FWS Sommelier Johann > Alsace > Flashcards

Alsace Flashcards

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1
Q

T or F? There are 13 soil types in Alsace.

A

True. The soil in Alsace is quite complex, owing to millions of years of geologic faulting and erosion

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2
Q

T or F? It is common for Alsace wine to be aged in new oak and undergo malolactic fermentation.

A

False. Neither practice is common in Alsace.

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3
Q

T or F? Grapes for the Alsace AOC can be sourced from any part of Alsace

A

True

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4
Q

T or F? Sylvaner is permitted in Alsace Grand Cru wines.

A

True. But only in one vineyard, Zotzenberg.

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5
Q

What is the impact of global climate change on the dryness of Alsace wines?

A

Sugar levels are rising and more off-dry wines are being produced.

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6
Q

T or F? In Alsace, Grand Cru wines may be red or white.

A

False. Grand Crus are white only.

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7
Q

“Tokay d’Alsace” is a former name for . . .

A

. . . Pinot Gris. “Tokay d’Alsace” is no longer permitted under EU law.

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8
Q

T or F? Edelwicker may be a blend of any white grapes approved for Alsace AOC wine

A

True.

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9
Q

What percentage of Alsace wine is white?

A

90%

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10
Q

T or F? Riesling is indigenous to France.

A

False. Riesling is indigenous to Germany (the Rhine Valley)

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11
Q

In which direction do the best slopes in Alsace face?

A

South/southeast

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12
Q

Zotzenberg is an exceptional Grand Cru vineyard because . . .

A

. . . Sylvaner is permitted here.

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13
Q

T or F? The AOC-approved yields for Alsace are the highest in France.

A

True. They are generally 80 hl/ha for whites.

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14
Q

T or F? A wine labeled “Sélections de Grains Nobles” must be made from grapes affected by botrytis.

A

True. This is a requirement.

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15
Q

T or F? Machine harvesting is common in Alsace.

A

False. Most vineyards are hand-harvested.

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16
Q

What are the seven primary grape varieties in Alsace?

A

Riesling, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Gewurztraminer, Sylvaner, Muscat

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17
Q

Klevener (not to be confused with Klevner) is also known as . . .

A

. . . Savagnin Rose

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18
Q

What is a “graben”?

A

A grave-like trench caused by geologic uplift, then collapse on parallel fault lines. In Alsace, the faulting was followed by erosion, creating a complex network of soil.

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19
Q

T or F? A wine labeled “Vendages Tardives” must be affected by noble rot.

A

False. Noble rot is not a requirement for late harvest wines. May or May not be affected.

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20
Q

T or F? A wine labeled “Alsace AOC” can be still or sparkling.

A

False. Sparkling wines are labeled “Crémant d’Alsace”. They are a separate appellation.
Cards Remaining:

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21
Q

T or F? As a result of global climate change, Pinot Noir is becoming harder to grow in Alsace.

A

False. Pinot Noir is becoming easier to grow and darker in color.

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22
Q

T or F? Alsace is the most northerly wine region in France.

A

False. Champagne is slightly farther to the north than Alsace.

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23
Q

What are four German influences on Alsace wines?

A

Varietal labeling, flute bottle, Riesling and German phonics

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24
Q

The Sylvaner grape, although grown in Alsace, is believed to be native to . . .

