Alsace

Question 1

Where is Alsace located?

Answer 1

In the East of France near the Germany Boarder
The northest point of Alsace is close to Strasbourg
On the East of the Vosges Mountains

Question 2

What is the climate of Alsace ?

Answer 2

Cool to moderate continental climate

Question 3

Explain the factors that are influencing climate in the vineyards of Alsace

Answer 3

Vosges Mountains shelter the vineyards from the prevailing westerly, rain bearing winds
Lack of clouds results in sunny summers and dry atumns
Some vineyards are planted on slopes and oriented to maximize sun exposure

The grapes can achieve high levels of sugar ripeness, although in the driest year drought can be an issue

Question 4

What are the climatic hazards of Alsace?

Answer 4

Risk of Drought in the driest years
Risk of Spring frost on the plain area

Question 5

What make Alsace unusual for a french region?

Answer 5

Most of its wines are varietally labelled

Question 6

What styles of wine can you find in Alsace ?

Answer 6

Focused on armoatic white grape varieites made in dry, off-dry and sweet styles
Some red wine si also made

Question 7

Describe the location of the different vineyards qualities in Alsace

Answer 7

Best vineyards: Located on the steepest slopes with east and south-east aspect.
the northerly part of the vineyard has the coolest climate and the least protection from the Vosges
Lesser vineyards: lie on the plain between the Vosges Foothill and the Rhine. The grapes are often used for Crémant d’Alsace

Question 8

Where are located the vineyards for Crémant d’Alsace ?

Answer 8

In the plain between the Vosges foothills and the Rhine

Question 9

Describe the soils of Alsace

Answer 9

Great variety of soils in the vineyards that lie on the foothills of the Vosges
the goelogical complexity of soils contributes to the variety of styles of wines produced and is more clear than in many other regions

Question 10

Describe the grapegrowing practices in Alsace

Answer 10

Slopes
- vines are trained low to benefit from radiated heat
- rows are oriented to maximise the vines exposure to the sun
- Harvesting is done by hand

Plain
- Trained high to minimise the risk of spring frosts
- organic and biodynamic viticulture is widely pratised , due to te low disease pressure in the sunny, dry conditions

Growers have a number of small plots, with different varieties, that ripen at different times. The harvest may be spread over a long period. From August for sparkling wine, to en of november or early december for VT and SGN wines.

Question 11

What are the principal Asaltian appellations?

Answer 11

Alsace
Alsace Grand Cru

Both of them can apply these terms depending on the sugar ripeness:
**Vendanges Tardives (VT)
Sélection de grains nobles (SGN) **

Question 12

What are two additionnal label terms that producers use to distinguish their wines ?

Answer 12

Réserve personnelle
Cuvée spéciale

These have no legal status

Question 13

Describe the Alsace Appellation

Answer 13

• Account for the vast majority of the region’s production
• Most wine are made from a single grape variety and are varietally labelled
• If it is labelled 100% must come from a single variety.
• Small number of blends are also made
• Some villages have the right to add their name to this appelation for certain styles of wine, but it is rare

Question 14

Describe Alsace Grand Cru appellation

Answer 14

• over 50 vineyards that have their own grand cru
• Must be produced from a single noble grape variety but a few exceptions do exist
• Label must state the name of the vineyard, the vintage and the grape variety

Many grands crus are considered by some top porducers to be far too large and encompass land not worthy. Som choose not to label their wines as grand cru.

Question 15

Describe Vendanges Tardives (VT) appellation

Answer 15

Can only be made from on of the four noble varieties
Must have a minimum sugar ripeness depending on grape variety
The best wines will have undergone passerillage and may have some noble rot
Wines are vary from dry to medium sweet

Question 16

Describe Sélection de grains nobles (SGN) appellation

Answer 16

Can only be made from one of the four noble varieties
Must have a minimum sugar ripeness depending on variety, higher than those for VT
Are usually achieved with noble rot
Not produced every year and only in small quantities
Wines are SWEET

Question 17

What are the four noble grape varieties of Alsace ?

