Alsace

Question 1

How many AOCs in Alsace?

Answer 1

53

Question 2

Name 3 major AOC categories in Alsace?

Answer 2

1. Alsace AOC
2. Cremant d Alsace AOC
3. Grand Cru AOCs (51 total)

Question 3

What % of production is Grand Cru?

Answer 3

6%

Question 4

2 points re listing grape variety on the label?

Answer 4

1. Must be 100% varietal listed
2. UNLESS it is Pinot Blanc or Pinot d’ Alsace

Question 5

What % of Alsace production is blends?

Answer 5

20%

Question 6

Name and describe the 2 traditional Alsatian white blends.

Answer 6

1. Edelzwicker: (i) blend of any approved white grapes (ii) vinified together or separately (iii) vintage optional
2. Gentil: (i) min. 50% noble grapes; (ii) each variety vinified separately; (iii) vintage must appear; (iv) approved by tasting panel

NOT INDEPENDENT AOCS - PART OF ALSACE AOC

Question 7

Name and describe the two traditional categories of sweet Alsatian wine. What common trait do they share?

Answer 7

1. Vendanges Tardives - late harvest wines with considerable RS; not always with noble rot
2. Selection de Grains Nobles - late-harvest wines using hand-selected grapes affected by noble rot

Both wines can only be crafted from the four noble grapes.

Question 8

Name 2 GCs that don’t make single-varietal wines

Answer 8

Bergheim and Kaefferkopf

Question 9

Which GC can use Sylvaner?

Answer 9

Zotzenburg

Question 10

Which 2 GCs can use Pinot Noir?

Answer 10

Hengst and Kirchberg de Barr (as of 2021)

Question 11

Which 2 white grapes are notably prohibited from cremant? Which white grape is notably permitted?

Answer 11

Gewurztraminer and Muscat are prohibited.

Chardonnay is permitted

Question 12

Describe the guyot training method. Why is it common in Alsace?

Answer 12

Lifts vines higher off the ground, which makes hand harvesting easier - useful in Alsace where the slopes are too steep for machines

Question 13

Different training method for vines on flat plains vs slopes?

Answer 13

1. Vines on plains trained HIGH to avoid FROST
2. Vines on elevation trained LOW to capitalize on REFLECTED LIGHT AND WARMTH

Question 14

Describe Alsace’s climate (3 points)

Answer 14

1. Continental
2. Significant seasonal and diurnal temperature swings
3. Rain shadow of the Vosges mountains

Question 15

What % of Alsatian wine production is white?

Answer 15

89%

Question 16

3 most planted grapes in Alsace?

Answer 16

1. Riesling (21%)
2. Pinot Blanc/Auxerrois (21%)
3. Gewurztraminer (20%)

Question 17

What are 3 key topographical features in Alsace?

Answer 17

1. Vosges Mountains
2. Vosges Foothills
3. Rhine / Alsace Plain

Alsace represents the Western sector of the Rhine Graben

Question 18

What 2 soils do you find in the Rhine / Alsace plain?

Answer 18

Mostly loam and alluvium (rich, fertile soils)

Question 19

What3 soils do you find in the Vosges foothills?

Answer 19

Limestone, marl, sandstone

Question 20

2 high level points about measuring sweetness levels for Alsatian sweet wines?

Answer 20

1. Measure sweetness BEFORE fermentation
2. Sugar levels and alcoholic potential must reach prescribed levels AT HARVEST to qualify

Question 21

VT thresholds for the four noble grapes?

Answer 21

Sugar: 27% for Gewurztraminer and Pinot Gris, 24% for Riesling and Muscat
Potential alcohol: 16% for Gewurztraminer and Pinot Gris, 14.5% for Riesling and Muscat

Question 22

SGN thresholds for the four noble grapes?

Answer 22

Sugar: 30.6% for Gewurztraminer and Pinot Gris, 27.6 for Riesling and Muscat
Potential alcohol: 18.2 for Gewurztraminer and Pinot Gris, 16.4% for Riesling and Muscat

Question 23

Where is Lorraine?

Answer 23

West of Alsace and east of Champagne

Question 24

What are the two AOCs of Lorraine?

Answer 24

1. Moselle
2. Cotes des Toul

Question 25

What is the IGP of Lorraine?

Answer 25

Cotes de Meuse

Question 26

3 principal grapes of Moselle AOC whites? What about reds?

Answer 26

1. Auxerrois 2. Pinot Gris 3. Miller Thurgau Reds are only Pinot Noir

Question 27

2 principal grapes of Moselle AOC whites? What about reds?

Answer 27

1. Aubin 2. Auxerrois Reds are from Pinot Noir. Roses are from Pinot Noir and/or Gamay.

Question 28

If the wine is labelled Klevner or Pinot Blanc, what grapes can it contain?

Answer 28

Pinot Blanc or Auxerrois (either singly or blended)

Question 29

If the wine is labelled Pinot d' Alsace, what grapes can it contain?

Answer 29

1. Auxerrois 2. Pinot Blanc 3. Pinot Noir 4. Pinot Gris Singly or blended, but MUST be vinified white

Question 30

What major regulation was introduced from the 2021 harvest?

Answer 30

As of the 2021 harvest, every Alsatian wine must clearly show if it is sec, demi-sec, moelleux or doux

Question 31

What proportion of Alsatian wines are made by co-ops? GIve 3 examples?

Answer 31

40%. Turckheim, Beblenheim and Ribeauville

Question 32

How many hours of sunshine per year in Alsace? Main effect on the wines?

Answer 32

1800 hours. High sunlight, combined with the northerly climate, allows wines to ripen slowly with complex aromatics

Question 33

What is the elevation range of the Alsatian vineyards in the Vosges slopes

Answer 33

250-400 metres

Question 34

What is the elevation range of the Alsatian vineyards in the Vosges foothills?

Answer 34

200-360 metres

Question 35

What is Klevener de Heiligenstein? Which grape is it related to?

Answer 35

Non-aromatic version of pink-skinned Savagnin Rose. It is related to Gewurztraminer, the aromatic version of Savaginin Rose.

Question 36

Why are Gewurztraminer and Pinot Gris often used to make VT and SGN wines?

Answer 36

Their ripening curve coincides with autumn mists.

Question 37

Which varietal has an RS limit in Alsace?

Answer 37

Riesling that is not Grand Cru or labelled with a lieux dit has a 0.9% RS (9g/l) limit

Question 38

When were the Grand Cru vineyards given individual AOCs?

Answer 38

2011