Alsace

Question 1

List examples of Germanic culture in Alsace

Answer 1

Varietal labeling, flute bottle, Riesling prominent

Question 2

Describe Alsace’s climate and the topographical features that impact it

Answer 2

Continental - significant seasonal and diurnal temperature swings, protected by Vosges mountains - creates rain shadow, making it hot sunny and dry

Question 3

Define rain shadow effect

Answer 3

Rain shadow: An area of land receives little precipitation due to a tall landmass, such as a mountain range or escarpment that blocks the moisture laden clouds

Question 4

Define Graben

Answer 4

bedrock that has dropped down between parallel faults (rift valley)

Question 5

Name the two uplifts of the Rhine Graben

Answer 5

Vosges Mtns & Black Forest

Question 6

Where are these soil types found in Alsace? granite/gneiss, schist, volcanic elements, sandstone

Answer 6

Slopes of the vosge

Question 7

Where are these soil types found in Alsace? limestone, calcareous sandstone, marly sandstone, marly limestone, marly clay, calcareous-marl-sandstone

Answer 7

foothills of the vosge mountains

Question 8

Where are these soil types found in Alsace? alluvium, loess/loam, colluvium

Answer 8

Rhine Plain/Alsace Plain

Question 9

What is the soil like in the Grands Crus of Alsace

Answer 9

sedimentary soils with many on marl and limestone or combination of marl, limestone, and sandstone

Question 10

Identify where the grapes are grown and their preferred aspects in Alsace

Answer 10

Majority grown on slopes of vosges (200-360m) and face south/southeast
Some located on lower elevation of the peaks on decomposed granite, schist, sandstone, and volcanic elements 250-400m, face south/southeast for sunlight and warmth
Soils at base of the foothills are fertile and grow grapes for cremant

Question 11

Identify the 7 focal grapes of Alsace and the four that are considered “noble”

Answer 11

Focal grapes: Riesling, Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer, Muscat(s), Sylvaner, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Noir
Noble: Riesling, Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer, Muscat(s)

Question 12

List the distinctive uses for the noble grapes vs. the focal grapes

Answer 12

Only noble grapes can be used for Vendages Tardives and Selection de Grains Nobles and Grands Crus bottlings (one exception: Zoztenberg: syvlaner grand cru)

Question 13

Identify the link between Savagnin Blanc and its aromatic and non-aromatic rose clones, Klevener de Heiligenstein and Gewurztraminer

Answer 13

Savignin Rose: pink-skinned mutation of Savagnin Blanc from Jura
Aromatic Savagnin Rose: Gewurztraminer
Non-aromatic Savagnin Rose: Klevener de Heiligenstein

Question 14

List the reasons why Alsace’s harvest runs from September to November

Answer 14

Different grapes ripen at different times, variation in ripening ability of different soil types: some reflect light and heat and others do not, different sites receive sun at different times, affecting ripening, style of wine may affect picking times: late harvest last, cremant first

Question 15

List the ways in which global warming is impacting the viti/vini practices of Alsace

Answer 15

Harvest dates have moved forward 2-3 weeks over the last century. Grapes used to receive high degree of ripeness only 1-3 times a decade, now happening every year. Wrestling with accidental residual sugar in wine that was historically bone dry.

Question 16

Outline how Pinot d’Alsace and Pinot Blanc represent exceptions to Alsace’s 100% varietal rule

Answer 16

Pinot Blanc: 100% pinot blanc, 100% auxerrois or blend of both
Pinot d’Alsace: 100% auxerrois, pinot blanc, pinot noir, pinot gris, or a blend of any or all

Question 17

Recognize which Alsatian wines are typically blended product

Answer 17

Edelzwicker & Gentil

Question 18

What is the difference between Edelzwicker & Gentil

Answer 18

Edelzwicker: blend of any approved grape varieties of Alsace, vinified together or separately, vintage is optional
Gentil: blend of minimum 50% noble grapes, each variety must be vinified separately, requires tasting panel approval, and vintage must appear

Question 19

Explain the difference between Vendanges Tardives (VT) and Sélection de Grains Nobles (SGN)

