CMS Advanced Level 2025-2026 > Alsace > Flashcards

Alsace Flashcards

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1
Q

What is the historical significance of Alsace and Lorraine?

A

Alsace and Lorraine have a turbulent history as a buffer between France and Germany

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2
Q

Which empire was Alsace a province of during the Middle Ages?

A

Germanic Holy Roman Empire

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3
Q

What major conflict was influenced by the French-Habsburg rivalry?

A

The Thirty Years’ War (1618-1648)

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4
Q

What event in 1639 involved French armies in Alsace?

A

French armies seized most of Alsace to prevent it from falling into Spanish Habsburg hands

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5
Q

What treaty concluded the Thirty Years’ War?

A

The Treaty of Westphalia in 1648

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6
Q

What was the outcome of the Treaty of Westphalia regarding Alsace?

A

Cemented France’s ownership of Alsace

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7
Q

Which war led to Germany claiming Alsace-Lorraine in 1871?

A

Franco-Prussian War

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8
Q

What happened to Alsace-Lorraine after World War I?

A

French troops reincorporated the region into France within a month

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9
Q

What significant occupation did Alsace experience in the early 1940s?

A

Occupation by Nazi Germany

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10
Q

As of 2016, which regions comprise the Grand Est région?

A

Alsace, Lorraine, and Champagne

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11
Q

When did winegrowing in Alsace date back to?

A

The first millennium

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12
Q

How many Alsatian villages were growing grapevines by the year 1000?

A

160 villages

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13
Q

What event in the 17th century severely affected winegrowing in Alsace?

A

The Thirty Years’ War

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14
Q

What renewed viticulture in Alsace after World War I?

A

French control over the region

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15
Q

When did Alsace achieve AOC status?

A

1962

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16
Q

What marked the divergence in French and German winemaking styles?

A

The year 1945

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17
Q

How do German wines compare to Alsace producers’ wines post-1945?

A

German wines remained classically sweet, whereas Alsace producers fermented to dryness

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18
Q

What are the two départements of Alsace?

A

Haut-Rhin and Bas-Rhin

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19
Q

Where do the premier wines of Alsace generally originate?

A

Haut-Rhin département

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20
Q

What geographical feature separates Alsace from the rest of France?

A

The Vosges Mountains

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21
Q

What effect do the Vosges Mountains have on Alsace’s climate?

A

Provide a rain shadow effect

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22
Q

What is significant about the climate of Alsace?

A

It is one of France’s driest and sunniest climates

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23
Q

Which city is the driest in France?

A

Colmar

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24
Q

Where are the vineyards of Alsace located?

