Alsace Flashcards
(116 cards)
1
Q
When did Alsace gain AOC status?
A
1962
2
Q
Between the Haut-Rhin and the Bas-Rhin, which subregion contains the most premier quality vineyards?
A
The Haut-Rhin
3
Q
What is the capital of the Haut-Rhin?
A
Colmar
4
Q
What is the single most important aspect of Alsace’s climate with regards to viticulture?
A
Sunshine hours. The Vosges create a rain shadow effect, making Alsace incredibly sunny and dry.
5
Q
What is grés de Vosges?
A
Pink Sandstone
6
Q
What soils are generally found on the higher mountain slopes?
A
schist, granite, volcanic sediment
7
Q
What soils are generally found on the lower mountain slopes?
A
limestone
8
Q
What soils are generally found on the plain?
A
alluvial clay and gravel
9
Q
What % of Alsace’s production is white?
A
90.00%
-representing about 20% of France’s total AOP still white wine production
10
Q
What are the four noble grapes of Alsace?
A
Riesling, Pinot Gris, Muscat, and Gewurztraminer
11
Q
What are the three allowed clones of Muscat?
A
Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains
Muscat Rosé à Petits Grains
Muscat Ottonel
12
Q
What is Klevner?
A
Pinot Blanc
13
Q
What is Gutedel?
A
Chasselas
14
Q
What is Klevener?
A
Savagnin
15
Q
What other variety may be blended into varietal bottlings of Pinot Blanc?
A
Auxerrois
16
Q
If the wine is labeled simply “Pinot,” what varieties are permitted?
A
Noir, Blanc, Gris, Auxerrois
17
Q
As of 2008, what style is mandatory for Alsatian riesling?
A
Dry
18
Q
Klevener de Heiligenstein is permitted in what villages?
A
(N to S)
Obernai
Goxwiller
Heiligenstein
Bourgheim
Gertwiller
19
Q
What is edelzwicker?
A
“Noble blend” - usually inexpensive, may be single varietal, may or may not be vintage dated
20
Q
What is gentil?
A
A superior designation for blends, requiring >50% noble grapes; base wines must be vinified separately.
21
Q
Who is the standard-bearer for traditional Alsatian field blends?
A
Marcel Deiss
22
Q
In a traditional Alsatian field blend, are the grapes vinified together or separately?
A
Together
23
Q
When was the Alsace Grand Cru AOP proposed?
A
1975
24
Q
When did the first 25 Grand Crus appear?
A
1983
25
When did the next 25 Grand Crus appear?
1985
26
What is the most recent Grand Cru elevation, and when?
Kaefferkopf in 2006
27
Must Alsatian Grand Crus be varietal wines?
Yes, with exceptions
28
Which Grand Crus are permitted to blend?
Kaefferkopf (Ammerschwihr)
Altenberg de Bergheim (Bergheim)
(may also produce varietal Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris, and Riesling)
29
What is the encepagement for Altenberg de Bergheim?
50-70% Riesling, 10-25% Pinot Gris, 10-25% Gewurztraminer, plus
30
What is the encepagement for Kaefferkopf?
60-80% Gewurztraminer, 10-40% Riesling, max. 30% Pinot Gris, max. 10% Muscat
31
Which Grand Cru is authorized for Sylvaner?
Zotzenberg
32
Which Grand Crus are not authorized for varietal Muscat?
Altenberg de Bergheim
Kaefferkopf
33
What is the basic minimum alcohol for Riesling and Muscat?
11.00%
34
What is the basic minimum alcohol for Gewurztraminer and Pinot Gris?
12.50%
35
What is the smallest Grand Cru in Alsace?
Kanzlerberg in Bergheim (3ha)
36
What is the largest Grand Cru in Alsace
Schlossberg in Keintzheim (80ha)
37
What is the northernmost Grand Cru in Alsace?
Steinklotz in Marlenheim
38
What is the southernmost Grand Cru in Alsace?
Rangen in Thann
39
What is the minimum must weight for Riesling and Muscat VT? For SGN?
VT: 244g/L
SGN: 276g/L
40
What is the minimum must weight for Gewurztraminer and Pinot Gris VT? For SGN?
