Alsace

Question 1

Describe the tug of war historically between France and Germany.

Answer 1

Alsace reached it’s peak of prosperity in the 16th century under the control of a west German principality. Germany suffered internal religious battles followed by plague and the French annexed Alsace at the end of the 17th century. Alsace was reclaimed by Germany in 1871 at the close of the Franco-Prussian war. At the end of WWI, Alsace was returned to France. During WW2 Alsace was then occupired again by Germany and was finally returned to France in 1945.

Question 2

Between which parallels is Alsace located within?

Answer 2

47-49

Question 3

What is the climate?

Answer 3

Continental

Question 4

Why is the region so dry?

Answer 4

The region is protected from the Atlantic by the Vosge Mountains which casts a rain-shadow over the region.

Question 5

Describe the geology of Alsace

Answer 5

Lies in the Rhine graben (grave-like trench with vertical upflits. The trench is a result of the plains falling along parallel fault lines).

Question 6

Describe the seasons in Alsace

Answer 6

Springs: mild with frost
Summers: warm and dry with thunderstorms and hail. Drought issues.
Autumns: humid
Winters: very cold

Question 7

How many different soil types are there?

Answer 7

13

Question 8

What are the 7 primary grapes?

Answer 8

Riesling, Pinot Blanc, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Sylvaner, Muscat a Petits Grains Blanc, Muscat Ottonel

Question 9

What are the 4 secondary grapes?

Answer 9

Chardonnay, Chasselas, Auxerrois Blanc, Klevener

Question 10

What are the synonyms of the following grapes:
Pinot Blanc
Klevener

Answer 10

Pinot Blanc: Pinot Vrai or Klevner

Klevener: Savagnin Rose (non-aromatic)

Question 11

What percentage of wines are varietally labelled? If the variety is stated, what % must be included?

Answer 11

80%

100% varietal

Question 12

What is gentil?

Answer 12

A blended wine that must contain >50% of the noble grape varieties. Finished wines must undergo tasting panel approval.

Question 13

What is edelzwicker?

Answer 13

Blend of any of the white grapes approved for the Alsace AOC

Question 14

What can be included in a wine labelled Pinot Blanc or Klevner?

Answer 14

100% Pinot Blanc or 100% Auxerrois Blanc or a blend of both

Question 15

What can be included in a wine labelled Pinot d’Alsace?

Answer 15

Auxerrois Blanc, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris.

It can be 100% of any of these grapes or a blend.

Question 16

How many different wines may a small producer make?

Answer 16

6-8

Question 17

80% of Alsace’s wine is produced by how many producers?

Answer 17

175 out of the 1,200

Question 18

How much of the wine is white?

Answer 18

90%

Question 19

How much of Alsace’s wine is exported?

Answer 19

25%

Question 20

What has global warming resulted in for the grapes?

Answer 20

Riper grapes with higher sugar levels. More wines are being made off-dry then historically. Pinot Noir is growing better!

Question 21

From the 2008 vintage, what is the max RS that Riesling can be?

Answer 21

0.9% (doesn’t apply to Grand Cru wines, lieu-dit wines or sweet wines)

Question 22

What are the winemaking practices for dry whites?

Answer 22

Fermentation in stainless steel or large, neutral oak casks. Most don’t spend time in new oak or undergo MLF. Fermentation is often coupled with lees ageing for the wines destined to be cellared.

Question 23

What are the requirements for Crémant d’Alsace?

Answer 23

Hand-picked and whole cluster pressed.
Rosés are made exclusively from Pinot Noir via saignée or maceration.
Min 9 months sur lie ageing
Can’t be released earlier than one year from tirage.

Question 24

What are the sweetness levels for Crémant d’Alsace?

Answer 24

Extra Brut, Brut, Extra Sec, Sec, Demi-Sec

Question 25

What is the favoured grape for Crémant d'Alsace?

Answer 25

Pinot Blanc followed by Chardonnay.

Question 26

What are Vendanges Tardives?

Answer 26

Late-harvest wines made from the noble varieties. Hand-picked late in the season and may or may not have botrytis. MLF is discouraged.

Question 27

What are Sélections de Grains Nobles?

Answer 27

Late-harvest wines made from the noble varieties. Noble rot is a requirement and grape are picked berry-by-berry during multiple passes through the vineyard.

Question 28

What are the 2 clones of Savagnin Rose?

Answer 28

Aromatic - Gewurztraminer | Non-aromatic - Klevener

Question 29

What are the noble grape varieties?

Answer 29

Riesling, Muscat, Pinot Gris & Gewurztraminer

Question 30

What are the 53 AOCs?

Answer 30

51 Grand Crus Alsace AOC Crémant d'Alsace AOC

Question 31

Where can grapes hail from in the Alsace AOC?

Answer 31

Any vineyard in Alsace

Question 32

What are the 3 special Grand Cru vineyards and why are they different?

Answer 32

Zotzenberg: Allows Sylvaner Altenberg de Bergheim: blend (Riesling dominant) Kaefferkopf: blend (Gewurztraminer dominant) All other Grand Crus are single varieties.

Question 33

What are all allowable grapes in Crémant d'Alsace?

Answer 33

Pinot Blanc, Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Gris, Auxerrois and Pinot Noir.

Question 34

What are the conditions of the Grand Crus?

Answer 34

Grapes grown on that Grand Cru vineyard. The vineyards are rank, not the estate. Only the 4 noble white grapes can be used.

Question 35

What are the 2 sub-categories of the Alsace AOC? What do they signify?

Answer 35

Alsace Communal: wines of heightened character (13 communes recognised). Higher quality standards. Alsace Lieu-Dit: named plot of land because of its notable expression of terroir. These wines must meet strict production standards (higher than Alsace Communal)