France - Alsace

Question 1

What is Alsace’s general climate? What natural factors influence this?

Answer 1

Continental, with cold winters and warm, sunny summers.
Northerly latitude results in a long growing season.
Westerly winds carry rain clouds but much of the rain falls on the west side of the Vosges mountains.

Question 2

What is the average rainfall in viticultural Alsace?

Answer 2

600mm, less than half of the other side of the Vosges.

Question 3

How does rainfall pose a threat?

Answer 3

Summer drought can be an issue, and irrigation is currently not permitted in the AOC.
Rain is spread throughout the year with the wettest months in summer (August) and the driest normally during harvest (Sept and Oct) meaning untimely rainfall at flowering and fruitset can be an issue, and, more rarely, so too at harvest.

Question 4

What are Alsace’s sunshine hours like, and why is this important?

Answer 4

High sunshine hours, important to ripen grapes at this northerly latitude.

Question 5

What is a key drying influence?

Answer 5

The Föhn wind, a warm wind that both raises temperature and decreases the risk of fungal disease.

Question 6

What is a key natural factor that helps retain acidity in the grapes?

Answer 6

The marked diurnal temperature difference, especially on higher sites.

Question 7

What altitude are the best vineyards usually found at? What is usually a common factor of these vineyards?

Answer 7

200-250m, with some up to 450m, often facing S, SE or SW for maximum sunlight interception.

Question 8

What does the fact of being at the foothills of the Vosges offer the region?

Answer 8

Many diverse vineyard sites at ranges of altitudes and aspects.

Question 9

Where are lesser quality vineyards often found?

Answer 9

On the plain between the foothills and the Rhine River.

Question 10

How do growers describe their terroir?

Answer 10

As soils are very varied, they refer to them as a ‘mosaic of terroirs’.

Question 11

What are the general soil types on the plains and on the hillsides?

Answer 11

Plains: deeper more fertile soils, promoting more vegetative growth, and so more suited to higher yielding growing.
Hillsides: lower fertility, better draining soils promoting slower growth and ultimately better quality.

Question 12

What are the percentages of each varieties plantings?

Answer 12

Riesling: 22%
Pinot Blanc: 22%
Gewurtz: 20%
Pinot Gris: 16%
Pinot Noir: 11%
Sylvaner: 5%

Question 13

What are the noble varieties of Alsace? What does this make them applicable for?

Answer 13

Riesling, Gewurtz, Pinot Gris and Muscat.
Grand cru labelling, Vendage Tardives and Sélection de Grains Nobles.

Question 14

What is the typical profile of Riesling from Alsace?

Answer 14

Medium to pronounced aroma intensity, unoaked and high acidity.
Dry (either no RS or low to the point its unnoticeable due to high acididty), medium to full body, medium alcohol, high acidity with citrus and stone fruit with a pronounced stony/steely minerality.
Good to outstanding quality and mid-priced to premium, with some super premium examples.

Question 15

When is Gewurtz picked in Alsace?

Answer 15

Late, to achieve fully ripe skins to maximise aromas and avoid unripe tannins.

Question 16

What is Gewurtz prone to in Alsace? How has the risk of these been mitigated?

Answer 16

Powdery mildew, grape vine moth and grey rot.
Virus-free clones have been produced by research stations in Alsace.

Question 17

What is the typical profile of Gewurz from Alsace?

Answer 17

Medium lemon (despite berries being light pink), with pronounced lychee, rose, stone fruits and spice (in German Gewürz means spice).
Medium to high alcohol, medium to full body, low acidity and a range of sweetness.
Good to outstanding quality and mid to premium priced.

Question 18

What is the typical profile of wines made from Pinot Blanc?

Answer 18

Low intensity apple and peach, medium acidity and alcohol.
Acceptable to good, with a couple of very good examples.

Question 19

What is Auxerrois most often used for?

Answer 19

Blends or Cremant

Question 20

What is the typical profile of Pinot Gris?

Answer 20

Medium intensity peach and apple, full bodied with medium acidity.
The best examples have a rich oily texture with the capacity to age and develop honeyed and smoky notes.
Can be made in a range of sweetness levels.

Question 21

What has been a hot topic of discussion regarding Pinot Gris in recent years?

Answer 21

Due to its rapid increase in sugar levels and decrease in acidity, the picking dates have been a very important topic in recent years, with earlier picking being enabled by the change in climate (earlier start to the season and warmer seasons) and better canopy management.

Question 22

What style of Pinot Gris have we seen a shift towards in recent years?

Answer 22

Drier styles, led by market demand.
As a result there are more dry wines with an abv of 12.5-13.5%, rather than off dry with 13.5%.

Question 23

What is the typical quality and price of wines from Alsace?

Answer 23

Good to outstanding, mid to premium.

Question 24

What is unique about Pinot Noir in Alsace?

Answer 24

It is the only black grape permitted in AOC.

Question 25

What was the historic profile of Pinot Noir? Why has this changed?

Answer 25

Quite thin and lean. A warming climate, learning from other regions (Burgundy and Germany) and local demand has caused a rise in quality in oaked and unoaked examples.

Question 26

Who are significant producers of Pinot Noir?

Answer 26

Domaines Muré and Albert Mann

Question 27

What is happening to plantings of Sylvaner? Why? What is a consequence of this?

Answer 27

Declining, partly because Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc are easier to grow. The majority of Sylvaner comes from older vines (40yr+), and very little Sylvaner is found on the valley floor. As a result its becoming a variety with a reputation for a source of good value for money.

Question 28

Which are the two types of Muscat grown in Alsace? Which ripens earlier?

Answer 28

Blanc à Petits Grains and Ottonel, in tiny amounts. Ottonel ripens earlier.

Question 29

Which form of vine training is required by AOC regulations?

Answer 29

Single or double guyot.

Question 30

Where is the fruiting zone typically found? Why?

Answer 30

1-1.2m above ground, higher than other regions, to reduce the risk of frost, especially on the valley plain, and humidity (due to regular, but low absolute rainfall).

Question 31

How high are canopies often trained? Why, and what other vineyard management does this affect?

Answer 31

1.9m above ground, higher than other regions, to maximise exposure to the sun. As a result, spacing between rows has to be wider to avoid shading.

Question 32

What is typical planting density?

Answer 32

4400-4800 vines per ha, with less dense planting on the valley floor and more dense on the slopes.

Question 33

What is necessary on the steepest slopes?

Answer 33

Terracing, as it is in some grand cru sites.

Question 34

What are the main pests and diseases?

Answer 34

Powdery and downy mildew. The grapevine moth and, latterly, esca.

Question 35

What factors help mitigate the effect of hazards?

Answer 35

A warm, sunny climate reduces incidence of fungal diseases. Small scale production, as often found in Alsace, helps with greater attention to detail in monitoring the health of the vine.

Question 36

What percentage of vineyards are certified organic?

Answer 36

15%, higher than the national average of 10%.

Question 37

What is the harvest period duration in Alsace? Why?

Answer 37

Long, typically from early Sept to late Oct due to the range of styles being made, sparkling through to VT and SGN, and the diversity of sites (altitude and exposition).

Question 38

In which situations is hand harvesting the only option?

Answer 38

On steep slopes, and for grand cru sites, as per AOC regulations.

Question 39

When is machine harvesting used?

Answer 39

Can be used when vineyards are on gentle slopes or on the plain, to reduce the cost of production for inexpensive and mid-priced wines.