A

. . . Austria

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25
A former name for Pinot Gris is . . .
. . . Tokay d'Alsace
26
What is the AOC for sparkling wine in Alsace?
Crémant d'Alsace AOC
27
Auxerrois Blanc is a cross between . . .
. . . Gouais Blanc and Pinot
28
T or F? Alsace Grand Cru Altenberg de Bergheim may be blended.
True. But if blended it must be 50 percent Riesling.
29
Klevner or Pinot Vrai is more commonly known as . .
.. . . Pinot Blanc.
30
On which bottles of Alsace wine is vintage labeling optional?
Edelzwicker
31
What are the four permitted grapes in Alsace Grand Cru?
Riesling, Pinot Gris, Muscat, Gewurztraminer
32
T or F? Alsace became a part of Germany in 1871.
True. It was annexed after the Franco-Prussian War.
33
Grand Cru Kaefferkopf, when bottled as a blend, must contain a majority of which grape?
Gewurztraminer.
34
T or F? Crémant d'Alsace is primarily made from Chardonnay.
False. Crémant d'Alsace is mostly Pinot Blanc, but Chardonnay can be used as well.
35
What are the two Muscats grown in Alsace?
Muscat à Petits Grains Blanc and Muscat Ottonel. (Muscat à Petits Grains is considered higher quality.)
36
T or F? Chaptalization is common in Alsace
False. The technique is disappearing as a result of global warming.
37
What are the four secondary white grapes of Alsace?
Chardonnay, Chasselas, Klevener (Savagnin Rose), Auxerrois Blanc
38
What are the aging requirements of Crémant d'Alsace?
Nine months sur lie, plus 3 months in the cellar (12 months total)
39
What red grape is permitted in Alsace?
Pinot Noir
40
T or F? In Alsace, each Grand Cru has its own separate AOC status.
True. This has been the case since 2011.
41
In an effort to combat phylloxera in Alsace, in the late nineteenth century vignerons were encouraged to . . .
. . . plant high-yield, low-quality hybrids that could resist the pest.
42
T or F? Wines in Alsace may be designated AOC, IGP or Vin sans IG.
False. All wines in Alsace are AOC. in 2011, the number of AOCs expanded from 3 to 53!
43
T or F? Grass may be planted between rows of vines to increase grape yields.
False. Grass is planted to decrease yields (because grass competes with the vines for nutrients).
44
T or F? In Alsace, Chardonnay is used mainly as a component of a blend.
True. Chardonnay is used in Crémant d'Alsace
45
What is the most widely-planted grape in Alsace?
Riesling
46
What is Gentil?
A blend in Alsace that must contain 50 percent "noble" white varieties.
47
What is the effect of the Vosges Mountains on vineyards in Alsace?
The Vosges provide a rain shadow that ensures mainly sunny and dry growing conditions.
48
What is the climate in Alsace?
Continental, with large seasonal and diurnal temperature swings
49
What type of bottle is commonly used for wines in both Germany and Alsace?
The "flute", a long-tapered bottle.
50
In which century did Alsace reach its peak of prosperity?
The sixteenth (Late Renaissance).
51
What are the four noble white varieties in Alsace?
Riesling, Muscat, Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer
52
What is the difference between Klevner and Klevener?
Klevner is Pinot Blanc, a genetic mutation of Pinot Gris. Klevener is Savagnin Rose, a secondary grape in Alsace.
53
T or F? Alsace is the only region in France where Riesling is permitted.
False. Riesling is now permitted in IGP Pays d'Oc which can source fruit from Languedoc and Roussillon.
54
Savagnin Rose is also known as . . .
. . . Klevener (not to be confused with Klevner).
55
Which varietal is forbidden for a Blend for Cremant d'Alsace production?
Gewurztraminer Most of Cremants are Blend of (6) - **Pinot Blanc (Most Widely used), Riesling, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Auxerrois
56
What varietals can be produced as Varietal Cremant d'Alsace?
Varietal Cremants - 100% Riesling - 100% Pinot Gris - 100% Pinot noir (Blanc de Noirs) - 100% Chardonnay
57
By the law, Cremant d'Alsace rose are made from ;
100% Pinot noir / by *Saignee or *Maceration method
58
T or F? The Alsace Communal AOC is a sub-category of the Alsace AOC and NOT an independent AOC.
True
59
T or F?Alsace is one of the driest wine rregions in France
True Alsace is protected from Atlantic influences by the Vosges Mountains - ‘Rain Shadow Effect’; block rain-laden clouds pushed by the west winds - **Lowest precipitation in France 15.5-19.5”(394-495 mm per year) (In contrast, west side of the mountain gets 2,228mm a year) - Makes Alsace so Sunny (1,800 hours per year), Hot, Dry
60
(__)% of Alsace's production is white
90% *90% production is white wine / remainders are red or rose 75% production; domestically consumed 25% production; exported
61
How many Grands Crus are in Alsace?
51
62
T or F? The yield of the Alsace Grand Cru AOC is approximately half that of the regular Alsace AOC
True ``` Alsace AOC; Blanc: 80 hl/ha (72 hl/ha with a geographical designation, 68 hl/ha with a lieu-dit) Rosé: 75 hl/ha Rouge: 60 hl/ha VT: 55 hl/ha SGN: 40 hl/ha ``` Alsace Grands Crus AOC 55 hl/ha
63
Where is the origin of Chasselas?
Native to the area surrounding Lake Geneva in Switzerland
64
Auxerrois Blanc is a crossing of which varietals?
Gouias Blanc x Pinot It is believed to have originated in Lorraine
65
Before the 17th Century, in which country did Alsace belong?
Germany in 16th Century; - **Alsace reached its peak in the*Mid-Renaissance - The region was a part of west German principality (a state ruled by a prince.)
66
T or F? Alsace AOC can be still or Spk
False Sparkling style is only produced from Cremant d'Alsace AOC Vin Mousseux Blanc: Riesling, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Auxerrois, and/or Chardonnay Vin Mousseux Rosé: 100% Pinot Noir Traditional Method Secondary Fermentation The wines must spend a min. 9 months on the lees prior to dégorgement (12 months total aging, with at least 9 months on the lees, is required from the 2012 vintage forward.) Min. 4 atmospheres of pressure Rosé wines may be made by Maceration or Saignée.
67
T or F? VT and SGN are separate and distinct AOCs within the wine quality pyramid of Alsace
False
68
What wine making technique is disappearing in the cellars of Alsace?
Chaptalization due to globar warming
69
Which 2 Alsace Grands Crus can be blends?
Kaefferkopf AOP / Altenberg de Bergheim AOP Kaefferkopf AOP; - Varietal Wines: 100% of the stated variety is required for the assemblage. Riesling Gewurztraminer Pinot Gris (not allowed for VT or SGN) - Blends: 60-80% Gewurztraminer, 10-40% Riesling, max. 30% Pinot Gris, max. 10% Muscat Altenberg de Bergheim AOP; -Varietal Wines: 100% of the stated variety is required in the assemblage Riesling Gewurztraminer Pinot Gris -Blends: 50-70% Riesling, 10-25% Pinot Gris, 10-25% Gewurztraminer, max. 10% combined Chasselas, Muscat à Petits Grains, Muscat Ottonel, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Blanc
70
What's the dominant grape for Alsace Grand Cru Altenberg de Bergheim's blend style white?
50-70% Riesling
71
What's the dominant grape forAlsace Grand Cru Kaefferkopf's blend style white?
60-80% Gewurztraminer
72
Why does the grape harvest in Alsace last 3 months?
- The various mesoclimates, with different sun exposure, ripen grapes at different times - The style of wine being crafted (dry ~ sweet table wine) impacts the harvest date - The different grape varieties all ripen at different times
FWS Sommelier Johann
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