Answer 17

Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Muscat, Pinot Gris

Question 18

Is the majority of Alsace wines blended or single varietal ?

Answer 18

Single Varietal

Question 19

What is the quality of Alsace blended wines and how are they called ?

Answer 19

Blended wines tend to be inexpensive and made from juice not selected for varietal wines
Called Gentil or Edelzwicker

Some high-quality blends also exists , including grand cru, but very rare.

Question 20

On what Alsace winemaking is focused ?

Answer 20

To retain the aromas and flavours of aromatic grapes

Question 21

What is the traditional winemaking techniques used for Alsace wines?

Answer 21

• Fermenting wines in large old oak barrels, moften more than 100 year old.
• Thick layer of tartrate deposit , which prevent the wood from having any influence on the wine

Question 22

What is the modern winemaking technique used for Alsace wines ?

Answer 22

• Use of stainless steel vats - facilitating control of temperatures and the time of fermentation
• Malolactif fermentation is often not encouraged, to keep the pure aromatic flavours
• Bottling usually takes place in the spring following the vintage, while the wine is young and fresh.
• Most wines are ready to drink, but many are capable of evolution in the bottle

Question 23

Describe the sweetness in wines of Alsace

Answer 23

Traditionnally dry, but in recent years, more and more wines at grand cru level are made with noticeable sugar.

VT wines can vary from dry to medium-sweet
SGN are sweet wines

Since 2021, all producers must indicate thhe level of sweetness of their wine. The terms are standardied by EU regulations:
sec, demi-sec, moelleux and doux.

Question 24

Describe Alsace Riesling

Answer 24

Most widely planted of the noble varieties
Medium to full bodied
dry with medium alcohol, high acidity,
citrus and stone fruit aromas, with stony/steely character
Some are made with residual sugar

Question 25

What is the difference between a Riesling from Alsace and Germany?

Answer 25

Alsatian Riesilings do not typically show as much floral character as those from Germany

Question 26

Additionally to the noble varieties, what other grape varities are grown in Alsace ?

Answer 26

Pinot blanc
Auxerrois
Sylvaner
Pinot noir

Question 27

Describe Alsace Gewurztraminer

Answer 27

Pungeant aromatic spicy nose
lychees, roses and sweet bakin spices
Skin of the grape has a light pink tinge , giving a golden colour to some wines
Full bodied with rich oily texture
Low to medium acidity, high alcohol (14% is not uncommon)

Question 28

Describe Alsace Pinot Gris

Answer 28

Best examples are rich, full-bodied, high in alcohol but often
More acidity than gewurztraminer
Less aromatic than gewurztraminer
Rich texture pronounced intensity
Fresh and dried fruit, honeyed character

Question 29

Describe Alsace Muscat

Answer 29

• Number of grape varieties are called Muscat. Two in alsace
• Best wines come from Muscat Blanc à petits grains
• Intensely Aromatic, light to medium body
• Low to medium acidity
• orange blossom, rose and grape
• muscat blanc à petits grand is Prone to poor fruit set and rot, and so the less aromatic Muscat Ottonel si more widely planted because more reliable

Question 30

Describe Alsace Pinot Blanc

Answer 30

-Widely Planted, tends to be grown in the more fertile soils of the plalin
- Widely used for sparkling wines
- As still wine - generally light, simple
- Sometimes blended with Auxerrois

Question 31

Describe other Alsace grape varieties

Answer 31

Auxerrois:
Similar to pinot blanc but spicier and full-bodied

Sylvaner:
used to be widely planted but has now made way for noble varieties. delicately perfumed with some richness (less than Gewurz). Drunk young

Pinot Noir:
Only black grape permitted inAlsace. lacked body and concentration, better as a light fruity red or rosé. But warmer conditions and local demande have led to a rise in quality. More concentrated wine with new oak now produced