Alsace

Question 1

What are the requirements for wines produced under AOC Grand Cru Appellation in Alsace?

Answer 1

*Vineyard and vintage must appear on the label.
*If sold by grape name, must be made from 100% of that varietal, except of Pinot Blanc which may blended with Auxerrois.

Question 2

What you know about Riesling in Alsace?

Answer 2

*The most planted grape variety and grows best on granite soils.

Question 3

What you know about Gewurztraminer in Alsace?

Answer 3

*Aromatic, low in acidity & high in alcohol.
*ripe tropical fruits and spicy characteristics.

Question 4

Describe Vendange Tardive (late harvest)?

Answer 4

*the grapes are left on the vine to allow to become overripe and attract Botrytis Cinerea.
*Only Riesling, Pinot Gris, Muscat & Gewurz may be used for these wines.

Question 5

What SGN (Selection de Grains Noble) stand for in Alsace?

Answer 5

*The same grape varieties as for VT are permitted!
*Grapes are left on the vine to become overripe and some are attacked by Botrytis.
*SGN wines are made only in exceptional years.

Question 6

What must be the minimum sugar content at harvest for SGN wines?

Answer 6

*276 g/l for Riesling and Muscat.
*306 g/l for Gewurz & Pinot Gris.

Question 7

In which year Alsace achieved an AOC status?

Answer 7

*1962

Question 8

How is the local pink sandstone soil called in Alsace?

Answer 8

*gres de Vosges

Question 9

List the soils of Alsace?(6)

Answer 9

*granite
*limestone
*shist
*clay
*gravel
*chalk

Question 10

Under which name in Alsace, are known the grape varieties (Pinot Blanc & Chasselas)?

Answer 10

*Pinot Blanc=Klevner
*Chasselas=Gutedel

Question 11

Which is the grape variety in Alsace that is blended often with Pinot Blanc?

Answer 11

*Auxerrois

Question 12

Explain the term ‘Edelzwicker’ in Alsace?

Answer 12

*Blend of the noble grape varieties, and do not need to indicate percentage of the grapes and vintage on the label.

Question 13

Explain the term ‘gentil’ in Alsace?

Answer 13

*Unofficial term for blends that contain min of 50% noble grapes.

Question 14

List the name of the first Grand Cru vineyard in Alsace in 1975?

Answer 14

*Schlossberg

Question 15

Which are the Grand Crus in Alsace that may be blended under certain prescribed proportions?

Answer 15

*Altenberg de Bergheim=Pinot Gris,Pinot Blanc,Pinot Noir, Riesling,Gewurz,Chardonnay,Muscat

*Kaefferkopf=noble grapes

Question 16

What means ‘Zotzenberg’ in Alsace?

Answer 16

*Historical site for Sylvaner permitted to be used in Grand Cru wines.

Question 17

What is the minimum potential alcohol for Grand Cru AOC wines?

Answer 17

*11%abv for Riesling & Muscat

*12.5%abv for Pinot Gris & Gewurztraminer

Question 18

List the 5 Communes that may bottle wine under the varietal (Savagnin rose) in the existing Alsace AOP?

Answer 18

*Heiligeinstein itself
*Bourgheim
*Gertwiller
*Goxwiller
*Obernai