Alsace

Question 1

Baus Rhine

Answer 1

-more north, lower elevation, less protection from Vosgnes

Question 2

Haut Rhine

Answer 2

-more south, higher elevation, best vineyard sites[more Grand Crus]

Question 3

Alsace Climate

Answer 3

• Cool continental [48° parallel]
• dry sunny summers [Vosgnes Mountains rainshadow]
• one of driest regions in France
• Rhine and tributaries create conditions for noble rot

Question 4

Alsace Topography

Answer 4

• vineyards planted on rolling foothills of Vosges
• best vineyards on lower slopes facing east-southeast
• area includes flat plans along Rhine river

Question 5

Alsace Soils

Answer 5

• Tremendous diversity among region from ancient geological activity
• Marl, Limestone, Gneiss, Schist, Sandstone, Granite, Clay & Volcanic

Question 6

Alsace White Grapes

Answer 6

• Riesling
• Gewurztraminer
• Muscat
• Pinot Gris
• Pinot Blanc
• Silvaner
• Auxerrois

Question 7

Alsace Red Grapes

Answer 7

-Pinot Noir [100% !]

Question 8

Alsace Vinification

Answer 8

• Neutral casks often used for fermenting and aging

- Little/no use of new oak

Question 9

Alsace Varietal Labelling

Answer 9

-Most wines labeled varietally (100% of grape)

Question 10

Alsace Noble Varieties

Answer 10

• Riesling
• Gewurztraminer
• Muscat
• Pinot Gris

Question 11

Vedanges Tardives =

Answer 11

• “late harvest”
• from one of the noble varietals
• min sugar level / not enriched
• mostly passerillage

Question 12

Selection de Grains Noble [SGN]

Answer 12

• from one of the noble varietals
• higher sugar than VT
• mostly Noble Rot

Question 13

Pinot Gris a.k.a in Alsace

Answer 13

fomerly Tokay-Pinot Gris or Tokay d’Alsace

Question 14

Muscat Blanc in alsace is from:

Answer 14

Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains
Muscat Rosé à Petits Grains
Muscat Ottonel

Question 15

Pinot Blanc a.k.a

Answer 15

Clevner / Klevner

Question 16

Alsace AOP overview

Answer 16

• aka Vin d’Alsace AOP
• one AOP covering entire region
• all Alsace AOP must be Flute d’Alsace bottle

Question 17

Alsace Grand Cru AOP Rules

Answer 17

• 4 Noble grapes only* [minor exceptions]
• hand harvesting mandatory
• min sugar levels higher than Alsace aoc

Question 18

Alsace Grand Cru Varietal Exceptions

Answer 18

• Zotzenberg [100% Sylvaner]

- Kaefferkopf [Gewurz based blends]

Question 19

First Alsace Grand Cru

Answer 19

-Schlossberg (1975) was first

Question 20

Cremant d’Alsace rules/grapes

Answer 20

• traditional methods
• 9 month on lees
• manually harvested
• Blanc= (mainly Pinot Blanc but can be Riesling, Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Auxerrois, Chardonnay)
• Rose = (Pinot noir)

Question 21

Edelzwicker =

Answer 21

• “noble mixture”
• any combination of Alsatian varietals
• doesn’t have to be vintage or varietally labeled

Question 22

Gentil =

Answer 22

• superior designation for blends [50% min noble grapes]

- must be vinified separate, vintage indicated

Question 23

Alsace Producers

Answer 23

• Trimbach [Clos St Hune]
• Weinbach
• Zind-Humbrech
• Schlumberger
• Marcel Deiss