Answer 19

VT: late harvest wines with considerable RS, grapes picked by hand late into season when overripe, may or may not have noble rot
SGN: late harvest wines, must be affected by noble rot, grapes are handpicked berry by berry through multiple passes

Question 20

Name the two grapes most often used for VT and SGN and be able to explain why

Answer 20

Pinot Gris and Gewurztraminer: ripening curve dovetails nicely with autumn mists

Question 21

Identify the primary reasons why some of the wines of Alsace, traditionally fermented to dryness, are now carrying residual sugar

Answer 21

Global warming: high sugar levels in harvested grapes result in fermentation that stops before all the grape sugar is converted to alcohol

Question 22

Identify the sole grape with regulations stipulating a residual sugar maximum

Answer 22

Riesling: max RS level 9g/L - does not apply to Grands Crus, lieu-dits, or VT or SGN

Question 23

Alsace AOC wine style & grapes

Answer 23

Wine styles: dry white, rose, red, sweet white
Can come from anywhere in Alsace

Question 24

Alsace Grand Cru AOCs wine style & grapes

Answer 24

Wine styles: dry white, sweet white

Single-varietal wines made from 4 noble grapes, exception: zoztenberg includes Sylvaner and Altenberg de Bergheim and Kaefferkopf - make blends

Question 25

Cremant d’Alsace AOC wine style & grapes

Answer 25

Wine styles: sparkling white and rose Most is a blend, Gewurztraminer forbidden, Bland de Noir and Rose are 100% Pinot Noir, Rose can be made via maceration or Saignee method

Question 26

How do production standards and production zones differ between the regional Alsace AOC and the communal and lieu-dit sub-categories

Answer 26

13 Denominations Geographiques Complementaires (DGCs) - communal designations, higher quality standards than Alsace AOC, can add commune name to label, each commune is authorized to make a specific wine style from specific varieties

Question 27

Define lieu-dit

Answer 27

Lieu-Dit designation (Lieu Dit is a cadastral unit used by geographers and is legally registered - it is a plot of land that is notable for its significant expression of terroir - special plts of earth - standards are higher than communal designations, limits on grape varieties, vine density, pruning methods, trellising, maturity level at harvest, and yield, wines can only be red or white, no rose

Question 28

Understand the significance of changing one single Alsace Grand Cru into 51 Grands Crus

Answer 28

Split into different AOCs to allow for self-governance. Example, Hengst may soon add Pinot Noir to their list of approved grapes, the other AOCs don’t have to do this since the ruling won’t apply to all

Question 29

Explain why a Grand Cru label does not guarantee quality

Answer 29

Some appellations too large to deliver a signature flavor profile and some boundaries were expanded beyond original designation to include vignerons on the fringes that petitioned to be included. Also, some great producers opted to not include Grand Cru on the label due to equity in their brand already.

Question 30

List the reasons Alsace’s vignerons produce dozens of different wines each vintage

Answer 30

Seven grape varieties, special cuvees, dessert-category offerings, proprietary tiers (reserve or reserve personelle)

Question 31

In which century was Alsace first incorporated into France? The Sixteenth Century The Thirteenth Century The Fifteenth Century The Seventeenth Century

Answer 31

17th Century

Question 32

After which war did Alsace become part of the German Empire? The First World War The Franco-Prussian War The Thirty Year's War The Napoléonic Wars

Answer 32

The Franco-Prussian War

Question 33

Alsace enjoys a Maritime climate. True or False?

Answer 33

False

Question 34

What Alsace noble grape matches the flavor profile: citrus, honeysuckle, jasmine, linden, apple, floral, petrol

Answer 34

Riesling

Question 35

What Alsace noble grape matches the flavor profile: ginger, rose, lychee

Answer 35

Gewurztraminer

Question 36

What Alsace noble grape matches the flavor profile: pear, honey

Answer 36

Pinot Gris

Question 37

What Alsace noble grape matches the flavor profile: grapes, flowers

Answer 37

Muscat

Question 38

Which mountain range protects the vineyards of Alsace from bad weather brought across northern France by westerly winds?

