France - Alsace Flashcards

1
Q

Name the two Départements of Alsace.

A

Bas-Rhin (North)

Haut-Rhin (South)

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2
Q

What is the climate of Alsace?

A

Cool Continental (with long Autumns)

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3
Q

What is the geographic barrier to the west of Alsace?

A

Vosges Mountains

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4
Q

What types of soil are found on the vineyard slopes?

A

Granite, limestone, sandstone, volcanic, clay, and loam

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5
Q

What types of soil are found on the plains?

A

largely Alluvial

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6
Q

What is the main vine training system used?

A

Double Guyot

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7
Q

What are the noble grapes of Alsace?

A

Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris, Muscat

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8
Q

What other varietals are important outside of the nobles grapes?

A

Sylvaner, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Noir

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9
Q

Is MLF a common practice in Alsace?

A

No, with the exception of Pinot Gris

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10
Q

What are the ACs for Alsace?

A

Crémant d’Alsace AC
Alsace (Vin d’Alsace) AC
Alsace Grand Cru AC

Vendange Tardive (VT)
Sélection de Graines Nobles (SGN)
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11
Q

When was the Vin d’Alsace AC created?

A

1962

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12
Q

What shape of bottle must a Vin d’Alsace be in?

A

Flûte d’Alsace

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13
Q

When was the Alsace Grand Cru AC created?

A

1975

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14
Q

How many vineyards are included in the Alsace Grand Cru AC?

A

51

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15
Q

What are the qualifications to be labeled Grand Cru?

A
  • Must be a single noble varietal
  • Max Yields are lower than Vin d’Alsace
  • Sugar Ripeness must be higher than Vin d’Alsace
  • Label must have:
    1. Name of Vineyard
    2. Vintage
    3. Grape Varietal
  • Each GC has their own committee to decide quality
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16
Q

Which Grand Crus allow blending?

A

Kaefferkopf, Altenberg de Bergheim

17
Q

Which Grand Cru allows Sylvaner?

A

Zotzenberg

18
Q

What are the requirements for VT wines?

A
  • Late Harvest
  • Only noble varietals
  • Sugar ripeness must be able to make wines with ABV:
    14% - Riesling/Muscat
    15.3% - Pinot Gris/Gewürztraminer
19
Q

What winemaking technique is used, often times, to make the best VT wines?

A

Passerillage (there may be some Botrytis as well)

20
Q

What are the requirements for SGN wines?

A
  • must be Noble varietals
  • Sugar ripeness must be able to make wines with ABV:
    16. 4% - Riesling/Muscat
    18. 2% - Pinot Gris/Gewürztraminer
21
Q

Are SGN wines produced every year?

A

No, and when they are it is in small quantities

22
Q

Outside of VT/SGN wines, what is the general style of Alsatian wines?

A

Dry
Medium to Full-Bodied
Notable Spice flavor to accompany fruit

23
Q

Describe Riesling in the context of Alsace.

A

Most widely planted varietal.
full-bodied, dry, M-M+ ABV, High Acid, flinty mineralogy
Makes very best SGNs

24
Q

Describe Gewürztraminer in the context of Alsace.

A

Aromatic Spicy Nose: lychee, rose, baking spices
Golden color, full-bodied, rich/oily, M to L Acid, High ABV (14% ABV common)
Classic association with Asian foods

25
Q

Describe Pinot Gris in the context of Alsace.

A

Rich, Full-bodied, high ABV, golden
Fresh and Dried Fruits, smoky, honey
Makes exceptional VT/SGN wines

26
Q

What was Pinot Gris previously labeled as?

A

Tokay d’Alsace/Tokay Pinot Gris

27
Q

Describe Muscat in the context of Alsace.

A

Less than 3% of Vineyard area
Prone to couloure and rot
Generally Muscat Blanc à Petite Grains or Muscat Ottonel
Inconsistent Yields

28
Q

Describe Pinot Blanc and Auxerrois in the context of Alsace.

A

usually blended together
if labeled PB then it usually is a blend
if labeled Aux. then it’s 100% var.
Auxerrois is fuller-bodied and spicier than PB, prefers plains, and widely used for Sparkling wine

29
Q

Describe Sylvaner in the context of Alsace.

A

Delicate Perfume
Light Richness
best young

30
Q

Describe Pinot Noir in the context of Alsace.

A

less than 10% of plantings
light, fruity
used in rosé and sparkling production