History and Geography

Question 1

How did France initially take possession of Alsace from the Germanic Holy Roman Empire in 1639?

Answer 1

French armies seized the region to prevent it from falling into the hands of the Spanish Hapsburgs

Question 2

What treaty in 1648 cemented France’s ownership of Alsace?

Answer 2

The Treaty of Westphalia (concluded the 30yrs war)

Question 3

When did Germany take Alsace and Lorraine from France?

Answer 3

In 1871 at the conclusion of the Franco-Prussian war

Question 4

When did Alsace achieve AOC status?

Answer 4

1962 (the last major French region to do so)

Question 5

What are the two departments of Alsace?

Answer 5

Haut-Rhin and Bas-Rhin

Question 6

In which department is most of the quality wine of Alsace produced?

Answer 6

Haut-Rhin

Question 7

What is the largest city in Alsace?

Answer 7

Strasbourg

Question 8

What mountains range separates Alsace from the rest of France?

Answer 8

The Vosges Mountains

Question 9

What is the capital city is the Haut-Rhin?

Answer 9

Colmar

Question 10

What is grés de Vosges?

Answer 10

Pink sandstone in Alsace

Question 11

What are the noble grapes of Alsace?

Answer 11

Riesling, Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer, and Muscat

Question 12

Which grapes are permitted in Alsace AOP outside of the noble varietals?

Answer 12

Pinot Blanc
Chasselas
Sylvaner
Pinot Noir

Question 13

What % of a grape varietal is required for varietal labelling in Alsace? What is the exception?

Answer 13

100%
Auxerrois may be blended with Pinot Blanc and even 100% Auxerrois may be labeled as Pinot Blanc

Question 14

Which grapes may white wines labeled Pinot in Alsace include?

Answer 14

Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, and Auxerrois

Question 15

Which noble grape is the last to ripen in Alsace?

Answer 15

Riesling

Question 16

What is the maximum rs in Alsatian Riesling as of 2008?

Answer 16

6 g/L if the wines have been chapitalized
9 g/L if tartaric acid is less then 6 g/L
12 g/L if tartaric acid is greater than 6 g/L

Question 17

What was Alsatian Pinot Gris called prior to 1994? Prior to 2007?

Answer 17

Tokay d’Alsace
Tokay Pinot Gris

Question 18

What grape is Gewurztraminer a clone of?

Answer 18

Traminer

Question 19

What is Savagnin called in Alsace?

Answer 19

Klevener

Question 20

List soil types of Alsace and which grapes grow best in them

Answer 20

Granite: Riesling usually
Slate: Riesling
Volcanic and sedimentary: Riesling and Pinot Gris
Sandstone: Gewurztraminer and Pinot Gris
Clay-Limestone-Marl: Gewürztraminer

Question 21

What kind of wine does the Moselle AOP make?

Answer 21

Blanc from min 50% Auxerrois and max 10% Gewurztraminer w/ Pinot Gris, Muller-Thurgau, Pinot Blanc, and Riesling
Rouge from 100% Pinot Noir
Rosé from Pinot Noir and Gamay

Question 22

Which river forms the border between Luxembourg and Germany?

Answer 22

Moselle

Question 23

How many sunlight hours does Alsace see in a year?

Answer 23

1,799