VT: 270g/L
SGN: 306g/L
41
Post 2008, what is the max residual sugar for Riesling?
9g/L (if Tartaric acid is less than 6g/l)
6g/L (if chaptalization is used)
12 g/l (if tartaric acid is greater than 6 g/l)
42
What are the exceptions to the Dry Riesling rule?
if labeled by a lieu-dit.
(also VT and SGN)
43
What are the subzones of Alsace (as of 2012) N to S?
Ottrot
Klevener de Heiligenstein
Côtes de Barr
Bleinschwiller
Scherwiller
St-Hippolyte
Rodern
Bergheim
Côte de Rouffach
Vallée Noble (can't find)
Vallé Saint Gregorie (can't find)
Coteaux de Haut Koenigsbourg (can't find)
Klevener de Heiligenstein: Savagnin Rosé
Blienschwiller and Côtes de Barr: Sylvaner
Côte de Rouffach: Gewurztraminer, Riesling, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir
Ottrott, Rodern, Saint Hippolyte: Pinot Noir
Vallée Noble: Gewurztraminer, Riesling, Pinot Gris
Val Saint Grégoire: Auxerrois, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris
Scherwiller, Wolxheim: Riesling
Bergheim: Gewurztraminer
Coteaux de Haut Koenigsbourg: Riesling, Gewurztraminer
44
What varieties are authorized for Klevener de Heiligenstein?
Klevener (Savagnin Rosé)
45
What varieties are authorized for Blienschwiller and Côtes de Barr?
Sylvaner
46
What varieties are authorized for Côte de Rouffach?
Gewurztraminer, Riesling, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir
47
What varieties are authorized for Ottrott, Rodern, and Saint Hippolyte?
Pinot Noir
48
What varieties are authorized for Vallée Noble?
Gewurztraminer, Riesling, Pinot Gris
49
What varieties are authorized for Val Saint Grégoire?
Auxerrois, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris
50
What varieties are authorized for Scherwiller and Wolxheim?
Riesling
51
What Alsace subzones are authorized for Riesling?
Côte de Rouffach
Vallée Noble
Scherwiller
Wolxheim
Coteaux de Haut-Koenigsbourg
52
What Alsace subzones are authorized for Gewurztraminer?
Côte de Rouffach
Vallée Noble
Bergheim
Coteaux de Haut-Koenigsbourg
53
What Alsace subzones are authorized for Pinot Gris?
Côte de Rouffach
Vallée Noble
Val Saint Grégoire
54
What Alsace subzones are authorized for Pinot Blanc?
Val Saint Grégoire
55
What Alsace subzones are authorized for Sylvaner?
Blienschwiller
Côtes de Barr
56
What Alsace subzones are authorized for Pinot Noir?
Côte de Rouffach
Ottrott
Rodern
Saint Hippolyte
57
What Alsace subzones are authorized for Muscat?
None
58
What is the difference between Vendanges Tardives and Sélections de Grains Nobles?
VT is late harvest, may be botrytized
SGN is always botrytized, harvested in tries
59
Who produces Clos St. Hune, from which Grand Cru?
Trimbach
Rosacker
60
Who produces Cuvée Frédéric Emile, from which Grand Crus?
Trimbach, from Osterberg and Geisberg (single plot that overlaps the border between the two)
61
Who produces Clos Jebsal? What vineyard?
Zind-Humbrecht
abuts Brand
village of Turckheim
62
Who produces Clos St-Urbain, from which Grand Cru?
Zind-Humbrecht, from Rangen
63
Who produces Clos Hauserer, from which Grand Cru?
Zind-Humbrecht, from Hengst
64
Who produces Cuvée Theo?
Weinbach
65
Who produces Clos de Capuchins, from which Grand Cru?
Weinbach, from Schlossberg
66
Who produces Clos St-Landelin, from which Grand Cru?
Thomas Muré, from Vorbourg
67
When were VT and SGN introduced?
1984
68
What are the authorized grapes for Crémant d'Alsace?
Riesling
Pinot Blanc
Auxerrois
Pinot Gris
Pinot Noir
Chardonnay
69
What is the minimum time en tirage for Crémant d'Alsace?
