Alsace

Question 1

What are the seven focus grapes of Alsace?

Answer 1

1. Riesling
2. Pinot Blanc
3. Pinot Gris
4. Gewurztraminer
5. Muscat
6. Sylvaner
7. Pinot Noir

Question 2

In Alsace, which four grapes are considered “noble”?

Answer 2

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

Question 3

Riesling is indigenous to France.
True or False?

Answer 3

False. Riesling is indigenous to Germany’s Rhine Valley.

Question 4

Sylvaner, although grown in Alsace, is believed to be native to which country?

Answer 4

Austria

Question 5

There are 13 soil types in Alsace.
True or False?

Answer 5

True. The soils in Alsace are complex.

Question 6

How has climate changed impacted the historically dry wine style of Alsace?

Answer 6

Sugar levels are rising and more off-dry wines are being produced.

Question 7

What is the traditional synonym for Pinot Blanc in Alsace?

Answer 7

Klevner

Question 8

What is the climate of Alsace?

Answer 8

Continental

Question 9

Which Alsace AOC produces sparkling wine?

Answer 9

Crémant d’Alsace AOC

Question 10

What is an “Edelzwicker”?

Answer 10

A white Alsace wine made from a blend of any of the approved white grapes of Alsace.
Vintage dating is optional.

Question 11

What type of bottle is commonly used for the wines of Alsace?

Answer 11

The “flute d’Alsace” - a tall, tapered bottle.

Question 12

What is a “Gentil”?

Answer 12

A blended white wine containing at least 50% of the four noble grapes of Alsace.

Question 13

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

Answer 13

Vendanges Tardives and Sélection de Grains Nobles

Question 14

In Alsace, each Grand Cru is a separate AOC. True or False?

Answer 14

True. This has been the case since 2011.

Question 15

“Sélection de Grains Nobles” wines must be made from grapes affected by botrytis. True or False?

Answer 15

True.

Question 16

What is a “lieu-dit”?

Answer 16

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

Question 17

Which topographical feature contributes to the dry, sunny climate of Alsace?

Answer 17

The Vosges Mountains

Question 18

Machine harvesting is common in Alsace. True or false?

Answer 18

False. Most vineyards are hand harvested.

Question 19

What is a “Graben”?

Answer 19

Geologically-speaking, a graben is a trench that has sunk between two parallel fault lines.

Question 20

What is a “Foudre”?

Answer 20

A traditional, large, oak cask.

Question 21

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

Answer 21

20%

Question 22

How many AOCs are there in Alsace?

Answer 22

53

Question 23

How many Grands Crus are there in Alsace?

Answer 23

51

Question 24

Generally, in Alsace, if a grape variety is shown on the label, it must comprise what % of that wine?

Answer 24

100% - Pinot Blanc is the exception to this rule.

Question 25

What is the principal vine training method in Alsace?

Answer 25

Guyot

Question 26

How many Grands Crus allow blends?

Answer 26

2 - Altenberg de Bergheim and Kaefferkopf

Question 27

How many Grand Cru AOCs allow the use of Sylvaner?

Answer 27

1 - Zotzenberg

Question 28

Vendanges Tardives and Sélection de Grains Nobles wines have their own separate AOCs. True or False?

Answer 28

False. These are wine styles within the Alsace AOC and the Alsace Grand Cru AOCs.

Question 29

How many Grands Crus permit the production of red wines made from Pinot Noir?

Answer 29

2 - Hengst and Kirchberg de Barr

Question 30

What is the name of the wine region on the western side of the Vosges Mountains?

Answer 30

Lorraine