Alsace Flashcards
1
Q
When did Alsace receive AOC status?
A
1962 - it was the last major French region to do so
2
Q
When percentage of Cremant d’Alsace Rosé must be Pinot Noir?
A
100%
3
Q
Where are the vineyards of Alsace located? What is the best exposure?
A
- Thin strand along the lower slopes and foothills of the Vosges
- Aspect is very important
- Southern, southeastern, & warm eastern exposures
4
Q
Alsace is said to be a geological mosaic, what different soil types are located there?
A
- Granite
- Limestone
- Schist
- Clay
- Gravel
- Chalk
- Loess
- The local-pink sandstone (Grés de Vosges)
5
Q
Can VT wines show bortytis?
A
Yes, but emphasize varietal purity
6
Q
Are Vendange Tardive wins required to be dry?
A
Not obligated by statute to be sweet, the wines can vary in actual sugar, and can be quite dry
7
Q
What is the workhorse for Cremant d’Alsace?
A
Pinot Blanc
8
Q
Since when must standard Alsatian AOP Riesling be dry?
A
2008 vintage forward
9
Q
What was Pinot Gris formerly known as in Alsace?
A
Tokay d’Alsace or Tokay Pinot Gris
10
Q
What are the major requirements in the vineyard for Grand Cru wines?
A
- Hand-harvesting
- Min sugar must be higher than Alsace AOP
- Yields are more restrictive than Alsace AOP
11
Q
What are the min ABV’s for Alsatian Grand Cru wines?
A
- Riesling & Muscat - 11%
- Gewurztraminer & Pinot Gris - 12.5%
Exceptions:
Altenberg de Bergheim R 12% Pg and Gewürz 14% Final blend 14%
Kaefferkof R 11%
PG and Gewurz 12.5%
Final Blend 12%
12
Q
What is France’s smallest “région”?
A
Alsace
13
Q
What are the two departments of Alsace? Which is generally considered the best?
A
- Bas-Rhin
- Haut-Rhin (Best)
14
Q
What steadily replaced Traminer in Alsace through the latter half of the 19th century?
A
Gewurztraminer (a pink berried clone of Traminer)
15
Q
What is the synonym for Savagnin in Alsace?
A
Klevener
16
Q
What is “Grés de Vosges”?
A
A local pink sandstone that can be found throughout Alsace
17
Q
What soil is generally found on the steeper mountain slopes?
A
- Schist
- Granite
- Volcanic Sediment
18
Q
What is the smallest & largest Grand Cru vineyards in Alsace?
A
- 3ha (Kanzlerberg)
- 80ha (Schlossberg)
19
Q
Klevener vs Gewurztraminer
A
Klevener is less intensely aromatic than GW but higher in acidity
20
Q
What is edelzwicker?
A
An inexpensive blend
- Do not need to vintage dated
- Not required to be more than one grape (in practice they are blends)
- Do not need to indicate any % of grapes on the label
21
Q
What Grand Cru does Trimbach’s Clos-Ste-Hune Riesling come from?
A
Rosacker
22
Q
What is the synonym for Pinot Blanc in Alsace?
A
Klevner
23
Q
What is the synonym for Chasselas in Alsace?
A
Gutedel
24
Q
What is Gentil?
A
- A designation for blends
- Min 50% noble grapes - any other Alsace AOP grape may make up the rest
- Base wines are vinified separately
25
Who is the producer to emphasizing the best Alsatian terroir?
Marcel Deiss
26
What soil do the lower slopes of Alsace sit on?
Limestone base w/rich alluvial clay and gravel
27
What portion of Alsace AOP wine is white?
- 90%
| - 18% of France's still white production (2008)
28
Wine simply labeled "Pinot" may contain any proportion of what related varieties?
- Pinot Noir
- Pinot Blanc
- Pinot Gris
- Auxerrois
29
What varietal is the largest volume of production for Alsace?
Pinot Blanc & Auxerrois - when considered collectively
30
What house chooses not to promote admissible wines as Alsace Grand Cru AOP?
