1
Q
Were vines present in Alsace before man?
A
Yes - wild vines flourished in the tangled forests of the greater rhine river valley long before man.
2
Q
When were the vines domesticated in Alsace?
A
Domestication of the vines began with the arrival of the Romans in the 2nd century
- This is when wine shipments were first documented.
3
Q
How many wine producing villages were there in the 9th century?
A
There were 160 wine producing villages in 9th century Alsace.
4
Q
When did France Annex Alsace?
A
France Annexed Alsace at the end of the 17th century.
- Louis XIV gave land grants to settle the land.
- (Germany reclaimed Alsace in 1871)
5
Q
In 1941 what % of the Alsatian vineyards were planted to Hybrids?
A
About 30% of Alsaces’ vineyards were planted to Hybrids in 1941.
6
Q
In 1949, how were hybrids fought against?
A
France decreed the removal of all existing hybrids
- If hybrids were found commune would lose rights to AOC if they were found.
7
Q
What is the name of the common wine bottle in Alsace?
A
The Flute bottle.
- It is long and tapered.
8
Q
How are Alsace wines labeled?
A
In the Germanic Tradition
- The grape varietal instead of the place.
9
Q
What is the only other region that can legally grow Riesling?
A
Languedoc-Roussillon
10
Q
What is the size of Alsace?
A
75 miles long
- On average 3 miles in width.
11
Q
How many acres are in Alsace?
A
53,000 acres / 21,200 ha
12
Q
What is the latitude of Alsace
A
Between the 47th and 49th parallel North.
13
Q
What is Alsace’s climate?
A
Continental Climate.
- Summers are hot and winters are cold.
14
Q
What is typical of a continental climate?
A
Continental climates are marked by High diurnal temperature differences.
- Cool nights help to preserve the grape’s natural acidity keeping the wine both fresh and vibrant on the palate.
15
Q
What mountain range protects Alsace from Atlantic Ocean influences?
A
The Vosges Mountains.
- They are high enough to block rain laden clouds pushed by the west winds.
- Alsace lies in a Rain Shadow
16
Q
How much rain does Alsace receive?
A
15.5-19.5 inches / 394-495 mm per year.
- Alsace gets some of the lowest rainfall in France.
- (West side gets 90 inches / 2,286 mm a year)
17
Q
How many hours of sunshine per year does Alsace receive?
A
1,800 hours
18
Q
What is the common Altitude of the Alsatian Vineyards and their aspect?
A
660-1320 feet / 198-396 meters
- Most facing south or southeast to capture optimal sunlight and maximum warmth.
19
Q
What is the result of being in a northerly climate that is bathed in sunshine?
A
Grapes are bathed in sunshine and ripen slowly creating complex aromatics
20
Q
Springtime weather in Alsace?
A
Mild and accompanied by frosts which can severly reduce the potential crop.
- Vines grown on plains are trained high to avoid frost damage.
21
Q
Summertime weather in Alsace?
A
Summers are warm, dry, and sunny with sporadic thunderstorms and hail.
- Drought can pose a problem in some years.
- Vineyards on slopes are trained slightly closer to the ground to maximize heat.
22
Q
Autumn weather in Alsace?
A
Autumn weather is marked by humidity.
- Noble Rot can therefore develop.
- Noble rot dessicates the grapes and concentrates its sugars.
- Thunderstorms and hail are possibilities.
23
Q
Winter weather in Alsace?
A
Winters are cold.
- Throws vines into dormancy.
- Riesling really benefits from this.
24
Q
What is the geology of Alsace?
A
Alsace lies in the Rhien Graben
- A section of the rift system that zigzags across Europe from the Mediterranean to the North sea.
25
What is a graben?
A grave like trench.
* Alsace on one side and Baden, Germany on the other.
* The Rhine river did not form this.
26
What formed the Rhine graben?
Resulted from the plains falling along parallel fault lines.
* Similar to Burgundy, Jura, Saône.
27
Paleozoic era in Alsace?
542-251 million years ago.
* Pressure caused the up thrust of cooling magma which solidified into igneous rock.
28
Mesozoic era in Alsace?
251-65 million years ago.
* Jurassic transitioned into the Cretaceous time division.
* Alsace was covered by an inland sea.
* Igenous rock eroded and was covered by sedimentary deposits.
29
Cenozoic era in Alsace? Phase 1
65 million years ago.
* Phase 1 - mammals came to dominate the earth.
* Tremendous upheaval and buckling of land forms as the afro-arabian and euro-asian crustal plates collided.
* Great dome of earth rose in Alsace then fell along parallel fault lines.
