Guild Somm

Question 1

What is the capital of Alsace?

Answer 1

Strasbourg

Question 2

Name the main soil types of Alsace.

Answer 2

granite
limestone
schist 
clay
gravel
chalk
loess

Question 3

What is “Grés de Vosges”?

Answer 3

the local pink sandstone soil of Alsace

Question 4

Name the four noble grapes of Alsace.

Answer 4

Riesling
Pinot Gris
Gewurztraminer
Muscat

Question 5

What percentage of Alsace AOP wine is white?

Answer 5

90%

Question 6

What is the driest city in France?

Answer 6

Colmar

Question 7

What types of Muscat are considered Noble in Alsace?

Answer 7

Muscat Blanc a Petite Grains
Muscat Rosé a Petite Grains
Muscat Ottonel

Question 8

What mountain range separates Alsace from the rest of France?

Answer 8

The Voges Mountains

Question 9

Name the 2 départments of Alsace. Which one is more superior in quality?

Answer 9

Haut Rhin**
Bas Rhin
-over 2/3 of Alsace’s Grand Cru vineyards are located in the Haut Rhin

Question 10

If labeled “Pinot” what are the possible grapes allowed to be in the wine?

Answer 10

Pinot Blanc
Pinot Noir
Pinot Gris
Auxerrois

Question 11

What grapes are allowed in Alsace AOP other than the 4 noble grapes?

Answer 11

Pinot Blanc
Chasselas
Sylvaner
Pinot Noir

Question 12

What is Gutedel?

Answer 12

Chasselas

Question 13

Why is the year 1945 significant to Alsace?

Answer 13

• many if the region’s current vineyards date back to 1945

- 1945 marks the divergence of French and German winemaking styles

Question 14

In what year did Alsace finally achieve AOC status?

Answer 14

1962

-the last major French winemaking region to do so

Question 15

All varietally labeled Alsace AOP wines must contain _____% of the printed grape. What grape is the exception?

Answer 15

100%

Pinot Blanc is the exception as it is often blended with Auxerrois

Question 16

As of 2008 forward, what style must Riesling be in Alsace according to Alsatian AOP law?

Answer 16

DRY

Question 17

What is the most planted grape in Alsace?

Answer 17

Riesling

-it is also the last noble grape to ripen

Question 18

In what year did the number of actual Alsace Grand Cru AOPs increase from 1-51?

Answer 18

2011

-each vineyard received its own appellation

Question 19

What is Tokay d’Alsace?

Answer 19

Pinot Gris

Question 20

What is Klevner?

Answer 20

Pinot Blanc

Question 21

What is Klevener?

Answer 21

• a pink variant of Traminer
• known as Savagnin in the Jura
• plantings in Heiligenstein in the Bas Rhin

Question 22

What 5 communes can bottle Klevener de Heiligenstein varietally?

Answer 22

Heiligenstein
Bourgheim
Gertwiller
Goxwiller
Obernai

Question 23

What is Edelzwicker?

Answer 23

a “noble mixture”

• inexpensive blended wine
• does not need to be vintage dated, not legally obligated to contain more than one grape

Question 24

What does the term “Gentil” refer to?

Answer 24

a superior designation for blends

• min. 50% of noble grapes
• base wine vinified seperately

Question 25

Who is Marcel Deiss?

Answer 25

a staunch advocate for producing field blended wines which are vinified together and produced under a vineyard name -emphasizes Alsatian terroir

Question 26

How many Grand Crus are there in Alsace?

Answer 26

51 - 1 in 1975 - 24 in 1983 - 25 in 1992 - 1 in 2007

Question 27

What was the first Grand Cru AOP of Alsace?

Answer 27

Schlossberg in 1975

Question 28

What is Kaefferkopf ?

Answer 28

The last grand cru of Alsace awarded in 2007

Question 29

What non-noble grape varietal is allowed to be Grand Cru and where is it allowed?

Answer 29

Sylvaner in Zotzenberg

Question 30

What are the regulations for Alsace Grand Cru.

Answer 30

- hand harvesting - min. sugar levels are high than Alsace AOP - yields are more restricted - Riesling/Muscat min. 11%abv - Pinot Gris/ Gewurztraminer min. 12.5% abv

Question 31

What is the smallest Grand Cru of Alsace?

Answer 31

Kanzlerberg | -3 hectares

Question 32

What Grand Cru is Clos-Ste-Hune located in?

Answer 32

Rosacker

Question 33

What is the largest Grand Cru of Alsace?

Answer 33

Schlossberg | -80 hectares

Question 34

What was Trimbach's first vintage of Geisberg Grand Cru?

Answer 34

2009

Question 35

What 2 producers traditionally do not promote admissible wines as Alsace Grand Cru AOP?

Answer 35

Trimbach | Hugel

Question 36

What are the 2 grand crus of Alsace that allow blending?

Answer 36

Kaefferkopf | Altenberg de Bergheim

Question 37

What are the two designations for late harvest wines in Alsace?

Answer 37

Vendage Tardive | Sélection de Grains Nobles

Question 38

What are the qualifications for VT and SGN labeling?

Answer 38

- hand harvesting - Alsace AOP or Alsace Grand Cru AOP - a single, noble variety - must pass a blind tasting panel - terms imply sweetness

Question 39

Which one shows signs of botrytis: VT or SGN?

Answer 39

VT-may show botrytis but emphasizes varietal character | SGN-picked in tries and suppresses varietal character in return for the complexities of botrytis

Question 40

True or False: SGN wines are always dessert-like. VT wines may vary in actual sugar and can be quite dry.

Answer 40

TRUE

Question 41

What are the minimum sugar levels for Vendage Tardives?

Answer 41

235 g/l for Muscat/ Riesling | 257 g/l for Pinot Gris/ Gewurtztraminer

Question 42

What are the minimum sugar levels for Sélection de Grains Nobes?

Answer 42

276 g/l for Muscat/ Riesling | 306 g/l for Pinot Gris/ Gewurtztraminer

Question 43

What is the only red variety permitted for Alsace AOP wines?

Answer 43

Pinot Noir

Question 44

What is the main grape varietal of Crémant d'Alsace AOP?

Answer 44

Pinot Blanc

Question 45

What is the only appellation of Alsace to allow Chardonnay?

Answer 45

Crémant d'Alsace

Question 46

Name all the grapes allowed in Crémant d' Alsace.

Answer 46

``` Pinot Blanc Pinot Noir Chardonnay Riesling Pinot Gris Auxerrois ```

Question 47

``` Requirements for Crémant d'Alsace AOP: min. alc min. must weight method of fermentation harvest method aging ```

Answer 47

min. alc.- 9% abv min. must weight- 144g/l method of fermentation- traditional method harvest method- hand harvesting aging- 9 mos. on lees prior to disgorgement. 12 months total aging as of 2012. min. 4 atmospheres of pressure

Question 48

Name the 2 appellations of Lorraine.

Answer 48

Côtes de Toul AOP | Moselle AOP

Question 49

Describe the wines of Côtes de Toul AOP.

Answer 49

- Light red wines made from Pinot Noir - white wines from Auxerrois and Aubin - Rosé wines pale vin gris style from Gamay and Pinot Noir

Question 50

What year was Moselle AOP upgraded from VDQS to AOP? What are the main grapes?

Answer 50

2011 Auxerrois and Pinot Noir varietally labeled: Pinot Gris and Müller-Thurgau