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Master Sommelier Theory 2025 > FR: Alsace, Lorraine > Flashcards

FR: Alsace, Lorraine Flashcards

1
Q

what is a vin de liqueur?

A

Also called Mistelle in french. It is unfermented grape juice fortified with brandy (grape distillate). More fruit flavors.

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2
Q

what is a vin doux naturel?

A

“naturally sweet wine” grape juice is allowed to ferment before being fortified with brandy. Less fruit flavors than vin de liqueur, more flavors of fermentation

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3
Q

What German wine region runs parallel to Alsace?

A

Baden, across the Rhine River. Pfalz is the contiguation of Alsace, so it continues northward

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4
Q

When did Alsace attain AOC status?

A

1962- the last major winemaking region in France to do so

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5
Q

What are the two départements in Alsace? Which is in the North? What are their capitols?

A

Bas Rhin - northern half. Strasbourg is capitol.

Haut Rhin - in the south. over 2/3 of the grand cru vineyards are here. Colmar is capitol.

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6
Q

What geographical feature separates Alsace from the rest of France?

A

The Vosges Mountains

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7
Q

List some of the soil types in Alsace

A

granite, limestone, schist, clay, gravel, chalk, loess

grés de Vosges - local pink sandstone

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8
Q

What type of soil is typically on the steeper mountain slopes in Alsace?

A

schist, granite, volcanic sediment

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9
Q

What type of soil is typically on the lower slopes in Alsace?

A

limestone

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10
Q

What type of soil is typically on the plains in Alsace?

A

richer alluvial clay, gravel

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11
Q

Alsace synonyms for Pinot Blanc

A

Pinot Vrai
Klevner

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12
Q

By what other name was the Clos Ribeaupierre known?

A

Clos du Schlossberg

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13
Q

Which Alsace Grand Cru allows Sylvaner?

A

Zotzenberg

Boeckel producer

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14
Q

Grapes not allowed in Alsace Grand Cru

A

Chasselas, Auxerrois, Sylvaner (except in Zotzenberg)

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15
Q

What does Gentil indicate on Alsatian wine?

A

Alsatian blend, must be at least 50% noble varieties, vinified separately and then blended

rest of the grapes may be other alsatian white grapes- i.e. Chasselas, Sylvaner, Pinot Blanc, Auxerrois

producers: Hugel, Meyer-Fonne, and Willm

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16
Q

What is edelzwicker?

A

A blend of any two of the approved white varieties of alsace;
may be vinified separately or together, and no vintage needs to be declared on the label

*allows co-fermentation.

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17
Q

In what village is the Clos des Capucins? Who makes this wine?

A

In the village of Kayserberg, at the foot of Schlossberg GC, owned by Domaine Weinbach

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18
Q

Clos St Hune

A

in Rosacker Grand Cru, in the village of Hunawihr
Trimbach monopole, 1.67 ha, planted with Riesling

Limestone soils, SE facing

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19
Q

Alsace houses traditionally opposed to Grand Cru bottlings

A

Léon Beyer
Trimbach
Hugel

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20
Q

What Clos is owned by Albert Mann? What village is it in?

A

Clos de la Faille, Wintzenheim

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21
Q

What four grapes are permitted for Alsatian Vendanges Tardives?

A

Riesling
Pinot Gris
Muscat
Gewurztraminer

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22
Q

What is Alsace’s signature cheese?

A

Munster

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23
Q

Cuvée Frédéric Emile: who makes it? Blend of which grand crus?

A

A blend of riesling from the Grand crus Osterberg and Geisberg produced by Trimbach since 1898

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24
Q

What is unique about the 1989 vintage of Clos St Hune?

