France - Alsace Flashcards
When did Alsace achieve AOC status?
1962 (Last major French winegrowing region to do so);
Départments of Alsace (north to south)
Bas-Rhin
Haut-Rhin
In which départment are Alsace’s best wines typically found?
Haut-Rhin
Proportion of Alsace Grand Cru vineyards in Haut-Rhin
> 2/3
Proportion of Alsace Grand Cru vineyards in Bas-Rhin
< 1/3
Vosges mountain significance
Rain shadow
Shield Alsace from rain to the west
Makes Alsace one of the driest and sunniest regions in France
Alsace’s climate type
Cool to moderate continental
Steeper mountain slopes in Alsace soil composition
Schist
Granite
Volcanic Sediment
Lower slopes in Alsace soil composition
Limestone
Base of the Vosges Mountains soil composition
Alluvial clay and gravel soils
Percentage of white grape plantings in Alsace AOP
90%
Alsace noble grapes
Riesling
Pinot Gris
Muscat
Gewurtztraminer
Grapes allowed in Alsace AOP
Riesling
Pinot Gris
Muscat
Muscat Ottonel
Gewurtztraminer
Pinot Blanc (Klevner)
Chasselas (Gutedal)
Sylvaner
Pinot Noir
What percentage of a varietal must be included in an Alsace AOP wine to be varietally lablled? What is the exception?
100%
Pinot Blanc is allowed to be blended with Auxerrois and still be labelled Pinot Blanc
What does a wine labelled “Pinot” indicate in Alsace?
The wine is a blend comprised of any porportion of:
Pinot Noir
Pinot Blanc
Pinot Gris
Auxerrois
Most planted grape in Alsace
Riesling
Key differences between Alsatian Riesling and German Riesling
Alsatian Riesling is usually:
Drier
More Powerful
Higher in alcohol
Alsace AOP Riesling allowed sweetness level
Dry
How many Alsatian communes are allowed to varietally bottle Savignin Rose (Klevener de Heiligenstein)?
5
What does the label Edelzwicker indicate on an Alsatian wine?
An inexpensive blended wine
What does Edelzwicker translate to in English?
Noble mixture
What does the label Gentil indicate on an Alsatian wine?
That a blended wine contains at least 50% noble varieties
When was Alsace Grand Cru AOP established?
1975
First approved Alsace Grand Cru
Schlossberg
When was the second group of Grands Crus establised in Alsace? How many were included?
1983
24 vineyards
When was the third group of Grands Crus establised in Alsace? How many were included?
1992
25 vineyards
Most recent Grand Cru in Alsace
2007
Kaefferkopf
General grape requirements for Alsace Grand Cru wines
Must be produced from noble varieties
Must be single-variety wines
Exceptions to Alsace Grand Cru grape requirements
- Zotzenberg is allowed to produced 100% Sylvaner
- Altenberg de Bergheim and Kaefferkopf are allowed to blend according to prescribed proportions
- Hengst and Kirchberg de Barr allowed to Pinot Noir
Is hand-harvesting required for Alsace Grand Cru AOP wines?
Yes
Minimum potential alcohol level required for Alsace Grand Cru AOP Riesling wines
- 11%
- Altenberg de Bergheim is 12%
Minimum potential alcohol level required for Alsace Grand Cru AOP Muscat wines
11%
Minimum potential alcohol level required for Alsace Grand Cru AOP Gewurtztraminer wines
- 12.5%
- Altenberg de Bergheim is 14%
Minimum potential alcohol level required for Alsace Grand Cru AOP Pinot Gris wines
- 12.5%
- Altenberg de Bergheim is 14%
When were Vendanges Tardives and Sélection de Grains Nobles designations authorized in Alsace?
1984
Under which AOP(s) are wines allowed to be labelled Vendanges Tardives and Sélection de Grains Nobles?
Alsace AOP
Alsace Grand Cru AOP
Alsace VT and SGN requirements?
Contain a singe noble variety
Pass blind tasting panel
Contain prescribed minimum sugar levels
Prescribed minimum sugar levesl for Alsace Vendanges Tardives
235 grams per liter for Muscat and Riesling
257 grams per liter for Pinot Gris and Gewurtztraminer
Prescribed minimum sugar levesl for Alsace Sélection de Grains Noble
276 grams per liter for Muscat and Riesling
306 grams per liter for Pinot Gris and Gewurtztraminer
Only red varietal permitted in Alsace AOP
Pinot Noir
Authorized grapes of Crémant de Alsace AOP
Pinot Blanc
Pinot Noir
Chardonnay
Riesling
Pinot Gris
Auxerrois
AOP(s) of Lorraine
Côtes de Toul AOP
Moselle AOP
Côtes de Toul
AOP in Lorraine
Moselle
AOP in Lorraine
Alsace AOP rouge maximum yield
60 hl/ha
Alsace AOP blanc maximum yield
80 hl/ha
Alsace AOP rose maximum yield
75 hl/ha
Alsace Grand Cru AOP maximum yield
55 hl/ha
Altenberg de Bergbieten location
Grand Cru
Bergieten Commune
Bas-Rhin
Alsace
Altenberg de Bergheim location
Grand Cru
Bergheim Commune
Haut-Rhin
Alsace
Altenberg de Wolxheim location
Grand cru
Wolxheim commune
Bas-Rhin
Alsace
Brand location
Grand Cru
Turckheim commune
Haut-Rhin
Alsace
Bruderthal location
Grand Cru
Molsheim commune
Bas-Rhin
Alsace