France: Alsace Flashcards
Where is located Alsace?
- Alsace is located in the northeast corner of France along the border with Germany
- It is nestled between the:
Vosges Mountains
Rhine River - The Vosges Mountains create a rain shadow effect protecting the region from the harsh, rainy weather coming from Northern France and the Atlantic
- Vosges Mountains has been established in 1962 as being one of the latest classic regions to be granted an AOC status
The three AOC’s covering Alsace are:
- Alsace AOC
- Cremant d’ Alsace
- Grand Cru ( which were granted their own AOC since 2012)
Alsace is separated in two departments:
- Haut- Rhin
- Bas- Rhin
The best vineyard sites and majority of Grand Cru sites are located in:
Haut- Rhin
Some of the best Grand Crus are:
- Schlossberg ( largest one)
- Brand
- Mambourg
- Kitterle
- Sporen
Mountains of Alsace:
Vosges Mountains
Soils of Alsace:
- Volcanic
- Alluvial
- Sand
- Local pink sandstone “ Gres des Vosges”
Noble Grapes of Alsace:
- Riesling
- Gewürztraminer
- Pinot Gris
- Muscat
Edelzwicker:
Indicates a blend of any permitted grapes. No regulation on the number of varieties. May be vintage dated
Gentil:
Requires a minimum of 50% of noble varieties in the blend
Vendages Tardives:
It is the term for Late Harvest wines which are sweet and used only with the noble grape variety
SGN:
It is the term for Botrytised affected grapes which wines are sweet and used only with the noble grape varieties
Cremant d’ Alsace:
It is the sparkling wine that is produced with the traditional method or methode champenoise from six grape varieties, which are:
1. Riesling
2. Auxerrois ( white grape)
3. Chardonnay
4. Pinot Noir
5. Pinot Blanc
6. Pinot Gris
Notable Producers:
- Domaine Trimbach
- Domaine Weinbach
- Domaine Zind- Humbrecht
100% Pinot Noir Vineyards:
- Hengst
- Kirchberg de Barr
- Vourbourg
French Regions:
- Champagne
- Alsace
- Burgundy
- Jura
- Savoy
- Rhône Valley
- Provence
- Languedoc- Rousillon
- Bordeaux
- Loire Valley