A

one of very few vintages released as Vendange Tardives, labelled ‘Hors Choix’

other VT vintages: 1983, 1997, 2007

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25
Who owns the majority of Schlossberg Grand Cru?
Schlumberger
26
Clos St Urbain where? proucer aspect grade
In Rangen Grand Cru Zind-Humbrecht monopole mostly Riesling, with PG & Gewurz South facing Volcanic, sandstone, low clay content 60% grade- very steep
27
Which Alsace Grand Crus allow blends?
Kaefferkopf (Meyer Fonne producer) Altenberg de Bergheim (Marcel Deiss producer)
28
Altenberg de Bergheim grapes producers
varietal Riesling, Gewurz, PG blends: 0-70% Riesling, 10-25% Pinot Gris, 10-25% Gewurztraminer, max. 10% combined Chasselas, Muscat à Petits Grains, Muscat Ottonel, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Blanc authorized for blends in 2001 produfers: Marcel Deiss, Gustave Lorentz, Sylvie Spielmann
29
What are the largest and smallest grand crus in Alsace?
Schlossberg 80.28 ha Kaefferkopf 71 ha Kanzlerberg 3.23 ha
30
Rangen clos here soils
grand cru of Alsace. Clos St Urbain (Zind-Humbrecht) Clos St Théobald (Schoffit) Varietal: all noble grapes, but known for PG & Gewurz Volcanic soils! just east of the main faultline of the Vosges. sulfur rich = less risk of phylloxera 335 to 465 meters elevation
31
Kanzlerberg size producers
smallest GC of Alsace at 3.23 ha only 2 producers: Sylvie Spielmann, Gustav Lorenz
32
Schlossberg GC village soil producers
largest grand cru in Alsace, in village of Kientzheim granite soils. non contiguous- in 2 sections. mostly planted to riesling Weinbach, Trimbach, Albert Mann, Marcel Deiss
33
Secondary grapes in Alsace?
Pinot Blanc (Klevner) Chasselas (Gutedel) Sylvaner Auxerrois Muscat Muscat Ottonel Klevener de Heiligenstein (Savagnin Rose) Pinot Noir
34
Klevener de Heiligenstein
aka Savagnin Rose. These communes may bottle varietally under Vin d'Alsace: Heiligenstein Bourgheim Obernai Gertwiller Goxwiller
35
For varietally labeled Alsatian wines, how much of the grape on the label must be present? grapes allowed
100% Vin d'Alsace may be varietal: Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris, Muscat, Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc, Chasselas, Sylvaner
36
What is a synonym for Chasselas in Alsace?
Gutedel
37
What was Pinot Gris formerly called in Alsace?
Tokay Pinot Gris Tokay d'Alsace
38
An Alsatian wine labeled "Pinot" may contain what varieties?
Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Auxerrois
39
What is Savagnin called in Alsace?
Klevner de Heiligenstein, or Savagnin Rose
40
When was Alsace Grand Cru first decreed? When did each grand cru receive it's own AOP?
First in 1975, With Schlossberg as the single named vineyard. 1983: 24 more added 1992: 25 more added 2007: Kaefferkopf was 51st 2011: all 51 become their own appellations
41
Alsace Vendanges Tardives requirements
may be vin d'Alsace or Alsace Grand Cru must be hand harvested may show botrytis character not necessarily totally sweet Riesling & Muscat: 244 g/l must weight PG & Gewurz: 270 g/l
42
Alsace Sélection de Grains Nobles requirements
may be vin d'Alsace or Alsace Grand Cru must be hand harvested must show botrytis character dessert like sweet Riesling & Muscat: 276 g/l must weight PG & Gewurz: 306 g/l
43
Crémant d'Alsace AOC grapes aging
Pinot Blanc*, Pinot Noir, Riesling, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Auxerrois Rose 100% PN Traditional method. 9 months on the lees, 12 months total. Rosé wines may be made by Maceration or Saignée. double or simple guyot AOC est 1976