30
Cenozoic era in Alsace? Phase 2
Western side of the graben was not a clean break.
* Multiple Fractures or fault bundles developed across fault lines.
* Faulting exposed many different geological epochs and eroded to form the Vosges foothills.
* Earth movement and erosion created complex network of soils.
* In total over 300 million years of rock formation and decomposition.
* Most of the best soils are found on the slopes of the Vosges foothills.
31
How many varieties were planted in Alsace in 1840?
Over 150 different varieties in the Rhine River Valley!
32
How many major soil types are there in Alsace?
13 soil types in Alsace
* volcanic elements,
* granite,
* gneiss,
* schist,
* sandstone,
* limestone,
* marl,
* sand,
* loess,
* loam.
33
How many primary grape varietals are there in Alsace?
There are 7 primary grapes in Alsace
* **Riesling**
* **Pinot** **Blanc** (*Pinot* *Vrai* or *Klevner*)( largely used in Cremant)
* **Gewurtztraminer** (no umlaut)
* **Pinot** **Gris**
* **Pinot** **Noir**
* **Sylvaner**
* **Muscat** **à** **Petit** **Grains** (cultivated as of the 15th century)
* **Muscat** **Ottonel** (cultivated as of the 19th century)
34
What are the secondary grapes of Alsace?
There are 4 secondary grapes in Alsace.
* **Chardonnay** (only authorized for cremant)
* **Chasselas**
* **Auxerrois** **Blanc** (is factored into the Pinot Blanc total with regard to percentage of area under vine)
* **Klevener** **de** **Heiligenstein** ( the non-aromatic verision of *Savagnin* *Rose* a.k.a. Gewurztraminer)
35
What percentage of Alsace wines are varietal wines?
80% of Alsatian wine is varietal
* If a grape is listed on the label the wine must be 100% varietal.
36
What is Edelzwicker and Gentil?
These are blends.
* Pinot blanc and Pinot D'Alsace can also be blends but aren't always.
37
What are the parameters of Gentil?
Gentil wine must follow the following regulations :
1. Must contain **50% of "Noble"** grape varieties.
* (Riesling, Muscat, Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer)
2. The balance of the blend can be comprised of lesser grapes such as Sylvaner, Chasselas and/or Pinot Blanc
3. Each variety must be **vinified** **separately**.
4. Finished Product must undergo tasting panel approval and
5. The vintage must appear on the label.
38
What are the Edelzwicker Parameters?
Blend of any white grapes approved for the Alsace AOP.
* These grapes may be vinified together or separately
* Vintage is optional.
39
Are either Edelzwicker or Gentil an AOC
No - they are categories within the Alsace AOC.
40
What are "Wines of Terroir"?
A term used by Jean-Michel Deiss
* Co-plants different grape varieties,
* Picks and ferments them together,
* Then labels the wines after the vineyard in which they grew.
* Field blends.
41
Are Crémants d'Alsace blended?
Yes
42
What percentage of Alsatian wine is a blend?
Blends comprise 20% of Alsace's total production.
43
What is unique about Pinot Blanc or Klevner?
A wine labelled "Pinot Blanc" or "Klevner" can be :
* 100% Pinot Blanc or
* 100% Auxerrois Blanc or
* A blend of both.
44
What grapes can Pinot d'Alsace include?
Pinot d'Alsace can include any of the following authorized grapes :
* Auxerrois Blanc,
* Pinot Blanc,
* Pinot Noir (vinified as a white wine)
* Pinot Gris.
* There are no minimums or maximums.
\*\* By law it can be 100% of any of these grapess but in practice is normally a blend.
45
How many :
* Growers
* Producers
* Estates
* Co-ops
* Negociants
are there in Alsace?
In Alsace there are :
* 4,400 growers
* 1,200 producers,
* 900 estates,
* 19 co-ops
* 73 Négociants.
46
80% of Alsace's total wine production is carried out by how many producers?
It is carried out by 175 producers.
47
What % of the U.S. Market is Trimbach?
33% of the U.S. market is Trimbach
* (Family owned and operated for 13 generations)(Father to Son)
48
How many wines does a typical producer make each year?
Each producer typically makes 6-8.
* Can often be more because of special terroirs, single vineyards, and sweet wines.
49
What % of the production is white wine?
90% of Alsatian wine is White wine.
* The balance is red/rosé.
50
What % of Alsatian wine is consumed in France?
75% of Alsatian wine is consumed in France.
51
Alsatian wines are historically dry or sweet?
Dry - lacked residual sugar.
52
How has global warming effected the ripeness of grapes and the dryness of Alsatian wines?
