Alsace Flashcards
(138 cards)
1
Q
In what century is winemaking thought to have began in Alsace?
A
4th century
2
Q
What Empire was Alsace a part of in the Middle Ages?
A
Holy Roman Empire
3
Q
In what year did Alsace fall to France during the 30 years war?
A
1639
4
Q
In what year was Alsace briefly independent before being reincorporated into France?
A
1918
5
Q
What is the capital of Alsace?
A
Strasbourg
6
Q
Which 2 countries have mostly impacted the culture of Alsace?
A
France and Germany
7
Q
When do many of Alsace’s current vineyards date back to and why?
A
1945 because it was the end of WW2
8
Q
When did Alsace gain AOP status?
A
1962
9
Q
Where and when was France’s first co-operative located?
A
Alsace, 1895
10
Q
What are the majority of Alsatian wines bottled in?
A
Tall, green, flute bottles
11
Q
What are the 2 zones of Alsace?
A
Haut Rhin and Bas Rhin
12
Q
North to south, how many kilometres do the vineyards of Alsace run for?
A
100km
13
Q
Between what level of altitude are the majority of Alsatian vineyards?
A
150-550m altitude
14
Q
Roughly how many of Alsace’s Grand Crus are within the Haut Rhin?
A
2/3
15
Q
What is the mountain range to the east of Alsace?
A
Vosges
16
Q
What climactic affect do the Vosges have on Alsace?
A
They create a rain shadow
17
Q
What is the impact of a rain shadow on Alsatian vineyards?
A
The climate becomes continental due to very little rain and no clouds, meaning lots of sun
18
Q
What is the climate of Alsace?
A
Cool continental
19
Q
Other than the rain shadow, what is the other drying impact on Alsatian vineyards?
A
Wind coming over the top of the Vosges Mountains
20
Q
Where are the best Alsatian vineyards found?
A
Along the mid slopes of the Vosges Mountain Range with a south-southeasterly aspect
21
Q
What other country does the Vosges Mountain run into? What is the continuation called?
A
Germany
The Haadt Mountains
22
Q
Roughly how many different soil types do Alsatian winemakers claim there are in Alsace?
A
800
23
Q
What is the soil makeup of the gres de Vosges?
A
Pink sandstone
24
Q
What are the dominant soil types of the steeper vineyards in Alsace?
A
Schist
Granite
Volcanic Sediment
25
What is the main soil of the lower slopes of Alsace?
Limestone
26
What are the soils of Alsatian plains at the foot of the Vosges?
Alluvial clay and gravel
27
What is the main environmental risk to Alsatian vineyards?
Spring frost
28
Which type of forests in Alsace dramatically reduce vineyard temperatures?
Pine Tree Forests
29
What is the major city for Alsatian wine trade?
Colmar
30
What percentage of Alsace wines are white?
90%
31
What percentage of France’s white wines does Alsace produce?
20%
32
Which 2 grapes make up the majority of volume for Alsatian wines?
Pinot Blanc and Auxerrois
33
What is Alsace’s most widely planted grape?
Riesling
34
Is oak used in Alsace?
Never for flavour on white wines. Old oval casks are sometimes used for fermentation or micro-oxygenation
Aged oak is often used for red wines
35
What are the 4 noble grapes of Alsace?
Riesling
Pinot Gris
Gewürztraminer
Muscat (Blanc a Petits Grains, Rose a Petits Grains, and Ottonel)
36
Other than the noble grapes, what grapes are permitted for Alsace AOP?
Pinot Blanc
Auxerrois
Sylvaner
Chasselas
Savagnin
Pinot Noir
37
What is another name for Pinot Blanc in Alsace?
Klevner
38
Describe a typical dry Alsatian Riesling
Dry & powerful
High acidity
High alcohol
Intense minerality
39
Describe a typical Alsatian Pinot Gris
Full bodied
High acidity
Medium+ alcohol
Sweet spice and smokiness
40
What is a former name for Pinot Gris in Alsace?
