Alsace Flashcards
(146 cards)
French control following World War I renewed viticulture in Alsace, yet many of the region’s current vineyards date to?
1945 and after
Alsace finally achieved AOC status in?
1962, the last major French winemaking region to do so
Alsace is divided into two départements?
Haut-Rhin and Bas-Rhin
The land is a geologic mosaic, with ?
granite, limestone, schist, clay, gravel, chalk, loess, and a local pink sandstone called grés de Vosges.
Although the soil structure varies greatly from village to village, the steeper mountain slopes are generally composed of schist, granite, and volcanic sediment. The lower slopes sit on a limestone base, and the plain at the foot of the mountains consists of richer alluvial clay and gravel soils
Despite the presence of Pinot Noir, the four “noble” grapes of Alsace are?
Riesling, Pinot Gris, Muscat (Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains, Muscat Rosé à Petits Grains, or Muscat Ottonel), and Gewurztraminer—occupy the premier sites and are, with minor exceptions, the only grapes planted in the region’s grand cru vineyards.
90% of AOP wine is white, representing about 20% of France’s total AOP still white wine production
The region’s main appellation, Alsace AOP (or Vin d’Alsace AOP), allows the aforementioned noble grapes such as?
Pinot Blanc (Klevner), Chasselas (Gutedel), SYlvaner, and Pinot Noir to be bottled varietally. Alsace wines generally state the grape on the label
With the exception of Pinot Blanc, which is often blended with the similar but not synonymous Auxerrois, all varietally labeled Alsace AOP wines must contain 100% of the printed grape
Which is the most planted grape in Alsace?
Riesling
Pinot Gris, formerly called?
Tokay d’Alsace or Tokay Pinot Gris
Another pink variant of Traminer is known as?
Savagnin in the Jura retains a few plantings around the commune of Heiligenstein in the Bas-Rhin; the grape is known locally as Klevener
This SAVAGNIN ROSE, or Klevener de Heiligenstein, is less intensely aromatic than Gewurztraminer but higher in acidity. Five communes may bottle this wine varietally under the existing Alsace AOP: Heiligenstein itself, Bourgheim, Gertwiller, Goxwiller, and Obernai.
What is Edelzwicker?
meaning “noble mixture,” usually indicates its own inverse: an inexpensive blended wine. Alsace AOP wines labeled Edelzwicker do not need to be vintage-dated, nor are they even legally obligated to contain more than one grape.
What is gentil?
The unofficial term gentil is a superior designation for blends that contain a minimum of 50% noble grapes. Any other Alsace AOP grape may compose the remainder, and the base wines must be vinified separately
The Alsace Grand Cru AOP was first decreed in ?
1975 with Schlossberg the first
How many are the Grand Crus of Alsace?
51
With the 2022 vintage, Alsace welcomed the addition of Grand Cru Pinot Noir from?
Hengst, Kirchberg de Barr
Vorbourg in the 2024 (Muré Pinot Noir Clos Saint Landelin)
Which Grand Crus allow blends of noble grapes?
Altenberg de Bergheim, Kaefferkopf and Zotzenberg
Name a Grand Cru for Sylvaner
Zotzenberg
Hand-harvesting is mandatory for all grand cru wines?
True
Min potential alc for the noble grapes?
11% for Riesling and Muscat and 12.5% for Pinot Gris and Gewurztraminer
Which is the biggest Grand Cru of Alsace?
Schlossberg 80ha
Name 2 wines of Alsace that choose not to state Grand Cru on the label
Trimbach’s Clos-Ste-Hune (Rosacker)
Hugel’s Schoelhammer (Schoenenbourg)
Vendanges Tardives requires a minimum of?
244 grams per liter for Muscat and Riesling, and 270 grams per liter for Pinot Gris and Gewurztraminer
they can be dry or sweet
may show botrytis character but emphasize varietal purity. Quality VT wines usually originate from vines in a state of passerillage
Alsace AOP or Alsace Grand Cru AOP labels, provided the wines contain a single, noble variety and pass a blind tasting panel
Sélection de Grains Nobles requires?
276 grams per liter for Muscat and Riesling, and 306 grams per liter for Pinot Gris and Gewurztraminer. At 306 grams per liter, these wines are among the highest minimum must weights in France
Which are the styles of Cremant d’Alsace?
Mousseux Blanc: Riesling, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Auxerrois, and/or Chardonnay
Mousseux Rosé: 100% Pinot Noir
Requierements for Cremant d’Alsace?
Traditional Method Secondary Fermentation
The wines must spend a min. 9 months on the lees prior to dégorgement (12 months total aging, with at least 9 months on the lees, is required from the 2012 vintage forward.)
Min. 4 atmospheres of pressure
Rosé wines may be made by Maceration or Saignée.
Manual harvesting is mandatory