Answer 38

Vosges

Question 39

What grapes can be used for VdT and SGN in Alsace?

Answer 39

Gewurztraminer Muscat Pinot Gris Riesling

Question 40

Of the grape varieties permitted to be used for Vendanges Tardives and Sélection de Grains Nobles production, two are used much more frequently than the others. Which are they? Gewurztraminer Riesling Muscat Pinot Gris

Answer 40

Gewurztraminer Pinot Gris

Question 41

For an Alsace wine to be varietally labeled, what percentage of the grape specified on the label must be used? 100% 85% 75% 95%

Answer 41

100%

Question 42

What is another local name for Pinot Blanc in Alsace? Klevner Klevener de Heiligenstein Savagnin Rose Chasselas Auxerrois

Answer 42

Klevner

Question 43

Most of the vineyards in Alsace are planted on the slopes of the Vosges foothills and face south or southeast. True or False?

Answer 43

True

Question 44

Which of these grape varieties can be used in a wine labelled as Pinot d'Alsace? Pinot Gris Chesselas Pinot Blanc Auxerrois Riesling Muscat Chardonnay Pinot Noir

Answer 44

Pinot Gris Pinot Blanc Auxerrois Pinot Noir

Question 45

Alsace Communal wines and Alsace Lieu-Dit wines are not separate AOCs, but sub-categories of the Alsace AOC. True or False?

Answer 45

True

Question 46

Gewurztraminer is the aromatic version of the non-aromatic Savagnin Rose. What is the Alsace name for Savagnin Rose? Klevener de Heiligensten Traminer Klevner Savagnin Musqué

Answer 46

Klevener de Heiligensten

Question 47

Since 2008, Pinot Gris – other than Grands Crus, Lieux-Dits and dessert wines – has to be made in a dry style. True or False?

Answer 47

False

Question 48

Which of these can be used in a wine labeled as Muscat in Alsace? Golden Muscat Muscat of Alexandria Muscat d'Eisenstadt Muscat a Petits Grains Blanc Muscat Ottonel

Answer 48

Muscat a Petits Grains Blanc Muscat Ottonel

Question 49

How many major soil types are there in Alsace?

Answer 49

13

Question 50

Riesling is indigenous to France. True or False?

Answer 50

False Riesling is indigenous to Germany’s Rhine Valley.

Question 51

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

Answer 51

Austria

Question 52

What is the climate of Alsace?

Answer 52

Continental

Question 53

Which Alsace AOC produces sparkling wine?

Answer 53

Cremant d'Alsace AOC

Question 54

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

Answer 54

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

Question 55

What is a “Gentil”

Answer 55

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

Question 56

What is an “Edelzwicker”?

Answer 56

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

Question 57

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

Answer 57

Vendanges Tardives and Sélection de Grains Nobles

Question 58

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

Answer 58

TRUE. This has been the case since 2011.

Question 59

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

Answer 59

True

Question 60

What is a “lieu-dit”?

Answer 60

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

Question 61

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

Answer 61

The Vosges Mountains

Question 62

Machine harvesting is common in Alsace. True or false?

Answer 62

FALSE. Most vineyards are hand harvested.

Question 63

What is a Graben

Answer 63

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

Question 64

What is a “Foudre”

Answer 64

A traditional, large, oak cask.

Question 65

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

Answer 65

20%

Question 66

How many AOCs are there in Alsace?

Answer 66

53

Question 67

How many Grands Crus are there in Alsace?

Answer 67

51

Question 68

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

Answer 68

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

Question 69

What is the principal vine training method in Alsace?

Answer 69

Guyot

Question 70

How many Grands Crus allow blends?

Answer 70

2 – Altenberg de Bergheim and Kaefferkopf

Question 71

How many Grand Cru AOCs allow the use of Sylvaner?

Answer 71

1 – Zotzenberg

Question 72

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

Answer 72

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

Question 73

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

Answer 73

2 – Hengst and Kirchberg de Barr

Question 74

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

Answer 74

Lorraine