Tokay d’Alsace
41
Describe a typical Alsatian Gewürztraminer
Full body
Low acidity
High alcohol
Sweet spice and tropical fruit
42
What grape is Gewürztraminer a clone of?
Traminer
43
Which 3 Muscat grapes are permitted in Alsace?
Muscat Blanc a Petits Grains
Muscat Rose a Petits Grains
Muscat Ottonel
44
Describe a typical Alsatian Muscat
Fuller bodied
Low acidity
Medium+ alcohol
Highly aromatic with grape aromas
45
What grape is Savagnin a clone of?
Traminer
46
Which Alsatian commune is the only commune to allow Savagnin?
Heiligenstein (Bas-Rhin)
47
What is the only red grape permitted in Alsace?
Pinot Noir
48
What is another name for Chasselas in Alsace?
Gutedel
49
What is the minimum alcohol requirement for Vin d’Alsace?
8.5%
50
What percentage of an Alsatian wine must be made from a stated grape?
100%
51
Which 2 grapes in Alsace may be blended but still be labelled varietally?
Pinot Blanc and Auxerrois can be blended and labelled as Pinot Blanc
100% Auxerrois can also be labelled as Pinot Blanc
52
If an Alsace wine is labelled Pinot, which grapes could be in the wine?
Any blend of Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, and Auxerrois
53
What are the 3 types of Alsatian blends?
Edelzwicker
Gentil
Field Blends
54
What is an Edelzwicker blend in Alsace?
It means a noble mixture
The wines do not need to be vintage-dated and technically dont have to be a blend at all
Typically low quality
55
What is a Gentil blend in Alsace?
An unofficial term indicating a blend made up of minimum 50% noble grapes
The base wines must be vinified separately
56
What is an Alsatian Field Blend?
Grapes from the same vineyard picked and vinified together. Thought to be a true expression of terroir
57
When was Alsace Grand Cru created?
1975
58
What was the first Alsace Grand Cru created in 1975?
Schlossberg
59
How many Grand Crus were added to Alsace Grand Cru AOP in 1983?
24
60
How many Grand Crus were added to Alsace Grand Cru AOP in 1992?
25
61
What was the last Alsace Grand Cru added and when?
Kaefferkopf
2007
62
How much of Alsace’s production does Alsace Grand Cru represent?
5%
63
What grapes are permitted for Alsace Grand Cru (excluding exceptions)?
The 4 noble grapes:
Riesling
Pinot Gris
Gewürztraminer
Muscat
64
Which Alsace Grand Cru permits the use of Sylavner?
Zotzenberg
65
Which 3 Alsace Grand Crus allow Pinot Noir, and since what year has it been allowed?
Kirchberg de Barr - 2022
Hengst - 2022
Vorbourg - 2024
66
Which 2 Alsace Grand Crus allow wines to be from a blend of grapes?
Kaefferkopf
Altenberg de Bergheim
67
What are the minimum potential alcohol levels required for the noble grapes destined for Alsace Grand Cru wines?
Riesling: 11%
Muscat: 11%
Pinot Gris: 12.5%
Gewürztraminer: 12.5%
68
How did the Alsace Grand Cru system change in 2011?
The law changed so that instead of there being 1 Grand Cru appellation with 51 vineyards (much like Chablis), there became 51 individual Grand Cru appellations for each individual vineyard, with each gaining its own independence (much like the Côte d’Or)
69
What is the smallest Alsace Grand Cru?
Kanzelberg - 3ha
70
What is the largest Alsace Grand Cru?
Schlossberg - 80ha
71
Which Alsace producer releases the wine Clos St-Hune?
Trimbach
72
Why does Trimbach release Clos St Hune as Alsace AOP instead of Alsace Grand Cru?
They believe the plot of land used for Clos Ste-Hune is superior to the rest of the Grand Cru so choose not to use the Grand Cru label
73
Which Alsace Grand Cru vineyard produces fruit for Clos St Hune?
Rosacker Grand Cru
74
What are the soils of Kitterle Alsace Grand Cru?