Hugel
| Trimbach does not label their Clos Ste Hune as Rosacker, but as of '09 they released Geisberg Grand Cru
31
What is the only red variety permitted to be Alsace AOP?
Pinot Noir
32
What are the AOPs of Lorraine?
- Côtes de Toul AOP
| - Moselle AOP
33
What is Côtes de Toul AOP?
(Lorraine)
- Red - Pinot Noir (light)
- Rosé - pale vin gris style
- From a high proportion of Gamay & Pinot Noir
- White - Auxerrois & Aubin
34
Describe Alsace's climate. What is the major moderating influence?
- Vosges Mountains - provides a rain shadow
- Black Forest
- Semi-continental
- One of France's driest & sunniest climates
35
What are the two designations for late-harvest wines? When were they created?
- 1984
- Vendanges Tardive
- Sélections de Grain Noble's
36
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
37
What is the capital of Haut-Rhin?
Colmar
38
What is Alsace's most planted noble grape?
Riesling
39
What is last noble grape to ripen?
Riesling
40
When was Alsace Grand Cru system first proposed? When did the first appear? When were the rest promoted?
1975 - first decreed- Schlossberg
- 1983 - 24 vineyards received the designation
- 1985 - Another 25 vineyards promoted
- 2007- 51st was promoted - Kaefferkopf
-2011- the actual number of Alsace Grand Crus increased from 1 to 51 as each received their own AOP
41
What is the Moselle AOP?
(Lorraine)
Red, white, rosé
-Principally from Auxerrois and Pinot Noir
42
Klevner vs Klevener
- Klevner - Pinot Blanc
| - Klevener - Savagnin
43
What is the only AOP in Alsace to allow Chardonnay?
Cremant d'Alsace AOP
44
What is Savagnin Rose?
A pink berried clone of Traminer - aka Klevener
-Five communes: Heiligenstein, Bourgheim, Gertwiller, Goxwiller, Obernai
-but vineyards may not be replanted
(up to 2021)
45
What are the noble grapes of Alsace?
- Riesling
- Pinot Gris
- Muscat
- Gewurztraminer
46
What clones of Muscat are permitted as a noble variety?
- Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains
- Muscat Rosé à Petits Grains
- Muscat Ottonel
47
Are SGN wines required to be sweet?
No, but in practice are always dessert-like
48
What are the min must weights for SGN?
- Muscat & Riesling - 276g/l
- Pinot Gris & Gewurztraminer - 306g/l
(@306 amongst the highest min must weights in France)
49
What 2 Grand Cru vineyards allow for blending according to prescribed proportions?
- Altenberg de Bergheim
| - Kaefferkopf
50
What is the historical site for Sylvaner?
- Zotzenberg
| - Allows for Sylvaner varietal Grand Cru wines
51
What are the two designations for Alsatian blends?
Gentil & Edelzwicker
52
What is the climate of Alsace?
Continental
53
What is the elevation range of Alsace?
This isn’t a high elevation region- ranges from 175-214 meters
54
What is the largest AOP in Alsace?
Vin d’Alsace AOP which covers 15,500 ha. Alsace Grand Cru AOP is 850 ha in comparison.
55
Which grapes are permitted for use in the Vin d’Alsace AOP?
Pinot Blanc, Chasselas, Sylvaner, Pinot Noir plus the noble grapes Riesling, Pinot Gris, Muscat, and Gewurtztraminer.
56
What are the five communes for Savagnin Rose or Klevener de Heiligenstein?
Heiligenstein, Bourgheim, Gertwiller, Goxwiller, Obernai
57
Which is the only type of wine in Alsace that can be made by cofermentation?
Wines with a vineyard name can be the only wines that can be co-fermented.
58
Best Alsace vintages for SGN wines since 2000?
2005 and 2007
59
Rosacker is located in what village? What is the major soil type here?
Hunawihr
Dolomitic Limestone is the main soil type here.
60
In what village is Zotzenberg located? What is the major soiltype of this vineyard? Grape? Who is the producer?
Mittelbergheim (Bas Rhin)
Marl-Limestone is the main soil type here
Sylvaner is the grape
Albert Setz
61
Who produces Clos St Urbain? What village is it located near? What is the soil type of this vineyard?
