France - Alsace Flashcards
In what year, did Alsace achieve AOP status?
1962
Name the two départements, that Alsace is divided into
Haut-Rhin & Bas-Rhin
In which Alsace département, is over 2/3 of the Grand Crus located, and generally the more premier wines originate from?
Haut-Rhin
What is the name of the mountains, seperating Alsace from the rest of France?
Vosges Mountains
The Vosges Mountains, creates a rain shadow effect over Alsace, what are the results?
Alsace is one of France’s driest and sunniest climates
Name the driest city in France, and in where it is located
Colmar, capital of Haut-Rhin, Alsace
What climate has Alsace?
Semi-Continental
In what direction, is the better vineyards of Alsace facing?
South, Southeast og East
True or False: Due to it’s northerly position, Alsace grapes ripens later than those of Loire and northern Burgundy
False, due to the sheer number of sunlight hours in the summertime, Alsatian vines typically ripen with greater regularity
What’s the name of the local pink sandstone in Alsace?
Grés de Vosges
What is the general soil composition along the steeper mountain slopes in Alsace?
Schist, granite and volcanic sediment
How big a % of Alsace AOP wine is white?
90%
Name the 4 “noble” grapes of Alsace
Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris & Muscat
In Alsace, Pinot Blanc is also known as ….
Klevner
In Alsace, Chasselas is also known as ….
Gutedel
Even if bottled as a single variety, in Alsace Auxerrois may be accorded the title of “…………..” on the label
Pinot Blanc
True or False: all varietally labeled Alsace AOP wines must contain 100% of the printed grape
True, with the exception of “Pinot Blanc” & “Pinot”
True or False: in Alsace, wines labeled “Pinot” may contain any proportion of related varieties: Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, and Auxerrois
True
Which grape in Alsace, is the most planted?
Riesling
Since when, did Alsace AOP law mandate standard Riesling to be dry?
2008
The pink variant of Traminer, also known as Savagnin Rose, is known in Alsace as?
Klevener de Heiligenstein
Name the five communes that under the existing Alsace AOP may bottle varietally Klevener de Heiliggenstein
Heiligenstein itself, Bourgheim, Gertwiller, Goxwiller, and Obernai
Name the two types of blended wines in Alsace
Edelzwicker & Gentil
Describe Edelzwicker
An inexpensive blended wine. Alsace AOP wines labeled Edelzwicker do not need to be vintage-dated, nor are they even legally obligated to contain more than one grape. In practice, however, they are blends and do not need to indicate any percentages or grapes on the label.
Describe the unofficial Alsacian term Gentil
A superior designation for blends that contain a minimum of 50% noble grapes. Any other Alsace AOP grape may compose the remainder, and the base wines must be vinified separately.
Which vineyard, was the first, and only, Grand Cru of Alsace in 1975?
Schlossberg
Other than at the creation in 1975, in what years was Grand Cru vineyards added in Alsace
1983, 1992 & 2007
What Alsace Grand Cru vineyard, was the last to be added in 2007?
Kaefferkopf
Which Alsace Grand Cru vineyards, may be blends?
Altenberg de Bergheim & Kaefferkopf
Without the exceptions, what grapes are allowed for Alsance Grand Cru?
Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris & Muscat
What Muscat grapes, are grown in Alsace?
Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains, Muscat Rosé à Petits Grains, Muscat Ottonel
In which Grand Cru vineyard, is Sylvaner allowed?
Zotzenberg
True or False: Hand harvesting is mandatory for Alsace Grand Cru
True
What is the minimum potential alcohol level, for Riesling and Muscat Grand Cru in Alsace?
11%
What is the minimum potential alcohol level, for Pinot Gris and Gewurztraminer Grand Cru in Alsace?
12.5%
In what year, was each Grand Cru vineyard in Alsace, granted its own AOP status?
2011
Which Alsace Grand Cru vineyard is the smallest?
Kanzlerberg at 3 ha
Which Alsace Grand Cru vineyard is the largest?
Schlossberg at 80 ha
From which vineyard, is the grapes for Trimbach’s Clos-Ste-Hune sourced?
Rosacker
In what vintage, did Trimbach first release its Geisberg Grand Cru?
2009
When was the designations Vendanges Tardives & Sélections de Grains Nobles added in Alsace?
1984
True or False: Vendanges Tardives & Sélections de Grains Nobles wines must be sweet
False
What is the minimum suger level at harvest for Vendange Tardives Muscat & Riesling?
244 g/l
What is the minimum suger level at harvest for Vendange Tardives Pinot Gris & Gewurztraminer?
270 g/l
What is the minimum suger level at harvest for Sélection de Grains Nobles Muscat & Riesling?
276 g/l
What is the minimum suger level at harvest for Sélection de Grains Nobles Pinot Gris & Gewurztraminer?
306 g/l
In which Grand Cru vineyards, are Pinot Noir allowed?
Hengst & Kirchberg de Barr
From what vintage, is Pinot Noir allowed as Grand Cru status from Hengst & Kirchberg de Barr?
