Grape Varieties

Question 1

What are the main varieties grown in Alsace?

Answer 1

the main varieties grown are Riesling, Pinot Blanc/Auxerrois (either variety can be labelled as Pinot Blanc) Gewurztraminer and Pinot Gris.

Question 2

What are the Noble grape varieties and what other styles/quality level wines are they used in

Answer 2

Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris and Muscat are considered ‘noble’ grape varieties

these are the only permitted varieties for grand cru wines and regulated wine styles such as Vendange tardive and Sélection de grains nobles

Question 3

Riesling in Alsace

Characteristics and suitability to the region

Answer 3

Riesling is a cold-hardy variety (making it suitable to grow in regions with cold winters)
- buds late, providing some protection against spring frosts.
- It needs a good site (full exposure
to the sun and good drainage) and a long growing season to ripen fully.

if these are provided it can produce very good quality grapes at relatively high yields (for example, 70 hL/ha).
It has good disease resistance (resistant to downy mildew, fairly resistant to powdery mildew and botrytis bunch rot).

Question 4

TASTING NOTE

Riesling in Alsace

Answer 4

The wines are typically 
medium to pronounced in aroma
and flavour intensity,
- unoaked
-typically dry (either with no residual sugar or a low amount that is not easily evident in tasting due to
high acidity), 
- medium to full body, 
- medium alcohol, 
- medium to high acidity, 
with citrus (lemon, grapefruit) and stone fruit (peach) flavour with a pronounced stony/steely character.

The wines range in quality from good to outstanding and in price from mid- priced to premium, with a few super-premium examples.

Question 5

Gewurztraminer is an early budding and early ripening variety, thus at risk of spring frost yet avoiding the autumn rains.

despite its rapid sugar accumulation in Alsace it is often picked late.
Why would this be practised?

Answer 5

In order to achieve fully ripe skins to maximise the aromas and avoid unripe tannins.

Question 6

Whilst only mildly productive, Gewürztraminer is a _______ variety meaning is needs careful ____ and _____ management

Answer 6

Vigorous variety

pruning

canopy management

Question 7

What is Gewürztraminer prone/susceptible to?

What controls do growers have in place?

Answer 7

coulure is a problem that can lead to chlorosis and desiccation of the stems.

it is vulnerable to powdery mildew, grape vine moth and grey rot.

Virus-free clones have been produced by research stations in Alsace to reduce this problem

Question 8

TASTING NOTE:

Gewürztraminer in Alsace

Answer 8

Wines produced from this variety are typically

• medium lemon in colour (the ripe grapes themselves are a light pink),
• pronounced aromas of lychee, peach/apricot, rose and spice (the German word Gewürz means ‘spice’)
• They have medium to high alcohol
• medium to full body
• low acidity.

In Alsace the wines are made in a range of styles from dry through to sweet.

The wines range in quality from good to outstanding and in price from mid-priced to premium.

Question 9

TASTING NOTE:

Pinot Blanc and Auxerrois

Answer 9

The still wines in Alsace typically have

• low intensity aromas of apple and peach,
• medium acidity
• medium alcohol.

They are mainly acceptable to good quality, with a few very good examples, and are inexpensive to mid-priced.

Auxerrois, which can be labelled Pinot Blanc, is an early ripening, low aromatic variety producing wines with low acidity.
The wines are most frequently used in blends or in Crémant d’Alsace.

Question 10

Pinot Gris

In terms of Pinot Gris, harvest dates are an important topic in Alsace.

Why is this?

Answer 10

with earlier picking being enabled by the change to the climate (earlier start to the season, warmer seasons) and by better canopy management.

the characteristic of Pinot Gris to rapidly increase in sugar levels and drop in acidity. has become a big topic now that drier, lower alcohol styles are trending.

Question 11

TASTING NOTE:

Pinot Gris in Alsace

Answer 11

In Alsace, the wines have

• medium intensity aromas of peach and apple
• full bodied
• medium acidity.
• medium to high alcohol levels.

In Alsace the wines are made in a full range of styles from dry to sweet

The best examples have a rich oily texture and have the capacity
to age and develop honeyed and smoky notes.

The wines range from good to
outstanding and are mid-priced to premium.

Question 12

Pinot Noir in Alsace

Answer 12

This is the
only black grape allowed for AOC wines. Historically, it produced rather thin and lean wines
but a warming climate, learning from other regions (Burgundy, neighbouring Germany) and local demand have resulted in rising quality with both unoaked and oaked wines. Significant producers include Domaine Muré and Domaine Albert Mann.

Question 13

Sylvaner in Alsace

Answer 13

This
variety is in decline in Alsace, partly because Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc are easier to grow. As
a consequence, the majority of Sylvaner wines come from older vines (40 years or more) and
very little Sylvaner is located on the valley floor. As a result, it is a grape variety that is gaining a reputation as a source of good value wines of very good quality

Question 14

Muscat in Alsace

Answer 14

Both Muscat Blanc à Petit Grains and Muscat Ottonel are grown in Alsace, if in tiny amounts. The latter ripens earlier of the two, making it attractive to avoid autumn rains.