Alsace

Question 1

What are the 7 focus grapes of Alsace?

Answer 1

Riesling
Pinot Gris
Gewurztraminer
Muscat

Pinot Blanc
Sylvaner
Pinot Noir

Question 2

In Alsace which 4 grapes are considered Noble?

Answer 2

Riesling
Pinot Gris
Gewurztraminer
Muscat

Question 3

Where is Riesling indigenous to?

Answer 3

Germany’s Rhine Valley

Question 4

Where is Sylvaner indigenous to?

Answer 4

Austria

Question 5

How has climate change impacted Alsace’s wines?

Answer 5

Sugar levels are rising and some historically dry wines are now made as off-dry

Question 6

What is the traditional synonym for Pinot Blanc in Alsace?

Answer 6

Klevner

Question 7

What is the climate in Alsace?

Answer 7

Continental

Question 8

What is an “Edelzwicker”?

Answer 8

A blended white wine made from a blend of any of the approved white grapes
Grapes are vinified together or separately
Vintage dating is optional

Question 9

What type of bottle is commonly used for Alsatian wines?

Answer 9

Flute d’Alsace

Question 10

What is a “Gentil”?

Answer 10

A blended white wine containing at least 50% of the four nobles grapes of Alsace
Each grape variety must be vinified separately
Vintage dating is required

Question 11

What are the two categories of dessert wines produced in Alsace?

Answer 11

Vendanges Tardives
Selection de Grains Nobles

Question 12

How are Selection de Grains Nobles wines made?

Answer 12

Must be any of the four noble grapes

Grapes must be affected by botrytis
Grapes are handpicked with multiple passes to select the ripest & most affected by noble rot

Question 13

What is a “lieu-dit”?

Answer 13

A parcel of land within a single commune that is a legally registered cadastral unit

Production standards are higher than those for communal wines
There are restrictions on grapes, vine density, pruning methods, and trellising
These wines can be white or red (no rose)

Question 14

Are wines in Alsace usually machine or hand harvested?

Answer 14

Hand harvested

Question 15

What is a “Foudre”?

Answer 15

A traditional, large, oak cask

Question 16

How much of Alsace’s total production consists of blended wines?

Answer 16

20%

Question 17

If a grape is listed on the label of a wine in Alsace, what percent of the wine must it make up?

Answer 17

100%

Exception is Pinot Blanc

Question 18

What is the principal vine training method in Alsace?

Answer 18

Guyot

Question 19

Which Grand Crus in Alsace allow blends?

Answer 19

Altenberg de Bergheim
Kaefferkopf

Question 20

Which Grand Crus in Alsace allow the use of Sylvaner?

Answer 20

Zotzenberg

Question 21

Which Grand Crus in Alsace allow the production of red wines made from Pinot Noir?

Answer 21

Hengst
Kirchberg de Barr

Question 22

Gewurztraminer is the aromatic version of what grape?
What is the Alsace name for that grape?

Answer 22

Savagnin Rose

In Alsace - Klevener de Heiligensten

Question 23

Describe Grand Cru wines in Alsace.

Answer 23

Represent 6% of total production

Can be dry or contain residual sugar
Special cuvee names can appear on the label
Can be labelled Vendanges Tardives or Selection de Grains Nobles

Question 24

What grapes can be used in Pinot d’Alsace?

Answer 24

Pinot Blanc
Pinot Gris
Pinot Noir (vinified as a white wine)
Auxerrois

Wines can be 100% of any of these grapes or a blend

Question 25

What is unique about wines labelled Pinot Blanc in Alsace?

Answer 25

They can be 100% Pinot Blanc, 100% Auxerrois, or a blend of both

Question 26

What are DGCs?

Answer 26

Denominations Geographiques Complementaries

Communal designations meant to echo “village-level” categories of Bourgogne
Quality standards are higher than normal Alsace AOC
Producers can add the commune name to the label
Each commune is authorized to produce specific wine styles from specific grapes

Question 27

What are the 3 ancillary grapes in Alsace?

Answer 27

Klevener de Heiligenstein (aka Savagnin Rose) - Non-aromatic Gewurztraminer
Auxerrois - Low acid, neutral grape
Chasselas - Neutral grape

Question 28

What labeling rules for sweetness are required in Alsace?

Answer 28

As of 2021, every bottle must clearly show the sweetness level

Sec (dry)
Demi-sec (off-dry)
Mouelleux (medium-sweet)
Doux (sweet)

Question 29

What are the harvesting and aging requirements for Cremant d’Alsace?

Answer 29

Grapes must be handpicked
White grape varieties must be whole-cluster pressed

Wines must be aged on lees for 9 months
Cannot be released into the market less than 1 year after tirage (bottling)

Question 30

How are Vendanges Tardives wines made?

Answer 30

Late harvest wine

Must be any of the four noble grapes

Grapes picked late are overripe and develop more sugar
Malolactic conversion not encouraged so wines keep high acidity
Grapes are handpicked to select suitable bunches
Grapes might have noble rot, but not required

Question 31

Which grapes are most commonly used for Vendanges Tardives and Selection de Grains Nobles?

Answer 31

Gewurztraminer
Pinot Gris

This is because these two mature at the sweet spot in Autumn when cool, moist mornings are followed by warm, dry afternoons

Question 32

Pinot Vrai is a synonym for what grape?

Answer 32

Pinot Blanc

Question 33

Describe the Alsace AOC.

Answer 33

Dry white, rose, red, sweet white wine

White grapes: Riesling, Pinot Blanc, Sylvaner, Muscat
Rose grapes: Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris
Red grapes: Pinot Noir

AOC covers the entire region
Has 13 DCGs
Can also have a lieu-dit designation, which is a plot of land or vineyard (smaller than a DCG/village) with a special terrior

Question 34

Describe the Alsace Grand Cru AOCs.

Answer 34

Dry white and sweet white wine

White grapes: Riesling, Muscat
Rose grapes: Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris

Each grand cru has its own AOC
Like Bourgogne, vineyards (not producers) are ranked and more than producer can farm one grand cru site

Question 35

Describe the Cremant d’Alsace AOC.

Answer 35

Sparkling white and sparkling rose wine

White grapes: Pinot Blanc, Auxerrois, Chardonnay, Riesling
Rose grapes: Pinot Gris
Red grapes: Pinot Noir