Sandstone
75
What are the dominant grapes of Zinnkoepfle Alsace Grand Cru?
Riesling and Gewürztraminer
76
What are the soils and dominant grape of Vorbourg Alsace Grand Cru?
Marl and sandstone dominated by Muscat
77
What are the dominant soils and grapes of Eichberg Alsace Grand Cru?
Marl and sandstone
Riesling and Gewürztraminer
78
What are the famous grapes of Hengst Alsace Grand Cru?
Riesling
Gewürztraminer
79
What is the dominant soils of the Turckheim, Brand, and Schlossberg Alsace Grand Crus?
Granite
80
In which Alsace Grand Cru does Clos de Capucins lie within, and which producer owns it?
Schlossberg
Weinbach
81
In which Alsace Grand Cru does Clos St-Landelin reside and who owns it?
Vorbourg
Mure
82
Which Alsace Grand Cru does Clos Hauserer lie near and who owns it?
Hengst
Zind-Humbrechet
83
Which Alsace Grand Cru does Clos Jebsal reside near?
Turckheim
84
In which Alsace Grand Cru does Clos St-Urbain reside?
Rangen
85
Which Alsace Grand Cru does Clos Windsbuhl reside near?
Hunawihr
86
When were the Alsace appellations Vendanges Tardives and Selections de Grains Nobles created?
1984
87
How many grapes can make up a sweet Alsace wine?
One noble variety
88
How can Alsace grapes qualify for Selection de Grains Nobles?
Must be affected by botrytis and should be picked in tries
89
What is the style of Vendanges Tardives wines?
They emphasise varietal expression with varying amounts of sweetness
90
Are Alsace sweet wines allowed to go through chaptalisation?
No
91
What are the Alsation minimum sugar levels for Vendanges Tardives?
Muscat & Riesling: 244g/l
Pinot Gris & Gewürztraminer: 270g/l
92
What are the minimum sweetness levels for Selection Grains de Nobles?
Muscat & Riesling: 276g/l
Pinot Gris & Gewürztraminer: 306g/l
93
What is the minimum residual sugar levels for sweet Alsace AC, not labelled as VT or SGN?
12g/l for all grapes except Riesling which is 9g/l
Labelled Moelleux
94
Which grape dominates Cremant d’Alsace?
Pinot Blanc
95
What grape is used to make Rose Cremant d’Alsace?
Pinot Noir
96
What grape is allowed in Cremant d’Alsace which isn’t allowed in Vin d’Alsace?
Chardonnay
97
Other than Chardonnay, which other grapes are permitted for Cremant d’Alsace?
Riesling
Auxerrois
Pinot Gris
98
Which declining wine region neighbours Alsace?
Lorraine
99
What are the 2 AOPs of Lorraine?
Cotes de Toul AOP
Moselle AOP
100
What is the grapes used for making red and rose Cotes de Toul?
Pinot Noir and Gamay
101
What are the grapes used for the white wines of Cotes de Toul?
Auxerrois and Aubin
102
When was the Moselle appellation promoted from VDQS to AOC?
2011
103
What are the 2 major grapes of Moselle AOP?
Auxerrois and Pinot Noir
104
What famous German grape is used in Moselle AOP?
Muller-Thurgau
105
What famous river runs through Moselle AOP?
The Mosel River which runs through Lorraine then Luxembourg before going through Germany
106
What are the best Alsace vintages since 2000?
2000
2009
2017
2019
2020
107
What are the worst Alsace vintages since 2000?
2003
2004
2013
2021
108
When was Trimbach established in Alsace?
1626
109
Name 3 of Trimbach's top Alsace cuvees
Clos Sainte Hune
Cuvee Frederic Emile
Riesling Schlossberg Grand Cru
Riesling Geisberg Grand Cru
Riesling Mandelberg Grand Cru
110
When was the first vintage of Trimbach's Clos Sainte Hune?
1919
111
Which 2 Alsace Grand Crus make up Trimbach's Cuvee Frederic Emile?