A

Along the lower slopes and foothills of the Vosges

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25
What factors influence the quality of Alsatian vineyards?
Aspect and location of each vineyard
26
What are the preferred exposures for better vineyards in Alsace?
Southern, southeastern, or warm eastern exposures
27
Despite its northerly location, how do Alsatian vines compare to those in the Loire or northern Burgundy?
Alsatian vines ripen with greater regularity due to more sunlight hours in summer
28
What are the primary soil types found in Alsatian vineyards?
Granite, limestone, schist, clay, gravel, chalk, loess, grés de Vosges ## Footnote The soil structure varies significantly from village to village.
29
What is the percentage of AOP wine in Alsace that is white?
90% ## Footnote This represents about 20% of France's total AOP still white wine production.
30
Name the four 'noble' grapes of Alsace.
Riesling, Pinot Gris, Muscat, Gewurztraminer ## Footnote These grapes occupy the premier sites in the region's grand cru vineyards.
31
What is the main appellation of Alsace?
Alsace AOP (or Vin d'Alsace AOP) ## Footnote This appellation allows for varietal bottling of several grape types.
32
What must all varietally labeled Alsace AOP wines contain?
100% of the printed grape ## Footnote This rule applies with the exception of Pinot Blanc, which may be blended with Auxerrois.
33
Which grape is considered the most planted in Alsace?
Riesling ## Footnote It is also noted for being the last noble grape to ripen.
34
How do Alsatian Rieslings typically compare to their German counterparts?
Drier, more powerful, and higher in alcohol ## Footnote They are amongst the longest-lived dry whites due to a pronounced acidity and minerality.
35
What style must standard Riesling wines conform to as of 2008?
Dry in style ## Footnote This mandate was introduced to address the increasing sweetness in recent years.
36
What was Pinot Gris formerly known as?
Tokay d'Alsace or Tokay Pinot Gris ## Footnote In Alsace, it is known for its fullest, richest expression.
37
Describe the aromatic characteristics of Muscat and Gewurztraminer.
Muscat: fragrant floral and grapey notes; Gewurztraminer: perfumed, sweet spices, tropical fruit ## Footnote Gewurztraminer is also higher in alcohol and more likely to be off-dry.
38
What is typically not a factor in the vinification of Muscat and Gewurztraminer?
New oak ## Footnote Many producers use large neutral casks for fermentation and aging instead.
39
Fill in the blank: In Alsace, the _______ is the largest volume of appellation production.
Pinot Blanc and Auxerrois ## Footnote These two grapes together comprise the largest production volume.
40
What type of soils compose the steeper mountain slopes in Alsace?
Schist, granite, volcanic sediment ## Footnote The lower slopes are on a limestone base, with richer alluvial clay and gravel soils at the plain.
41
What grape variety steadily replaced Traminer in Alsace's vineyards during the latter half of the 19th century?
Gewurztraminer ## Footnote Gewurztraminer is a pink-berried clone of the traditional grape Traminer.
42
What is the local name for Savagnin Rose in the commune of Heiligenstein?
Klevener ## Footnote Klevener is a pink variant of Traminer known locally in Heiligenstein.
43
Which five communes may bottle Klevener de Heiligenstein varietally under the Alsace AOP?
* Heiligenstein * Bourgheim * Gertwiller * Goxwiller * Obernai ## Footnote These communes are allowed to produce this specific wine varietally.
44
What does the term Edelzwicker mean?
Noble mixture ## Footnote It usually indicates an inexpensive blended wine in Alsace.
45
What are the legal requirements for Alsace AOP wines labeled Edelzwicker?
They do not need to be vintage-dated and do not need to contain more than one grape ## Footnote In practice, they are usually blends without specified percentages.
46
What is the unofficial term for blends containing a minimum of 50% noble grapes?
Gentil ## Footnote Gentil is a designation for superior blends in Alsace.
47
What is the approach called when grapes are vinified together under a vineyard name?
Field blends ## Footnote This approach is advocated by some producers as a means of emphasizing Alsatian terroir.
48
When was the Alsace Grand Cru AOP first decreed?
1975 ## Footnote The first named vineyard specified for the appellation was Schlossberg.
49
How many grand cru vineyards were added in 1983?
24 ## Footnote This was followed by an additional 25 in 1992.
50
What is the minimum potential alcohol for Riesling and Muscat in Grand Cru AOP wines?
11% ## Footnote Pinot Gris and Gewurztraminer have a minimum of 12.5%.
51
What is mandatory for all grand cru wines in Alsace?
Hand-harvesting ## Footnote This ensures quality and adherence to regulations.
52
What historical site is known for Sylvaner and is permitted in Grand Cru AOP varietal wines?
Zotzenberg ## Footnote Sylvaner is historically linked to this vineyard site.
53
What was the significant change made in 2011 regarding Alsace Grand Cru AOPs?
The number of actual Alsace Grand Cru AOPs increased from 1 to 51 ## Footnote Each vineyard received its own appellation and cahier des charges.
54
Fill in the blank: The Alsace Grand Cru AOP was first decreed in _______.
1975
55
True or False: Grand Cru AOP wines are typically single-variety wines.
True ## Footnote This is no longer legally required, but it is the norm.
56
What is the range of sizes for Alsatian grands crus?
3 to 80 hectares
57
What political factor has influenced some producers' decisions regarding grand cru labeling?
The politics of vineyard selection may outweigh the specificity of site
58
What is the traditional labeling choice of Trimbach for its Riesling Clos-Ste-Hune?
Alsace AOP without mention of Rosacker Grand Cru
59
What new designations for late-harvest wines were created by decree in 1984?
Vendanges Tardives and Sélections de Grains Nobles
60
What do Vendanges Tardives and Sélections de Grains Nobles imply?
Sweetness
61
What must grapes for Sélection de Grains Nobles generally undergo?
Picked in tries and suppress varietal character for complexities of botrytis
62
What is emphasized in Vendanges Tardives wines?
Varietal purity
63
What are the minimum sugar levels required for Vendanges Tardives?
244 grams per liter for Muscat and Riesling; 270 grams per liter for Pinot Gris and Gewurztraminer
64
What are the minimum sugar levels required for Sélection de Grains Nobles?
276 grams per liter for Muscat and Riesling; 306 grams per liter for Pinot Gris and Gewurztraminer
65
What is the only red variety permitted for Alsace AOP wines?
Pinot Noir
66
What types of wines result from Pinot Noir in Alsace?
Light red and rosé wines
67
What is the primary grape variety for Crémant d'Alsace?
Pinot Blanc
68
What is the only appellation in Alsace that allows Chardonnay?
Crémant d'Alsace
69
What percentage of the appellation's output does sparkling wine production command in Alsace?
Nearly a quarter
70
What types of wines are produced in the Côtes de Toul AOP?
Light red wines from Pinot Noir and white wines containing Auxerrois and Aubin
71
What grape varieties are allowed in the Moselle AOP?
Auxerrois, Pinot Noir, Müller-Thurgau, and Pinot Gris
72
What significant geographical feature forms the border between Luxembourg and Germany as it flows north from France?
The Moselle River
73
True or False: Crémant d'Alsace rosé is made solely from Pinot Noir.
True
74
Fill in the blank: The rapid development of the Alsatian grand cru system has engendered _______.
controversy
CMS Advanced Level 2025-2026
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