Alsace/Jurie/Savoie

Question 1

What are the noble grape varieties of Alsace?

Answer 1

• Muscat
• Pinot Gris
• Gewurztraminer
• Riesling

Question 2

What are the only varieties allowed in Alsace Grand Cru wines?

Answer 2

The noble varieties.
(besides one exception)

Question 3

What are the non-noble varieties allowed in Alsace?

Answer 3

• Pinot Blanc
• Auxerrois
• Chasselas
• Sylvaner
• Pinot Noir
• Savagnin Rose

Question 4

Which non-noble grape variety is allowed in a grand cru wine?

Answer 4

Sylvaner

The Zotzenberg vineyard allows this grape

Question 5

Which Alsatian grape is similar to Pinot Blanc and usually blended together with it?

Answer 5

Auxerrois

Question 6

What are the local names for the following grapes?
- Chasselas
- Pinot Blanc
- Savagnin Rose

Answer 6

• Guteadel
• Klevner
• Klevener de Heiligenstein

Question 7

What other 5 communes can Savagnin Rose be found?

Answer 7

• Heiligenstein
• Bourgheim
• Gertwiller
• Goxwiller
• Obernai
  This grape is a rare varietal, a sibling of Gewürztraminer

Question 8

What percentage of the Alsace AOP wine is white?

Answer 8

90%
White grapes are paramount in this region

Question 9

What percentage of France’s white wines comes from Alsace?

Answer 9

20%

Question 10

What 2 departments is Alsace split into?

Answer 10

• Haut-Rhin
• Bas-Rhin
  The Bas-Rhin is lower lying than the Haut but situated in the North

Question 11

Which major wine producing country does Alsace share a border with?

Answer 11

Germany

Alsace is approx 305 miles east of Paris

Question 12

What are some major climatic influencers in Alsace?

Answer 12

• The Vosges mountains to the west of the region, running N to S
• The Rhein River to the east of the region

Question 13

What do the Vosges mountains do for Alsace?

Answer 13

They create a rain shadow effect, making alsace one of the sunniest and driest regions in France

Question 14

What is the climate like in Alsace?

Answer 14

• semi-continental
• Plenty of sunshine but the region still has a fairly cold annual temperature

Question 15

What are weather threats that alsace faces?

Answer 15

• early or late frosts
• deep freezes

Question 16

What direction do the best vineyards in Alsace face?

Answer 16

South or Southeast

This orientation helps to maximize the number of sunlight hours the vineyards will receive and to mitigate the cold

Question 17

How does the grape ripening in Alsace compare to that of the Loire and Burgundy?

Answer 17

Even though Alsace has a more northerly location, the ripening is more consistent due to the number of sunlight hours Alsace receives.

Question 18

What is the soil like in Alsace?

Answer 18

Mosaiced soil structure
- Granite
- Limestone
- Schist
- Clay
- Gravel
- Chalk
- Loess
- Local pink sandstone “gres de vosges”

Question 19

What empire was Alsace part of during the Middle Ages?

Answer 19

Germanic Holy Roman Empire

Question 20

Which rivalry catapulted the thirty-years-war in Alsace?

Answer 20

The French vs Habsburg rivalry

Question 21

After going back and forth between the Germans and French, when was Alsace French territory finally?

Answer 21

in the 1940s

Question 22

What year is Alsace gain AOC status?

Answer 22

1962

Question 23

When was the Grand Cru AOC for alsace established and what was the first vineyard?

Answer 23

1975
The first vineyard was Schlossberg

Question 24

In what year did Grand Cru vineyards go from being designations to having their own AOC in Alsace?

Answer 24

2011

Question 25

What is sparkling wine made using the traditional method called in Alsace?

Answer 25

Cremant d'Alsace (can be white or rose)

Question 26

How do Alsatian rieslings compare to German rieslings?

Answer 26

Alsatian rieslings are usually - higher in alcohol - characteristically more dry - more powerful

Question 27

List some winemaker preferences in Alsace

Answer 27

- usually dry - not aged in new oak, usually neutral oak - varietal purity is the standard - some winemakers believe in field blends to showcase terroir

Question 28

Varietally labeled wines in Alsace must contain what percentage of the stated variety?

Answer 28

100%

Question 29

Alsatian wines will be vinified as what unless otherwise stated?

Answer 29

dry Gewürztraminer will usually have some RS but still labeled as dry

Question 30

Define Edelzwicker

Answer 30

"noble mixture" this is an inexpensive alsatian blended wine that does not need to carry a vintage

Question 31

Define Gentil

Answer 31

Unofficial term this refers to an alsatian wine with a minimum of 50% of noble grapes in the blend

Question 32

T/F Alsatian Grand cru wines are usually single varietal wines?

