor
• Cooler Sites
• Munster Valley

Question 10

List the varieties that are used to produce Cremant d’Alsace

Answer 10

• Pinot Blanc
• Auxerrois
• Chardonnay
• Riesling
• Pinot Gris
• Pinot Noir

Question 11

Pinot Blanc makes up what percentage of the total plantings in Alsace?

Answer 11

20%

Question 12

List some of the reasons why Pinot Blanc is used for sparkling wine in Alsace

Answer 12

• Early budding and early ripening
• Harvest can be done weeks ahead of everything else because of the above
• Early harvest can be helpful to wineries who are handling the full range of Alsace varieties

Question 13

What are some of the drawbacks of growing Pinot Blanc in Alsace?

Answer 13

• Susceptible to spring frost due to early budding

- Prone to fungal diseases

Question 14

What two of the noble varieties are not permitted in Cremant d’Alsace?

Answer 14

• Gewurztraminer

- Muscat

Question 15

What varieties are allowed in the production of Cremant d’Alsace Rose?

Answer 15

Pinot Noir

Question 16

What is the fix for low potential abv in Alsace?

Answer 16

Winemakers are allowed to chaptalize their wines

Question 17

What is they typical maceration time for pinot noir before it is pressed and then made into Cremant d’Alsace Rose?

Answer 17

12 to 24 hours to get the desired depth of color

Question 18

What is the production breakdown between co-ops, merchant houses and independent growers for Cremant d’Alsace

Answer 18

• Co-ops make up 43%
• Merchant houses make up 37%
• Independent growers make up the last 20%

Question 19

What is the name of the prestige category of Cremant d’Alsace, and when was it created?

Answer 19

Cremant d’Alsace Emotion was created in 2012

Question 20

What are the requirements for Cremant d’Alsace Emotion?

Answer 20

• min. 75% Pinot Blanc, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir (either separately or together)
• min. 24 months on the lees