44
Côtes de Toul AOP - grapes and styles
In Lorraine white: Auxerrois and Aubin red: Pinot Noir rose: made in pale vin gris style from Gamay and Pinot Noir
45
Moselle AOP- grapes and styles
white: Auxerrois, Muller Thurgau, Pinot Gris red: Pinot Noir ** only french region that allows varietal MT! Moselle River- flows north, and forms border between Luxembourg and Germany.
46
What are the two AOPs in Lorraine?
Côtes du Toul Moselle
47
Who makes Clos de la Faille?
Albert Mann, in Wintzenheim Pinot Noir!
48
Clos Windsbuhl
Zind Humbrecht monopole vineyard, 5ha Located on a hill above the village of Hunawihr, overlooking the village church. Not in a Grand Cru, but close to Rosacker Planted to Riesling, Gewurztraminer, and Pinot Gris
49
Who makes Cuvée St Catherine?
Weinbach
50
Zind Humbrecht uses an indice on their labels to refer to what?
Residual Sweetness
51
Alsace grand crus that are planted 100% Riesling?
Muenchberg Kastelberg Geisberg they all allow other grapes though
52
Which grand crus does Trimbach bottle?
Mandelberg Schlossberg Geisberg Frederich Emile: Osterberg and Geisberg Clos St Hune: Rosacker
53
What are the minimum must weights for Alsace Grand Cru wines?
Alsace Grand Cru: Riesling, Muscat, Sylvaner: 168 g/l Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer: 193 g/l Altenberg de Bergheim: Riesling: 185 g/l Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer: 218 g/l
54
What is the min alc % for Alsace Grand Cru?
Riesling/Muscat/Sylvaner: 11% Pinot Gris/Gewurztraminer: 12.5% Altenberg de Bergheim: Riesling: 12% Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer: 14% Final Blend: 14% Kaefferkopf: varietal same as base, Final Blend: 12%
55
When must producers declare intent to make Alsace Grand Cru?
Intent to produce Grand Cru wine must be declared before March 1 of the harvest year
56
Quintessence de Grains Nobles
an unofficial term for wines that significantly exceed the minimum requirements for SGN wines. The term was invented in 1983 by Domaine Weinbach to describe an exceptional cuvee of that year's vintage, and while still used primarily by Weinbach, it has been adopted by a few other producers, including Marcel Deiss.
57
Why is thermovinifcation a commonly used technique in Alsace?
Botrytis + Pinot Noir Botrytis develops an enzyme called laccase, that destroys color. The only way to rid of this enzyme is to heat the must to 70° C
58
Alsace 2020 rules for sweetness
from 2021 vintage forward, wines labeled Vin d'Alsace / Alsace AOP must be labelled with one of the following: Dry (sec): sugar content of the wine does not exceed 4g/L Medium-dry (demi-sec): sugar content of the wine is between 4g/L and 12g/L Mellow (moelleux): sugar content of the wine is between 12g/L and 45g/L Sweet (doux): sugar content of the wine exceeds 45g/L
59
producers making Schlossberg GC
Trimbach Weinbach Schlumberger Albert Mann
60
Marc d'Alsace grape abv aging
Gewurztraminer Minimum Alcohol: 45% Distillation Procedures: Only copper Alambic/Pot stills may be used Distillate must be less than or equal to 68.5% alcohol Authorized Additives: Addition of color is not allowed Maximum residual sugar is 10 g/l Aging Requirements: May not be aged in wood. Aged a minimum of 3 months prior to sale. Additional Requirements: Chaptalization of the marc is not permitted. Distillation must take place during a period of time starting two months after the declaration of the harvest and April 30th of the following year.
