France - Alsace Flashcards
Name the two Départements of Alsace.
Bas-Rhin (North)
Haut-Rhin (South)
What is the climate of Alsace?
Cool Continental (with long Autumns)
What is the geographic barrier to the west of Alsace?
Vosges Mountains
What types of soil are found on the vineyard slopes?
Granite, limestone, sandstone, volcanic, clay, and loam
What types of soil are found on the plains?
largely Alluvial
What is the main vine training system used?
Double Guyot
What are the noble grapes of Alsace?
Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris, Muscat
What other varietals are important outside of the nobles grapes?
Sylvaner, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Noir
Is MLF a common practice in Alsace?
No, with the exception of Pinot Gris
What are the ACs for Alsace?
Crémant d’Alsace AC
Alsace (Vin d’Alsace) AC
Alsace Grand Cru AC
Vendange Tardive (VT) Sélection de Graines Nobles (SGN)
When was the Vin d’Alsace AC created?
1962
What shape of bottle must a Vin d’Alsace be in?
Flûte d’Alsace
When was the Alsace Grand Cru AC created?
1975
How many vineyards are included in the Alsace Grand Cru AC?
51
What are the qualifications to be labeled Grand Cru?
- 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
Which Grand Crus allow blending?
Kaefferkopf, Altenberg de Bergheim
Which Grand Cru allows Sylvaner?
Zotzenberg
What are the requirements for VT wines?
- Late Harvest
- Only noble varietals
- Sugar ripeness must be able to make wines with ABV:
14% - Riesling/Muscat
15.3% - Pinot Gris/Gewürztraminer
What winemaking technique is used, often times, to make the best VT wines?
Passerillage (there may be some Botrytis as well)
What are the requirements for SGN wines?
- must be Noble varietals
- Sugar ripeness must be able to make wines with ABV:
16. 4% - Riesling/Muscat
18. 2% - Pinot Gris/Gewürztraminer
Are SGN wines produced every year?
No, and when they are it is in small quantities
Outside of VT/SGN wines, what is the general style of Alsatian wines?
Dry
Medium to Full-Bodied
Notable Spice flavor to accompany fruit
Describe Riesling in the context of Alsace.
Most widely planted varietal.
full-bodied, dry, M-M+ ABV, High Acid, flinty mineralogy
Makes very best SGNs
Describe Gewürztraminer in the context of Alsace.
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
Describe Pinot Gris in the context of Alsace.
Rich, Full-bodied, high ABV, golden
Fresh and Dried Fruits, smoky, honey
Makes exceptional VT/SGN wines
What was Pinot Gris previously labeled as?
Tokay d’Alsace/Tokay Pinot Gris
Describe Muscat in the context of Alsace.
Less than 3% of Vineyard area
Prone to couloure and rot
Generally Muscat Blanc à Petite Grains or Muscat Ottonel
Inconsistent Yields
Describe Pinot Blanc and Auxerrois in the context of Alsace.
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
Describe Sylvaner in the context of Alsace.
Delicate Perfume
Light Richness
best young
Describe Pinot Noir in the context of Alsace.
less than 10% of plantings
light, fruity
used in rosé and sparkling production
