Alsace, Jura, & Savoie Flashcards
(141 cards)
1
Q
How far back does Alsatian winegrowing date to?
A
160 Alsatian vineyards were growing vines by the year 1000
2
Q
When did Alsace achieve AOC status?
A
1962; it was the last major French winemaking region to do so
3
Q
Name for the two major subregions in Alsace
A
departments
4
Q
What is France’s smallest region?
A
Alsace
5
Q
2 departments of Alsace
A
Haut-Rhin & Bas-Rhin
6
Q
Which department is known for quality wines?
A
Haut-Rhin; over two-thirds of Alsace’s Grand Crus are located here
7
Q
What seperates Alsace from the rest of France
A
the Vosges Mountains
8
Q
What do the Vosges Mountains do to Alsace?
A
Provide a rain shadow effect
9
Q
Driest city in France
A
Colmar, capital of Haut-Rhin department
10
Q
Climate of Alsace
A
semi-continental
11
Q
Which way do the better vineyards of Alsace face
A
South, Southeastern, or Warm Eastern exposures
12
Q
Why is the northerly location of Alsace not an issue to ripeness?
A
because of the sheer number of sunlight hours in the summertime
13
Q
Soil types of Alsace
A
granite, limestone, schist, clay, gravel, chalk, loess, and local pink sandstone (grès de vosges)
14
Q
Unique local soil type in Alsace
A
grès des Vosges - local pink sandstone
15
Q
Generally where are the different soils found in Alsace?
A
steep mountain slopes: schist, granite, volcanic sediment
lower slopes: limestone
plain at base of mountains: richer alluvial clay and gravel
16
Q
4 noble grapes of Alsace
A
Riesling
Pinot Gris
Muscat (either Muscat Blanc a Petits Grains, Muscat Rose a Petits Grains, or Muscat Ottonel)
Gewurztraminer
17
Q
Other grapes allowed in Alsace AOP?
A
(vin d’Alsace AOP)
Noble Grapes Pinot Blanc (Klevner) Chasselas (Gutedel) Sylvaner Pinot Noir
18
Q
Requirement to be varietally labeled?
A
must contain 100% of stated variety
exception – Pinot Blanc, which is often blended with the similar but not synonymous Auxerrois, but still labelled Pinot Blanc – even if 100% Auxerrois
19
Q
Most produced grape in Alsace
A
(when considered together it would be Pinot Blanc & Auxerrois)
Riesling – most planted and last noble grape to ripen
20
Q
Difference between German and Alsatian Riesling
A
Alsatian Rieslings are characteristically dry, more powerful, and higher in alcohol
21
Q
Alsatian law for Riesling as of 2008
A
Rieslings must be dry in style
22
Q
Alsatian name for Pinot Blanc
A
Klevner
23
Q
Alsatian name for Chasselas
A
Gutedel
24
Q
Former Alsatian name for Pinot Gris
A
Tokay d’ Alsace
Tokay Pinot Gris
25
Pinot Gris profile in Alsace
perhaps Alsace's quintessential wine: the grape here achieves its fullest, richest expression, with spicy-smoky qualities and a frame solid - though hardly high - acidity
26
Muscat/Gewurztraminer in Alsace
Both highly aromatic
- Muscat shows fragrant floral and grapy notes
- Gewurztraminer tends toward perfumed, sweet spices, and tropical fruit
Both lower in acidity, but Gewurztraminer is higher in alcohol and more likely to be off dry
27
What is Gewurztraminer a clone of?
Traminer
28
What is another name for pink variant of Traminer?
Savagnin
29
Savagnin Rose
Klevener de Heiligenstein
less intensely aromatic than Gewurztraminer but higher in acidity
30
5 communes to bottle Klevener varietally?