Geisberg and Osterberg
112
When was Zind-Humbrechet established in Alsace?
1959
113
When was Zind-Humbrechet certified biodynamic?
2002
114
Names 3 of Zind-Humbrecht's top Alsace cuvees
Riesling Grand Cru Rangen Saint Urbain
Riesling Grand Cru Bran
Riesling Clos Hauserer
Riesling Clos Windsbuhl
Muscat Grand Cru Goldert
115
When was the first vintage of Zind-Humbrechet's Riesling Grand Cru Rangen Saint Urbain?
1978
116
When was Weinbach established in Alsace?
1898
117
When was Domaine Weinbach certified biodynamic?
2005
118
Name 3 of Domaine Weinbach's top Alsace cuvees
Riesling Vin d'Alsace Cuvee Colette
Riesling Schlossberg Cuvee Sainte Cathehrine
Riesling Schlossberg Cuvee Saint Catherine L'Inedit
Gewurztraminer Grand Cru Mambourg
Pinot Gris Altenbourg
119
When was the first vintage of Domaine Weinbach's Riesling Schlossberg Cuvee Sainte Cathehrine?
1984
120
Which grand cru does the fruit for Domaine Weinbach's Riesling Cuvee Colette come from and why is labelled Vin d'Alsace?
Schlossberg Grand Cru
Some of the vines fall just outside the Grand Cru borders
121
When was Albert Boxler established in Alsace?
1673
122
Name 3 of Albert Boxler's top Alsace cuvees
Riesling Grand Cru Brand
Riesling Grand Cru Sommerberg Dudenstein
Riesling Grand Cru Sommerberg E
Pinot Gris Grand Cru Sommerberg
Gewurztraminer Grand Cru Brand
123
When was Marcel Deiss established in Alsace?
1947 in Bergheim
124
Name 3 of Marcel Deiss' top cuvees
Grand Cru Mambourg
Grand Cru Altenberg de Bergheim
Grand Cru Schhoenenbourg
Grand Cru Schlossberg
Engelgraten
125
When was Domaine Ostertag established in Alsace?
1966
126
When was Domaine Ostertag certified biodynamic?
1997
127
Name 3 of Domaine Ostertag's top Alsace cuvees
Riesling Grand Cru Muenchberg
Riesling Clos Mathis
Pinot Gris Grand Cru Muenchberg A360P
Pinot Gris Zellberg
Gewurztraminer Vignoble d’E
128
When was Hugel et Fils established in Alsace?
1639
129
Name 3 of Hugel et Fils top Alsace cuvees
Riesling Schoelhammer
Riesling Grossi Laue
Riesling Jubilee
Pinot Gris Grossi Laue
Gewurztraminer Jubilee
130
Which Grand Cru does the fruit for Hugel et Fils's Riesling Schhoelhammer come from?
Schoenenbourg Grand Cru
131
When was Albert Mann established in Alsace?
1984
132
When was Albert Mann certified biodynamic?
2010
133
Name 3 of Albert Mann's top Alsace cuvees
Riesling Grand Cru Schlossberg
Pinot Noir Grand H
Pinot Noir Les Saintes Claire
Pinot Gris Grand Cru Furstentum
Gewurztraminer Grand Cru Steingrubler
134
When was Domaine Schlumberger established in Alsace?
1810
135
Name 3 of Domaine Schlumberger's top Alsace cuvees
Riesling Grand Cru Saering
Riesling Grand Cru Kessler
Riesling Grand Cru Kitterle
Pinot Gris Grand Cru Spiegel
Pinot Gris Grand Cru Kessler
136
When was Domaine Josmeyer established in Alsace?
1963
137
When was Domaine Josmeyer certified biodynamic?
2004
138
Name 3 of Domaine Josmeyer's top Alsace cuvees
Riesling Grand Cru Brand
Riesling Grand Cru Hengst
Riesling Grand Cru Hengst Samain
Pinot Gris Grand Cru Hengst
Pinot Gris Grand Cru Brand