9 months
70
What are the two AOPs of Lorraine from N to S?
Moselle
Côtes de Toul
71
What are the styles and varietals of the Côtes de Toul?
White: Auxerrois and Aubin
Vin Gris:
Principal Varieties: (85% Individual Max., both required) Gamay, min. 10% Pinot Noir
Accessory Varieties: Max. 15% combined Pinot Meunier, Aubin, and Auxerrois
Red: 100% Pinot Noir
72
What are the styles and varietals of the Moselle?
Principal Varieties: Min. 70% combined Auxerrois (min. 30% unless property is less than 2 hectares), Müller-Thurgau, and Pinot Gris
Accessory Varieties: Pinot Blanc, Riesling, and max. 10% Gewurztraminer
Rosé: min 70% Pinot Noir plus Gamay
Red: Pinot Noir
73
Excellent vintages in Alsace
1985, 1988-1990
1993, 1997, 1998
2000, 2005, 2007, 2009
2012
74
Poor vintages in Alsace
1991, 1999
2003, 2004
75
What varieties are authorized for Coteaux de Haut Koenigsbourg
Gewurztraminer
Riesling
76
What varieties are authorized for Bergheim?
Gewurztraminer
77
When percentage of Cremant d'Alsace Rosé must be Pinot Noir?
100%
78
Can VT wines show botrytis?
Yes, but emphasize varietal purity.
79
Quality VT wines usually originate from vines in a state of...?
Passerillage
80
Are VT and SGN wines obligated to be sweet or dry?
VT and SGN wines are not obligated by statute to be sweet
-in practice, SGN wines are always dessert-like
-VT wines may vary in actual sugar and can be quite dry
81
True or False: VT and SGN must be hand harvested.
True
82
What is the workhorse for Cremant d'Alsace blanc?
Pinot Blanc
83
What was Pinot Gris formerly known as in Alsace?
Tokay d'Alsace or Tokay Pinot Gris
84
What are the major requirements in the vineyard for Grand Cru wines?
-Hand-harvesting
-Min sugar must be higher than Alsace AOP
-Yields are more restrictive than Alsace AOP
85
What is France's smallest "région"?
Alsace
86
What steadily replaced Traminer through the latter half of the 19th century?
Gewurztraminer (a pink berried clone of Traminer)
87
What AOP in Alsace allows for noble and some non-noble grapes to be bottled varietally? What percentage must it contain? What is the exception?
-Alsace AOP aka Vin d'Alsace AOP
-100%
-Except Pinot Blanc - often blended w/the similar, but non synonymous, Auxerrois
-Even if Auxerrois is bottled as a single variety, it may be labeled Pinot Blanc
88
What non-noble varieties may be bottled varietally as Alsace AOP?
-Pinot Blanc
-Chasselas
-Sylvaner
-Pinot Noir
89
What are the main points of controversy for the Alsatian Grand Cru system?
-Rapid development of the system
-The lack of intermediary premier cru level
90
Klevener vs Gewurztraminer
Klevener is less intensely aromatic than GW but higher in acidity
91
What portion of Alsatian production is sparkling?
nearly a quarter
92
What house chooses not to promote admissible wines as Alsace Grand Cru AOP?
Hugel
-because the number of vineyards has been expanded to what they feel include less-favored sites.
Instead, they produce wines in three tiers of quality:
-Varietal wines occupy the base tier, “Tradition”
-the middle, and “Jubilée” the top-quality tier.
Wines of particular excellence appear under the “Hommage à Jean Hugel” banner
93
What are the major requirements for VT and SGN to be labeled either Alsace AOP or Grand Cru AOP?
-Contain a single, noble variety
-Pass a blind tasting panel
94
What is Alsace's most planted noble grape? And the last noble grape to ripen?
Riesling
95
Klevner vs Klevener
-Klevner - Pinot Blanc
-Klevener - Savagnin
96
What is the only AOP in Alsace to allow Chardonnay?
Cremant d'Alsace
97
What is Savagnin Rose?
