France - Alsace Flashcards
What is the average vineyard holding? What does this result in?
Low, under 3.5 ha, as a result many growers sell to co-ops or larger wineries.
How much, as a percentage, of sales do co-operatives account for?
40%, from co-operatives with a reputation for high quality.
Where is Alsace’s reputation strongest?
In France, especially as wines suited for gastronomy.
What is the division of domestic/export? Where are the biggest export markets?
75% domestic.
The rest of the EU, especially Belgium, Germany, and Netherlands, followed by North America.
How does Alsacian wine have to be packaged? What are the pros and cons?
Has to be sold in the typical tall, thin ‘flute’ bottles. No bag-in-box is allowed.
Pros: gives Alsace a clear brand identity.
Cons: can lead to confusion with German wines.
What are some producers from Alsace notable for?
The amount of domaines that produce many, or even all available still styles: dry, off dry, VT and SGN, from four or more varieties with up to four quality levels, meaning that 25-30 bottling for medium to larger domaines is normal. Significant producers of this include Hugel, Trimbach and Zind-Humbrecht.
What amount of bottlings is it common for co-operatives to produce? What does this result in?
Large amounts. Eg Cave de Turckheim offers 50 bottlings from 7 varieties.
This means wines are sold on a general image about Alsace wine and the producer, rather than individual labels.