```
Heiligenstein
Bourgheim
Gertwiller
Goxwiller
Obernai
```
31
Edelzwicker
noble mixture - usually indicates its own inverse: an inexpensive, blended wine (field blend)
32
Edelzwicker requirements
do not need to be vintage dated
do not legally have to contain more than one grape
In practice, they are blends, however, and do not need to indicate any percentages of grapes on the label
33
Gentil
Superior designation for blends, requiring a minimum of 50% noble grapes
Any other Alsatian grape may compose the remainder and base wines must be vinified seperately
34
How many Grand Cru in Alsace?
51
35
Original Grand Cru of Alsace
Schlossberg
36
51st Grand Cru of Alsace
Kaefferkopf
37
Requirements for Alsace Grand Cru
- only noble grapes, typically single varietal (not required by law)
- hand-harvesting mandaory
- minimum potential alcohol 11% for Riesling/Muscat & 12.5% for Pinot Gris/Gewurztraminer
38
Grand Crus that may produce blends
Altenberg de Bergheim
| Kaefferkopf
39
Grand Cru that produces Sylvaner
Zotzenberg
40
Change in Cru organization in 2011
Pivoted from the Chablis model to the Cote d'Or model
Each vineyard recieved its own appellation and cahier des charges
41
Cahier des charges
document that specifies all rules recognized by a decree
42
Largest and Smallest Grand Cru in Alsace
Largest: Schlossberg (80ha)
Smallest: Kanzellerberg (3ha)
43
2 designations for Alsace late harvest wine
Vendanges Tardives
Selections de Grains Nobles
two terms imply sweetness
44
Vendanges Tardives
- single noble variety
- pass a blind tasting panel
- may show botrytis character but emphasizes varietal purity
- usually originate from vines in a state of passerillage
45
passerillage
French term for leaving grapes on the vine past normal harvest so that they can dry up and concentrate their flavors. Passerillage is distinct from noble rot in that these grapes are not exposed to the botrytis fungus
46
Selections de Grains Nobles
- generally picked in tries
| - suppress varietal character in return for the complexities of botrytis
47
tries
Trie (Plural of Tri) French term meaning a "sweep" or tries through a vineyard picking grapes. In the harvesting of botrytized grapes, a team will go through the vineyard several times (several tries) over a couple weeks picking only the individual grapes that have been sufficiently rotted
48
Are VGT/SGN always sweet?
They are not obligated by statute to be sweet.
SGN are always dessert-like, but VT may vary in actual sugar and can be dry
49
What is the only permitted red variety for Alsace AOP?
Pinot Noir
50
Cremant d' Alsace grapes
```
Pinot Noir (sole grape for Rose)
Pinot Blanc is the major component
Chardonnay
Riesling
Auxerrois
Pinot Gris
```
51
Only Alsatian region to allow Chardonnay
Cremant d'Alsace
52
What does Jura share a border with?
Switzerland
53
Where are the Jura vineyards located
On the the mountain's lower slopes
54
Soil of Jura
Jurassic limestone and marl, with a substantial amount of clay at the lowest sites
55
Climate of Jura
continental, turning harshly cold in the wintertime
56
Standard appellation of Jura
Cotes du Jura AOP
57
5 grapes of Jura
Red
-Poulsard (Ploussard), Trousseau, and Pinot Noir
White
-typically 100% Chardonnay (Gamay Blanc), although Savagnin, known locally as Nature and elsewhere as Traminer may be added as a blending partner
58
vin gris
Rose made from red grapes, but in a white wine style. No maceration which leads to a pale style of rose
59
vin jaune
"Yellow wine"
| like sherry, matured in barrel under a 'flor' (aka: voile) Not Fortified
60
Grape of vin jaune
Savagnin
61
Grape of vin de paille
Chardonnay, Poulsard, and Savagnin
No Pinot Noir
62
vin de paille
"straw wine" (made only in the ripest vintages) -- grapes allowed to dry on mats for months and final wine has 10-20% RS very heavy and sweet)
63
3 communal appellations of Jura
Arbois AOP
L'Etoile AOP
Chateau Chalon AOP
64
Jura's leading wine village
Arbois
65
Home of Louis Pasteur
Arbois
66
How many communes are in Arbois
12
67
Which commune may amend its name to Arbois
Pupillin
68
L'Etoile
white wine only appellation named for a local fossil shaped like a five pointed star
69
Grapes of L'Etoile
Chardonnay, Poulsard, and Savagnin
generally bottled in an oxidative style
70
Chateau Chalon AOP
Commune -- not a producer -- specializing in the vin jaune, or yellow wine of the Jura
71
Vin Jaune production
produced exclusively from Savagnin grapes grown on the local limestone and marl, the wine is deliberately oxidized and may age for decades
72
Another name for Savagnin
Nature
73
How long is Savagnin kept in barrel following fermentation?