A pink berried clone of Traminer - aka Klevener
-Five communes may bottle this varietally under the Alsace AOP
-but vineyards may not be replanted
-designation expires in 2021
98
What are the two designations for Alsatian blends?
Gentil & Edelzwicker
99
What Grand Crus are 100% riesling?
Geisberg
Kastelberg
Muenchberg
100
What Grand Crus do not have riesling?
Froehn
Marckrain
Sporen
101
What Grand Crus do not have Pinot Gris?
Altenberg de Wolxheim
Geisberg
Kastelberg
Muenchberg
102
What Grand Crus do not have Gewurztraminer?
Wiebelsberg
Schoenenbourg
Muenchberg
Kastelberg
Geisberg
103
What is the min potential alcohol of Vin de Alsace/Alsace AOP by variety?
Blanc: 9.5%
Varietal Wines:
Pinot Blanc, Pinot, Riesling, Auxerrois: 10% (10.5% if labeled with subzone designation or lieu-dit)
Chasselas, Muscat Ottonel, Muscat, Sylvaner: 9.5% (10.5% if labeled with subzone designation or lieu-dit)
Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris: 11.5% (12% if labeled with subzone designation or lieu-dit)
Klevener de Heiligenstein: 11%
Pinot Noir (Rosé): 10%
Pinot Noir (Rouge): 11% (11.5% if labeled with subzone designation or lieu-dit)
104
What is the min potential alcohol of Vin de Alsace/Alsace AOP VT and SGN?
VT
Riesling, Muscat: 14.5%
Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer: 16%
SGN:
Riesling, Muscat: 16.4%
Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer: 18.2%
105
What are the minimum must weights of Vin de Alsace/Alsace AOP by variety?
Blanc: 144 g/l
Varietal Wines:
Chasselas, Muscat Ottonel, Muscat, Sylvaner: 151 g/l (Sylvaner is 168 g/l if labeled with subzone designation)
Pinot Blanc, Pinot, Riesling, Auxerrois: 160 g/l (168 g/l if labeled with subzone designation)
Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris: 185 g/l (193 g/l if labeled with subzone designation)
Pinot Noir (Rosé): 160 g/l
Pinot Noir (Rouge): 177 g/l (185 g/l if labeled with subzone designation)
Klevener de Heiligenstein: 177 g/l
106
What is the harvesting method for Vin de Alsace / Alsace AOP?
Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir wines labeled by a lieu-dit, and all Alsace VT and SGN wines, must be hand-harvested
107
What is a "Vin du Rhin" / "Flûte d'Alsace"?
The bottle that Vin de Alsace/Grand Cru Alsace wines must be bottled in.
108
What is the min planting density for Alsace AOP? Grand Cru?
4500 hl/ha
109
Wha is the min planting density for Alsace Grand Cru? What is the exception?
4500 hl/ha
Altenberg de Bergheim is 5500 hl/ha
110
What is the min potential alcohol for Alscae Grand Cru for Riesling/Muscat/Sylvaner vs Gewurtzraminer/Pinot Gris?
Riesling/Muscat/Sylvaner: 11% Gewurtzraminer/Pinot Gris: 12.5%
111
What is the minimum potential alcohol of Kirchberg de Barr, Hengst and Vorbourg for Pinot Noir?
Kirchberg de Barr: 12%
Hengst and Vorbourg; 12.5%
112
What is the min potential alcohol for Altenberg de Bergheim for riesling, PG and Gewurztraminer?
Riesling: 12%
Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer: 14%
Final Blend: 14%
113
What is the minimum potential alcohol for Kaefferkopf for riesling, PG and Gewurztraminer?
Riesling: 11%
Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer: 12.5%
Final Blend: 12%
114
What is min must weight for riesling, PG, gewurztraminer and Muscat for Alsace Grand Cru?
Riesling, Muscat, Sylvaner: 168 g/l
Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer: 193 g/l
115
What is min must weight for riesling, PG, gewurztraminer and Muscat for Altenberg de Bergheim?
Riesling: 185 g/l
Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer: 218 g/l
116
What are the max yields for Alsace Grand Cru?
Blanc: 50 hl/ha
Rouge: 40 h/ha
VT: 50 hl/ha
SGN: 40 hl/ha