Domaine Zind-Humbrecht (Producer)
Thann (Village)
Volcanic Soils (Soil)
62
Who is the most notable producer of the “Field Blend” style?
Marcel Deiss
63
When was the first Grand Cru recognized in Alsace? When did the next 24 vineyards get recognized? When were the final 26 get recognized? What was the most recently recognized Grand Cru?
1975 (Schlossberg)
Next 24 in 1983
25 in 1992
Last in 2007 (Kaefferkopf)
64
What distilled product is derived from the final pressing of Crémant d’Alsace?
Marc d'Alsace
65
What is the only appellation in Alsace that produces AOP wine that includes Chardonnay among other grapes for its production? What other grapes are allowed here (5)? What two noble varietals are not allowed for production here?
Crémant d'Alsace (1976)
```
Pinot Noir
Pinot Blanc
Pinot Gris
Auxerrois
Riesling
```
Gewürztraminer and Muscat are not allowed!!!!
66
Name a producer that produces late harvest wines from both Brand and Sommerberg Grands Crus.
Albert Boxler
67
In what department is Heiligenstein located and what is the star grape here? What is it a variant of? What Jura grape is it synonymous with?
Bas-Rhin
Klevener or Savagnin (variant or Traminer)
Synonymous with Savagnin in the Jura
Savagnin Rose or Klevener de Heiligenstein is a specialty
68
(There are three pressings used for the production of Crémant d’Alsace. What are they called and how much volume does each contain? Which is used for prestige wines? Which is used for distillation?)
(Cuvée - First pressing (50L) and used for prestige wines
Taille - Second pressing (following 47 L)
Final 3 Liters must be used for distillation)
69
If a wine is labeled “Pinot” in Alsace what grapes can be used for the production of that wine?
Any proportion of Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, and Auxerrois
70
Who is the producer of Clos des Capucins?
Weinbach - Kaisenberg
71
Hugel releases which wines under Jubilee labels?
Only from Grand Cru sites
72
Alsace AOP wines must contain 100% of the printed grape variety True or False
True
73
How many grand cru vineyards are there in Alsace?
51
74
Name the vineyard in Alsace located 20 km south of the main concentration of Haut Rhin Grand Crus
Rangen vineyard, the steepest vertical vineyard in Alscae
The only site to be classified grand cru in it's entirety
Home to the prestigious CLos Saint Urbaine and CLos Saint Theobald vineyards
Located along the Vosges fault line
75
Name the prestigious biodynamic producer in the Bas Rhin depertment of Alsace
Domaine Ostertag
76
Where is Marcel Deiss located?
Bergheim, Alsace
Instrumental in changing regulations to allow blends from Altenberg de Bergheim to have grand cru status
77
name 5 Grand Cru of
Bas Rhine
Steinklotz
-northernmost in all Alsace
Kastelberg
-smallest in Bas Rhine
Frankstein
- southernmost in Bas Rhine
- largest in Bas Rhine
Zotzenberg
-only GC to allow Sylvaner
Muenchberg -OR- Moenchenberg
-both "munchies" are here
78
Min must weight for VT?
Riesling/Muscat 244g/l
Pinot Gris/Gewuz 270g/l
79
Blend Grand Cru Grape Varieties?
Altenberg de Bergheim: 50-70% Riesling, 10-25% Pinot Gris, 10-25% Gewurztraminer, max. 10% combined Chasselas, Muscat, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Blanc
Kaefferkopf: 60-80% Gewurztraminer, 10-40% Riesling, max. 30% Pinot Gris, max. 10% Muscat
Altenberg de Bergheim and Kaefferkopf may also produce varietal Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris, and Riesling.
80
Clos St Immer?
Ernes Burn - Goldert
81
Clos St Urban?
Zind Humbrecht - Rangen
82
Clos St Theobald?
Domaine Schoffit - Rangen
83
Clos St Landelin
René Muré - Vorbourg
84
Clos du Zanacker?
Cave de Vinicole du Ribeauville - Osterberg
