FRANCE - Alsace Flashcards
The role of Vosges Mountain
- Rain shadow -> driest French region
- Sloped: long sunshine hours
Alsace is splited into 2 sub-districts
Haut Rhine & Bas Rhine
Soil type of Aslace Upper slope
Schist, granite and volcanic sediment
Soil type of Lower slope
Limestone base
Soil type of Foothills
Alluvial clay and gravel
Local Pink Sandstone name from Alsace
Gres de Vosges
4 noble grapes variety
- Riesling
- Pinot Gris
- Gewurztraminer
- Muscat ( -a Petit Grains, -Rose a Petit Grains, -Ottonel)
5 other grapes permitted in Alsace
- Pinot Blanc
- Auxerrois
- Chasselas
- Sylvaner
- Pinot Noir
Alsace local name for Pinot Blanc
Klevner (sounds like Govenor)
Alsace local name for Chasselas
Guteldel (sounds ike Guten Morgen - good morning in German)
“Pinot” label of Alsace AOP
Blend of Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris and Auxerrois
Edelzwicker and its law
- Means “Noble Mixture”, inexpensive blends
- Not required vintage date
- Not required % label of ea blend
- Not required to contain >1 variety
Gentil labelling term
- Unofficial
- Min. 50% a noble variety, which MUST be vinified separately
Define the style of Vendanges Tardives
Expression of varietal purity through passerfillage
VT law
- Hand harvested
- Can be AOC or Grand Cru
- Min. 1 noble variety
VT min. must weight for Rsl & Muscat
244g/L
VT min. must weight for Gewz & PG
270g/L
Selection de Grains Nobles style
Complexity through botrytis - suppresses fruit purity
SGN law
- Hand harvested
- Min. 1 noble variety
- Can be AOP or Grand Cru
SGN min. must weight for Rsl & Muscat
276g/L
SGN min. must weight for Gewz & PG
306g/L (one of the highest in French)
Grapes used in Cremant d’Alsace
- Pinot Blanc
- Chardonnay (only AOC to allow this)
- Pinot Noir
Which year was VT & SGN created?
1984
Alsace GC AOP law
- Only from 4 noble grapes (can be blended)
- Hand harvested
- Min. alc:
Rsl & Muscat = 11%
PG & Gewz = 12.5%
