France - Alsace

Question 1

Is chaptalisation permitted?

Answer 1

Yes, within EU rules. As a northerly region, it is often used, especially in cooler years.

Question 2

What are you able to add to the label within Alsace AOC? How does this affect yields?

Answer 2

The name of one of the communes, eg Bergheim, or a lieu-dit, which brings the max yields of whites to 72 and 68 hL/ha respectively

Question 3

What is the max yield for Alsace Pinot Noir AOC?

Answer 3

60 hL/ha

Question 4

What is the max yield for each of Pinot Gris, Gewurz, Riesling and Pinot Blanc within Alsace AOC, in hL/ha? What wines can this result in?

Answer 4

80 for Pinot Gris and Gewurz, 90 and 100, leading to the potential of wines with low flavour concentration.

Question 5

When was the grand cru system introduced, and what is it usually restricted to?

Answer 5

1975. Single variety wines from one of the ‘noble’ varieties.

Question 6

What are some well known grands crus?

Answer 6

Rangen, Geisberg, Schoenenbourg.

Question 7

Some villages are permitted to produce a different style of wine as a grand cru. How many villages and what is the style?

Answer 7

3, one example is Altenberg de Bergheim.
Either blends or Sylvaner.

Question 8

Why has the grands crus system been controversial? What has this resulted in?

Answer 8

There has been considerable debate over whether the delimited area is too large, and yields are too high. Some producers choose to not use the category.

Question 9

Which producers have recently changed their stance on the grands crus system?

Answer 9

Trimbach and Hugel, who have recently started to use the category.

Question 10

In 2011, what changed to the grands crus system?

Answer 10

Each of the 51 grands crus has become an individual grand cru, allowing each one to vary their own rules, eg lower the max yields or introduce a new variety such as Pinot Noir.

Question 11

Where does Pinot Noir currently stand in the grands crus?

Answer 11

A few grand cru syndicats have applied for authorisation, but it has not yet been approved by the INAO.

Question 12

Where do Premier crus stand within Alsace?

Answer 12

The region is currently discussing introducing the classification for single vineyards.

Question 13

Which appellations can VT and SGN be applied to?

Answer 13

Both Alsace AOC and grands crus

Question 14

Which varieties can VT and SGN be made from? What is each of their minimum sugar levels at harvest?

Answer 14

The four noble varieties.
VT SGN
Muscat/Riesling 235g/L 276
PG/Gewurz 257 306

Question 15

What style of wine can VT be?

Answer 15

There is no requirement to have botrytis affected fruit or be sweet. If fermented until dry it would reach 14-15% abv

Question 16

What style of wine must SGN be?

Answer 16

Made from botrytis affected grapes and be sweet.