General Alsace

Question 1

What are the top 3 varieties planted in Alsace?

Answer 1

1 Riesling (21.8%) #2 Pinot Blanc (21.2%) #3 Gewurtztraminer (19.2%)

Question 2

What are the winemaking requirements for Edelzwicker? ‘Gentil’?

Answer 2

Edelzwickermust is cofermented.
Gentil is 50% noble varieties and vinified separately.
*By practice, not regulation.

Question 3

What varieties are permitted for Cremant d’Alsace?

Answer 3

Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Auxerrois

Question 4

What varieties are permitted for rose Cremant d’Alsace?

Answer 4

100% Pinot Noir

Question 5

Name 4 main soil types of Alsace.

Answer 5

Granite, Sandstone, Marl, and Limestone

Question 6

What is gres de Vosges?

Answer 6

local pink sandstone

Question 7

Which 5 communes may varietally label Klevener?

Answer 7

Heiligenstein, Bourgheim, Gertwiller, Goxwiller, Obernai

Question 8

What are synonyms for Klevener? Klevner?

Answer 8

Klevener = Savagnin Rose
Klevner = Pinot Blanc

Question 9

Name 3 good vintages in Alsace since 2000.

Answer 9

2000, 2005, 2009, 2012, 2017

Question 10

What are the two subregions of Alsace?

Answer 10

Bas Rhin (N): lower altitude. richer alluvial clay and gravel
Haut Rhin (S): higher altitude / mountainous. schist, granite, and volcanic soils.

Question 11

Which of the subregions is home to the most grand crus? What %?

Answer 11

Haut Rhin is home to approx 2/3 of the grand crus.

Question 12

If a variety is on the label in Alsace, what % must be form that variety?

Answer 12

100%

Question 13

What are the permitted training methods in Alsace?

Answer 13

Only single or double guyot

Question 14

What is the bottle style in Alsace?

Answer 14

Alsace mandates bottling in the Flute d’Alsace (Rhin bottle).

Question 15

Which 3 clones of Muscat are permitted for Alsace?

Answer 15

Muscat Blanc a Petits Grains, Muscat Rose a Petits Grains, Muscat Ottonel

Question 16

Name 3 subzones that require Pinot Noir.

Answer 16

Ottrot, Rodern, and St Hippolyte

Question 17

What varieties are permitted for Marc d’Alsace?

Answer 17

Only Gewurztraminer.

Question 18

What percentage of Alsace production is sparkling?

Answer 18

25 percent

Question 19

What percentage of the total of France’s still white wine production does Alsace account for?

Answer 19

Alsace produces 18% of France’s still white wines!!!

Question 20

What percentage of Alsace production is white wine?

Answer 20

90% of Alsace AOP production is white

Question 21

If “Pinot” is on the label, what varieties could be in the wine?

Answer 21

Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, and Auxerrois

Question 22

What is VT and SGN and when did these terms become part of regulations?

Answer 22

Vendange Tardive (VT): more about emphasizing varietal purity. May show botrytis. Might be dry or sweet.
Selection de Grains Nobles (SGN): not technically required to be sweet, but in practice always is. Always shows botrytis.

Question 23

What are the required must weights for VT and SGN?

Answer 23

Muscat & Riesling	
244 g/L (235 before 2016) VT
276 g/L SGN
Pinot Gris & Gewurtz	
270 g/L (257 before 2016) VT
306 g/L SGN