4 Crémant d'Alsace

Question 1

How big is the amount of Crémant in Alsace?

Answer 1

25% of the total wine production

Question 2

How much producer make Crémant in Alsace?

Answer 2

approximately 500 producers in small scale alongside their still wines

Question 3

How much growth the vineyard area for Crémant in the last 10 years?

Answer 3

15% to 3.600 hectares

Question 4

Which is the most important grape variety?

Answer 4

Pinot Blanc

Question 5

Describe the style of a Pinot Blanc Crémant d’Alsace

Answer 5

• medium intensity
• apple and pear aromas
• biscuit-like autolysis notes
• medium (+) to high acidity
• light to medium body
• mostly in a Brut style

Question 6

Describe the climate in Alsace

Answer 6

• vineyards mainly on the eastern flanks of the Vosges foothills
• elevations from 200-400m
• Vosges protect from west winds
• sunny and continental climate
• dry and hot during the growing season
• problems can be: tough rain at harvest, shortage of water (irrigation is not permitted) and spring frost
• flavour ripeness is reached while high acidity is retained

Question 7

Describe the “site selection” for Crémant vineyards

Answer 7

• best sites where reserved for the noble varieties for still wine (e.g. Riesling)
• high fertile sites and cool sites in higher valleys where chosen

Question 8

Name the grape varieties used for Crémant d’Alsace

Answer 8

• Pinot Blanc
• Auxerrois
• Chardonnay
• Riesling
• Pinot Gris
• Pinot Noir

Question 9

How much of the vineyard area is used for Pinot Blanc?

Answer 9

20% (Pinot Blanc and Auxerrois together, most of the vines are Pinot Blanc)

Question 10

Why has Riesling just a little part in the Crémant production?

Answer 10

growers prefer to use Riesling for still wine

Question 11

Why is Pinot Gris used in the Crémant?

Answer 11

• it is more valuable than Pinot Blanc

- it adds more prominent fruit flavours to the wine

Question 12

Which grape variety in the whole Alsace appellations is only allowed in the appellation Crémant d’Alsace?

Answer 12

Chardonnay

Question 13

How big is the Chardonnay part of the appellation Crémant d’Alsace?

Answer 13

1%

Question 14

Which grape variety is only allowed for Crémant d’Alsace Rosé?

Answer 14

Pinot Noir

Question 15

How is the pruning technique in a Crémant d’Alsace vineyard?

Answer 15

vines a pruned to a greater crop than for still wines (high concentration of flavours is not needed)

Question 16

How high is the max. allowed yield for Crémant d’Alsace?

Answer 16

80hl/ha

Question 17

When must the growers declare to use the vineyard for Crémant d’Alsace?

Answer 17

in July

Question 18

When is the harvest time for Crémant d’Alsace?

Answer 18

last days of August to first days of September

Question 19

How big is the typical dosage level of Crémant d’Alsace?

Answer 19

• vast majority is Brut

- dosage level 8-10g/l

Question 20

How is the Crémant d’Alsace Rosé produced?

Answer 20

maceration on the skin for 12-24 hours

Question 21

What are the main AOC regulations for Crémant d’Alsace?

Answer 21

• grape variety
• yield
• time on lees

Question 22

How is the production divided between co-operatives, merchants and independent growers?

Answer 22

• co-operatives (43%)
• merchant houses (37%)
• independent growers (20%)

Question 23

Name the largest single company?

Answer 23

co-operative Maison Bestheim

Question 24

How has the volume of production changed between 2000 and 2014

Answer 24

the volume of production was more than doubled

Question 25

Where is the fast majority of Crémant d’Alsace sold?

Answer 25

in France (around 80%)

Question 26

Name the top-quality category of Crémant d’Alsace

Answer 26

Crémant d’Alsace Emotion

Question 27

Name the requirements for Crémant d’Alsace Emotion

Answer 27

• min. 75% of Pinot Blanc, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir (separately or together)
• min. 24 month on lees

Question 28

Why is Crémant d’Alsace Emotion not been popular?

Answer 28

some very good, long-lees-aged wines are already produced in this region