Alsace

Question 1

What are the 4 noble white grapes in Alsace?

Answer 1

1. Riesling
2. Gewurztraminer
3. Muscat
4. Pinot Gris

Question 2

What are the 2 natural borders of Alsace?

Answer 2

1. Eastern border: Rhine River
2. Western border: Vosges Mountains

Question 3

Alsace has been both French and _____.

Answer 3

German

Question 4

Where is Alsace geographically located in France?

Answer 4

Northeast France, bordering Germany

Question 5

The Vosges Mountains create a _____ in Alsace, protecting the region from nasty, wet weather.

Answer 5

Rain shadow

Question 6

Alsace is split into 2 départements, the ____-Rhin in the north and the ____-Rhin in the south.

Answer 6

North: Bas-Rhin

South: Haut-Rhin

Question 7

Differences between the Bas-Rhin and the Haut-Rhin include:

Answer 7

Bas-Rhin

• lower elevation
• not as protected by the Vosges, so fewer good vineyards

Haut-Rhin

• higher elevation
• more protection by the Vosges, so the best vineyards

Question 8

What is the climate of Alsace?

Answer 8

Cool continental

Question 9

Climatically, Alsace is one of the _____est and _____est regions in France.

Why?

Answer 9

Sunniest and driest due to the rain shadow caused by the Vosges Mountains.

Question 10

Are Alsace’s vineyards planted on the flat banks of the Rhine River or on the hillsides of the Vosges Mountains?

Answer 10

Hillsides of the Vosges Mountains

Question 11

What are the soils of Alsace?

Answer 11

Incredibly varied and layered, kind of like a Dagwood sandwich.

Soils include:

• volcanic
• clay
• granite
• gneiss
• marl
• limestone
• sandstone
• schist

Question 12

Besides Riesling, Muscat, Pinot Gris and Gewurztraminer, what other 2 white grapes grow in Alsace?

Answer 12

1. Pinot Blanc
2. Sylvaner

Question 13

What is the 1 red grape allowed in Alsace?

Answer 13

Pinot Noir

Question 14

What is the growing season like in Alsace, and what causes it?

Answer 14

Long, dry, sunny and temperate caused by the rain shadow by the Vosges Mountains.

Question 15

Where are the best vineyards in Alsace planted?

Answer 15

In the Haut-Rhin on lower slopes facing east/southeast.

Question 16

What effects on climate and viticulture does a rain shadow cause?

Answer 16

• Dry climate
• Sunny climate (tho not necessarily a warmer one)
• Longer growing season
• Riper grapes
• Higher potential alcohol
• Richer, fuller bodied wines

Question 17

In Alsace, the majority of winemakers use:

• 100% brand new oak barrels
• neutral barrels bearing little-to-no oak aromas
• amphorae only

Answer 17

Neutral barrels bearing little-to-no oak aromas.

Question 18

In Alsace, winemakers are allowed to put the name of the _____ on the label.

Answer 18

Grape

Question 19

If an Alsatian winemaker puts the name of a grape on the wine label, how much of the grape must be in the wine?

Answer 19

100%

Question 20

What are the 3 AOPs of Alsace?

Answer 20

1. Alsace/Vin d’Alsace AOP
2. Alsace Grand Cru AOP
3. Crémant d’Alsace AOP

Question 21

What is the name of the traditional bottle in which all Alsace AOP wines must be bottled?

Answer 21

Flûte d’Alsace

Question 22

Which AOP in Alsace covers the entire region?

Answer 22

Alsace/Vin d’Alsace AOP

Question 23

How many Grand Cru vineyards are there in Alsace?

Answer 23

51

Question 24

Each Grand Cru vineyard in Alsace is its own _____.

Answer 24

AOP

Fun Fact: each Grand Cru in Alsace was deemed its own AOP in 2011

Question 25

What are the 4 grapes allowed to be planted in Alsace’s Grand Cru vineyards?

Answer 25

1. Riesling
2. Muscat
3. Pinot Gris
4. Gewurztraminer

The ‘noble’ varietals!

Question 26

Crémant d’Alsace is usually a blend of grapes or made from a single varietal?

Answer 26

Blend of grapes

Question 27

What are the 2 terms Alsace uses for late harvested wines?

Answer 27

1. Vendange Tardive (VT)
2. Sélection de Grains Nobles (SGN)

Question 28

What is the difference between VT and SGN from a botrytis perspective?

Answer 28

• VTs may be affected by botrytis
• SGNs are always affected by botrytis