2022
True or False: Crémant d’Alsace Rosé, is made solely from Pinot Noir
True
True or False: Chardonnay is allowed for Alsace AOP & Crémant d’Alsace
False, only Crémant d’Alsace
Which grape is the primary for Crémant d’Alsace production?
Pinot Blanc
What grapes are allowed for Côtes de Toul AOP white wine?
Auxerrois & Aubin
What grapes are allowed for Côtes de Toul AOP Vin Gris?
Gamay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, Aubin & Auxerrois
What are the blending rules of Côtes de Toul AOP Vin Gris?
Max. 85% Gamay or Pinot, Min. 10% Pinot Noir, both must be present.
Max. 15% combined Pinot Meunier, Aubin & Auxerrois.
What grape is allowed for Côtes de Toul AOP red wine?
Pinot Noir
When was Moselle upgraded from VDQS to AOP?
2011
What grapes are used for Moselle AOP white wine?
Auxerrois, Müller-Thurgau & Pinot Gris
What grapes are used for Moselle AOP Rosé wine?
Pinot Noir & Gamay
What grape is used for Moselle AOP red wine?
Pinot Noir
True or False: Muscat must be varietal wines, coming from
the Zotzenberg, Altenberg de Bergheim or Kaefferkopf Grand Cru vineyards
False, Muscat is not authorized for varietal wines in these vineyards
The blend of Altenberg de Bergheim Grand Cru, must comprise of what?
50-70% Riesling, 10-25% Pinot Gris, 10-25% Gewurztraminer, max. 10% combined Chasselas, Muscat, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Blanc
The blend of Kaefferkopf Grand Cru, must comprise of what?
60-80% Gewurztraminer, 10-40% Riesling, max. 30% Pinot Gris, max. 10% Muscat
What is the minimum potential alcohol level for Riesling at Altenberg de Bergheim Grand Cru?
12%
What is the minimum potential alcohol level for Pinot Gris & Gewurztraminer at Altenberg de Bergheim Grand Cru?
14%
What is the minimum potential alcohol level for field blend grapes at Altenberg de Bergheim Grand Cru?
14%
What is the minimum potential alcohol level for field blend grapes at Kaefferkopf Grand Cru?
12%
What is the minimum suger level at harvest for Riesling, Muscat & Sylvaner in Alsace Grand Cru?
168 g/l
What is the minimum suger level at harvest for Pinot Gris & Gewurztraminer in Alsace Grand Cru?
193 g/l
What is the minimum suger level at harvest for Riesling at Altenberg de Bergheim Grand Cru?
185 g/l
What is the minimum suger level at harvest for Pinot Gris & Gewurztraminer at Altenberg de Bergheim Grand Cru?
218 g/l
When must the producers in Alsace, declare the intent to produce Grand Cru wine?
March 1st of the harvest year
Must Alsace Grand Cru wines be vintage dated?
Yes
When can Alsace Grand Cru wines be released?
Not untill June 1st of the year following harvest. An additional year is required for VT & SGN wines
What training systems are used for Alsace Grand Cru?
Single or Double Guyot
Whats the minimum planting density for Alsace Grand Cru?
min. 4,500 vines per hectare, 2 meters or less between rows.
Whats the minimum planting density for Altenberg de Bergheim Grand Cru?
5,500 vines per hectare
Whats the maximum yield allowed for Alsace Grand Cru?
Blanc: 50 hl/ha
Rouge 40 hl/ha
VT 50 hl/ha
SGN 40 hl/ha
In what Alsace Grand Cru vineyard, is Ernest Burns Clos St. Imer located?
Goldert
In what Alsace Grand Cru vineyard, is Willm’s Clos Gaensbroennel located?
Kirchberg de Barr
In what Alsace Grand Cru vineyard, is Domaine Klipfel’s Clos Zisser located?
Kirchberg de Barr
In what Alsace Grand Cru vineyard, is Lucien Albcrecht’s Clos Schild located?
Pfingstberg
In what Alsace Grand Cru vineyard, is Zind-Humbrecht’s Clos St Urban located?
Rangen
In what Alsace Grand Cru vineyard, is Schoffit’s Clos St Théobald located?
Rangen
In what Alsace Grand Cru vineyard, is René Muré’s Clos St Landelin located?
Vorbourg
Grapes allowed for Crémant d’Alsace Blanc
Riesling, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Auxerrois & Chardonnay
What’s the minimum potential alcohol required for Crémant d’Alsace?
9%
What’s the minimum required must weight for Crémant d’Alsace?
144 g/l
What’s the ageing requirements for Crémant d’Alsace?
12 months total ageing, of which atleast 9 months on the lees.
What’s the preassure requirements for Crémant d’Alsace?
min. 4 atmospheres of preassure
Which methods, to extract colour, are allowed in the production of Rosé Crémant d’Alsace?
Marceraction or Saignée
What’s the minimum planting density required for Crémant d’Alsace?
4,000 vines per hectare
What’s the maximum yield allowed for Crémant d’Alsace?
80 hl/ha
What’s the maximum press yield allowed for Crémant d’Alsace?
100 liters/150 kg
When was Crémant d’Alsace AOP established?
1976