until December 15 of the 6th year following the harvest
74
What forms on top of the wine?
A voile or veil
75
Voile
Film-forming yeast that covers the wine's surface, similar tot he flor of Jerez
76
Flavors of vin Jaune
nutty, almost curried flavor carried on a delicate, dry palate
77
Difference between sherry and vin jaune
vin jaune is not fortified
78
What type of bottle is utilized in Chateau Chalon
Clavelin
79
Clavelin
a squat 62 cl bottle
80
What can vin de paille be labeled as?
Arbois, L'Etoile or Cotes du Jura
81
How is vin de paille produced?
to produce this rare nectar, ripe but not botrytised grapes are left to dry for a minimum of six weeks after harvest; Traditionally the grapes are dried on straw mats, although they are often hung to dry or boxed in modern winemaking. As the grapes shrivel and raisinate, they achieve a must weight surpassing 320 g/L.
82
Style of vin de paille
Every element of the structure is concentrated; thus the final wine maintains acidity, giving balance to the high levels of residual sugar and pronounced alcohol content of at least 14%
83
Minimum aging for vin de paille
minimum 3 years
| 18 months neutral oak barrels
84
Traditional method sparkling wines in Jura
Cremant du Jura AOP (established in 1995)
85
Vin de liqueur
produced as Macvin du Jura AOP
wherein aged Marc is added to unfermented grape must, resulting in a sweet, unfermented but alcoholic grape juice
Macvin du Jura may be red, white or rose, and must be aged for one year in oak following mutage
86
mutage
is a procedure of making sweet wine by adding alcohol to the musts, which contains yeast formation and stops the fermentation process. This process gives wine a sweet taste. As a result, this wine making process is used to produce sweet wine with higher alcohol content.
87
Climate of Savoie
Continental climate moderated by Lake Bourget and the larger Lake Geneva (known as Lac Leman in France)
88
Lake Geneva
Lac Leman - Western Europe's largest body of freshwater
89
Appellation of Savoie
Vin de Savoie AOP
90
White wines of Savoie
Jacquere (most common)
Altesse
Roussane (Bergeron)
Chardonnay
91
Red wines of Savoie
Gamay
Mondeuse
Pinot Noir
92
Most common grape of Savoie
Jacquere
93
encepagement
amount of blend
94
Cru in Savoie
Chignin-Bergeron
95
Chignin-Bergeron
produces 100% Roussanes
96
Crus of Marignan, Ripaille, and Crepy
all located along the southern shores of Lake Geneva -- mandate a minimum of 80% Chasselas
97
Other regional appellation in Savoie
Roussette de Savoie AOP
98
Rousette de Savoie AOP
Roussette is a synonym for the Altesse grape and the appellation's wines are 100% varietal
99
Four communes of Roussette de Savoie
Frangy
Marestel
Monterminod
Monthoux
100
Seyssel AOP
north of Lake Bourget and provides dry and off-dry still and mousseux (sparkling) wines
101
Grape of Seyssel
typically 100% Altesse, although varietally labelled Molette is also permitted
102
Where will you find methode ancestrale roses
Bugey-Cerdon
103
Roussette de Bugey AOP
100% Altesse
104
Communes in Roussette de Bugey
Montagnieu
| Virieu le Grand
105
Bottle shape in Alsace
Flute
106
Important Producers in Alsace
Trimbach, Zind-Humbrecht, Hugel et Fils, Leon Beyer, Josmeyer, Marcel Deiss
107
What river borders Alsace to the East?