Answer 32

True BUT it is no longer law

Question 33

Which alsatian grand cru vineyard is the only one that allows a grape outside of the noble varieties to be used?

Answer 33

Zotzenberg allows Sylvaner

Question 34

Which grand crus in Alsace are allowed to make blends?

Answer 34

- Altenberg de Bergheim - Kaefferkopf These vineyards may blend up to certain proportions

Question 35

What kind of harvesting is mandatory for all grand crus in alsace?

Answer 35

hand harvesting Other restrictions include: - higher minimum abv - higher restrictions - higher minimum must weights - lower yields

Question 36

What are some premier crus in Alsace?

Answer 36

Trick Question... There are no premier crus in Alsace

Question 37

What are two designations for late harvest wines?

Answer 37

- Vendanges Tardives - Selection de Grains Nobles These terms imply sweetness levels and may be printed on an Alsace AOP or Alsace Grand Cru AOP wine

Question 38

What does Vendanges Tardives mean?

Answer 38

Translates to "Late Harvest" - Single varietal wines left to hang on the vine - The grapes will raisinate and show more intesity - usually no signs of botrytis - can be fermented dry or left sweet

Question 39

What is Selection de Grains Nobles wine?

Answer 39

- this wine is picked in tries - have been affected by botrytis - can be semi-dry or sweet - dessert like on all levels

Question 40

What is the capital of the Haut-Rhin department in Alsace?

Answer 40

Colmar This is the driest city in France

Question 41

What is significant about Strasbourg in Alsace?

Answer 41

This is the center of wine trade in this region

Question 42

What are the most notable grand cru vineyards in Alsace?

Answer 42

- Schlossberg - Schoelhammer - Rangen de Thann - Geisberg - Pfingstberg - Schoenenberg - Engelberg - Kirchberg - Saering

Question 43

Which alsatian producer focuses on blends rather than single varietal wines?

Answer 43

Marcel Deiss

Question 44

What is the most aromatic grape variety in alsace?

Answer 44

Gewurztraminer

Question 45

Where is Jura located in relation to Alsace?

Answer 45

just south of alsace, Jura shares a small part of its eastern border with switzerland

Question 46

What is the climate in Jura like?

Answer 46

continental, turning harshly cold in the winter

Question 47

What are the red grapes allowed in Jura?

Answer 47

- Poulsard (ploussard) - Trousseau - Pinot Noir

Question 48

What are the white grapes allowed in Jura?

Answer 48

- Chardonnay (gamay blanc) - Savagnin (Nature)

Question 49

What grapes are allowed to be used in Rose wines of Jura?

Answer 49

all 5 grapes - Pinot Noir - Poulsard - Trousseau - Chardonnay - Savagnin *Jura rose is usually made in the vin gris style*

Question 50

What grape is excluded from vin de paille production in Jura?

Answer 50

Pinot Noir

Question 51

What grapes are used to make vin jaune in Jura?

Answer 51

Savagnin

Question 52

What are the two local specialty wines made in Jura?

Answer 52

- vin jaune - vin de paille

Question 53

What are the characteristics of vin jaune?

Answer 53

- dry - oxidized - unfortified - aged a minimum of 6 years before bottling The wine is going to be high in alcohol, sweet, and aged a minimum of three years before release

Question 54

What are the important AOPs to know in Jura?

Answer 54

- Arbois AOP - L'Etoile AOP - Chateau Chalon AOP

Question 55

Where is Savoie located?

Answer 55

In the Alps on the swiss border on Lake Geneva

Question 56

Which river influences Savoie and is where most of its vineyards are planted along?

Answer 56

Rhone River

Question 57

What are the major varieties in Savoie?

Answer 57

White - Jacquère - Altesse - Roussanne - Chasselas - Chardonnay Red - Gamay - Mondeuse - Pinot Noir

Question 58

What types of wine in Savoie are made under the Seyssel AOP and Cremant de Savoie AOP?

Answer 58

dry mousseux wines using Atlesse

Question 59

What kind of wines are made under the Bugey-Cerdon AOP?

Answer 59

Method ancestral roses using gamay and Poulsard

Question 60

What is the most planted grape in Alsace?

Answer 60

Pinot Blanc

Question 61

Who produces "Clos Ste-Hune" Riesling in Alsace?

Answer 61

Trimbach

Question 62

What is the most planted grape in Jura?

Answer 62

chardonnay