61
Kaefferkopf Grand Cru
in village of Ammerschwihr. non-contiguous! covers 3 hillsides and is 71 ha (second largest GC) Varietal: Gewurztraminer, Riesling, Pinot Gris blends: 60-80% Gewurztraminer, 10-40% Riesling, max. 30% Pinot Gris, max. 10% Muscat
62
Which 2 Alsatian Grand Cru's were the first to approve Pinot Noir for usage? When?
Hengst Kirchberg de Barr 2022 *approved by France, but not by the EU. So, it will be in effect unless rescinded by the EU - which is unlikely.
63
Clos St Landelin
Muré monopole. Grand Cru Vorbourg
64
Clos Hauserer
Zind-Humbrecht, in Winzenheim
65
types of Muscat in Alsace
Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains Muscat Rosé à Petits Grains Muscat Ottonel
66
Zind Humbrecht's Clos Vineyards
Clos Windsbuhl Clos Hauserer Clos Jebsal Clos St Urbain
67
Name 3 major producers of Cremant d'Alsace.
Wolfberger (6 to 7 million bottles per year) Lucien Albrecht Dopff & Irion Albert Mann Pierre Sparr Joseph Cattin
68
Cuvée Theo
Domaine Weinbach Riesling and Gewurztraminer, from Clos des Capucins
69
What are the 3 northernmost Grand Crus of the Haut-Rhin?
Altenberg de Bergheim Kanzlerberg Gloeckelberg
70
Clos St Theobald
Domaine Schofitt in Rangen Grand Cru
71
What is the soil composition of Altenberg de Bergheim?
150 million year old Jurassic marl-limestone covered in red calcareous clay - a very unique setup. There is also a significant amount of gypsum in the soil.
72
What is the Tahlwendala?
A cool nighttime wind unique to slopes just north of Ribeauville, affecting the Osterberg, Geisberg and Kirchberg de Ribeauville Grand Cru's
73
Alsace AOP most planted grapes
Riesling, closely followed by Pinot Blanc, then PG, then Gewurz
74
Alsace AOP styles made
blanc without variety varietal blanc rose/clairet/schillerwein (PN) rouge: PN VT, SGN: single varietal, made from and labeled as: Gewurz, Riesling, Muscat, Muscat Ottonel, PG
75
Alsace VT min abv
Riesling, Muscat: 14.5% PG, Gewurztraminer: 16% these are potential
76
Alsace SGN min abv
Riesling, Muscat: 16.4% PG, Gewurztraminer: 18.2% these are potential
77
Alsace varietal wines min abv (noble grapes)
Muscat 9.5% Riesling 10% PG, Gewurz 11.5% .5% higher if labeled with subzone or lieu-dit
78
Alsace Grand Cru min abv white wines
Riesling/Muscat/Sylvaner: 11% Pinot Gris/Gewurztraminer: 12.5%
79
Alsace max residual sugar
Riesling: 6 g/l (if the wines have been chaptalized), 9 g/l (if tartaric acid is less than 6 g/l), 12 g/l (if tartaric acid is greater than 6 g/l) --this does not apply to SGN or VT Riesling, or Riesling labeled with a lieu-dit Rosé: 4 g/l Rouge: 2 g/l
80
Clos Jesbal
Zind Humbrecht, in Turckheim
81
Alsace Grand Cru min abv Pinot Noir
Kirchberg de Barr: 12% Hengst & Vorbourg: 12.5% Alsace AC is 11%
82
Altenberg de Bergheim min abv
Riesling: 12% PG, Gewurz: 14% final blend: 14%
83
Kaefferkopf min abv
Riesling: 11% PG, Gewurz: 12.5% final blend: 12%
84
When is intent to make Alsace Grand Cru declared?
must declare BEFORE march 1 of harvest year also must be vintage dated
85
Alsace Grand Cru aging
wines must age until June 1 year following harvest VT & SGN: June 1 second year following harvest
86
Kaefferkopf grapes
Varietal: Riesling, Gewurz, PG blends: 60-80% Gewurz, 10-40% Riesling, max. 30% Pinot Gris, max. 10% Muscat
87
Clos vineyards in Rangen
Clos St Urbain (Zind Humbrect) Clos St Tehobald (Schoffit)

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