Rhine
108
Climate of Alsace
Cool continental
109
What borders Alsace to the West?
Vosges mountains
110
Why is Alsace the driest region in France?
Because of the shield from the Vosges mountains
111
How much of a variety must be present to be varietally labeled in Alsace?
100%
112
What is the bottle shape used in Alsace?
Flutes
113
4 Noble grapes of Alsace
Riesling, Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer, Muscat
114
What grapes are allowed in Alsace Grand Cru?
only the 4 noble grapes of Riesling, Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer, and Muscat
115
Clos Vineyards of Alsace
12 single vineyards, often monopoles that may or may not be within Grand cru limitations but are of great significance
116
Cotes de Toul AOC
Pinot Noir, Auxerrois, Aubin + Rose wines, in a pale vin gris style
117
Moselle VDQS/AOC:
Red, white, rose wines from Alsace grapes, + Gamay, Pinot Meunier
118
What does the Rhine river do for Alsace?
moderates temperature/provides misty conditions for botyrtis
119
Why does Alsace focus almost completely on white varieties?
Because despite the long growing season, the accumulated warmth is still relatively low. For this reason, the region focuses almost exclusively on white grape varieties.
120
What's important to note about the soils of Alsace
Complex, with high mineral content
121
Foothill soils
thin topsoil with varied subsoils of granite, sandstone, or limestone
122
Flatland soils
Formed of alluvium, these soils are typically thick and fertile
123
Alluvium
Mix of silt, organic matter, and clay washed down from the mountains above
124
How much of Alsace is estate bottled?
25%
125
How much of Alsace is white wine?
90%
126
2 regions of Alsace
Bas Rhin
| Haut Rhin
127
Bas Rhin
Lower temperature
More rain/less shadow effect as the Vosges is of lower altitude
More sparkling
128
Haut Rhin
In the south
Higher temperature
Lower rainfall
Grand Cru
129
Notable Grand Cru of Alsace
```
Kessler
Kirchberg de Barr
Kirchberg de Ribeauville
Osterberg
Schlossberg
Shoenenbourg
Steinert
Rangen
Geisberg
Vorbourg
Hengst
Rosacker
```
130
Grand Cru exceptions
Grand cru Zotzenberg - No Muscat, but Sylvaner allowed
Altenberg de Bergheim - may blend according to certain proscribed proportions
Kaefferkopf - may blend according to certain prescribed proportions
131
Important producers of Alsace
Trimbach, Zind-Humbrecht, Hugel et Fils, Leon Beyer, Josmeyer, Marcel Deiss
132
Riesling in Alsace
Sunny, sheltered settings where light, loose-textured soils are found
Riesling can continue ripening in cool, autumn conditions, making it especially important for late-harvest and botrytis-affected wines
Ages well
133
Difference between German and Alsace Riesling
Alsace is drier and fuller
134
Gewurztraminer in Alsace
- Pink skinned
- Fussy and inconsistent
- Prefers richer soils high in minerals
- concentrated, full-bodied dry wines with intense aromatics and a thick, low acid, almost oily texture in the mouth
- good for Vendanges Tardives (VT) & Selection de Grains Noble (SGN)
135
Pinot Gris in Alsace
- Buds first, requiring particularly warm, sheltered sites to protect it from frost
- Dry, full bodied and intense, with aromas of pears, spices, musk, and canned mushrooms
- Also used for VT & SGN
136
Which grape buds first in Alsace
Pinot Gris
137
Former name of Pinot Gris?
Tokay d'Alsace
138
Muscat is Alsace
- often served as an aperitif in Alsace
| - Highly aromatic
139
Other names for Muscat in Alsace
Ottonel
| Blanc d'Alsace a Petits Grains
140
Other grapes of Alsace
```
Pinot Blanc (Klevner)
Sylvaner
Chasselas (Gutedel)
Chardonnay
Pinot Noir
```
141
What is one situation in which non-nobile grapes are used in Alsace?
In Cremant -- 20% of production