Global warming has caused the following changes :
* Riper grapes with higher sugar levels means less need to chaptalize.
* Fermentations stop before all the grape sugars are converted into alcohol.
* There are now non-dessert wines from Alsace that are noticeably sweet upon the palate.
53
How did Riesling R.S. change in 2008?
Riesling was given a maximmum R.S. level of 0.9% (9 g/l)
* This ruling does not apply to Grand Cru wines or wine labelled with a lieu-dit!
* This does not apply to sweet/dessert categories of V.T or Sélection de Grain Nobles.
54
Are there R.S. laws for other Varietals?
No - fermenting to dryness or not is completely elective.
55
How are Alsatian wines normally fermented?
Stainless steal or fermented in large neutral oak casks.
* Because of the cool weather the casks ferment at optimal cool temperatures despite not being temperature controlled.
56
Do Alsatian wines undergo Malo-lactic fermentation or new oak aging?
No - as a general rule.
57
How long is fermentation?
If the wine is age-worthy it is long and usually accompanied by sur-lie aging.
58
What are characteristics of Alsatian red wine?
Alsatian red wine has the following characteristics :
* Given its northerly location it usually was "almost-red"
* Alsace is now seeing deeper pigments so growers are now lowering yields to maximize phenolic maturity and achieve more saturated color.
59
How is Alsace changing in terms of ripeness?
In terms of ripeness Alsatian wines are :
* Normally the would have high ripeness in a vintage 1-3x per decade.
* Now happens almost every year.
* Grapes are now picked at 22-24% (22-24g/liter) suger with potential alcohol level of 13-14% alcohol.
60
What production method is used for Crémant d'Alsace?
Crémant d'Alsace is made via Méthode Traditionnelle.
* Production is on the rise.
* Consequently so are vineyards dedicated to Pinot Blanc.
61
How many producers make Crémant?
There are 500 producers who make crémant.
* This dates back to 19th century.
62
What are the harvesting and production laws for Crémant d'Alsace?
By law harvesting and production must be :
* Hand picked
* White varieties must be whole cluster pressed.
* Rosés made exclusively from Pinot Noir and can be made via Saignée or Maceration.
* Wine must age 9 months sur lie (on the less in the bottle, after the second fermentation) and cannot be released less than one year after the tirage/bottling.)
63
What are the sweetness designations for Crémant d'Alsace AOC?
The sweetness designations are :
* **Extra** **Brut**: No Dosage
* **Brut** \<1.2% R.S.
* **Extra** **Sec** (Extra Dry): 1.2-1.7% R.S.
* **Sec** (Dry): 1.7-3.2% R.S.
* **Demi**-**Sec**: 3.2-5% R.S.
64
What varietal styles can appear for Crémant d'Alsace?
Crémant d'Alsace can be
* 100% Chardonnay
* 100% Pinot Gris
* 100% Riesling
* Blanc de Noir (100% Pinot noir)
\*\* Most Crémant d'Alsace is a blend)
65
What is Vendages Tardives?
Late harvest wines. These contain considerable R.S. and made from:
* Riesling,
* Pinot Gris,
* Muscat,
* Gewurztramier.
66
When is V.T. harvested?
Very late in the season when they are overripe.
* Must be harvested by hand.
67
Can V.T. have Botrytis?
Yes, it can but is not mandatory.
68
How does V.T. get its sweetness
Fermentation terminates naturally when the yeasts die.
* This leaves unfermented or residual sugar in the wine.
69
Does V.T. use Malo-lactic fermentation?
No - it is not encouraged because it needs acid to balance out its high sugar level.
70
What is Sélections de Grains Nobles?
Late Harvest wines **MUST** **BE** effected by Noble Rot and made from:
* Riesling,
* Pinot Gris,
* Muscat,
* Gewurztramier
71
How is SGN made?
SGN wines are made with the following criteria :
* Handpicked
* Berry-by-berry
* Through multiple passes in the vineyard.
72
How many appellations are there in Alsace?
There are 53 AOCs
* 51 Grand Crus (started in 1975)
* 1 for Crémant (1976)
* 1 Alsace AOC in 1962
73
What subcategories exist for the Alsace AOC?
There are **2** sub-categories:
* Communal
* Lieux-Dit
74
Is there an IGP or Vin Sans IG in Alsace?
No
75
How does grape sourcing work in Alsace AOC?
They can hail from any vineyard in Alsace. Literally anywhere within the region.
76
What styles of wines can be made in Alsace AOC?
Alsace AOC wines can be :
* Whites
* Reds
* Rosé
* Dry or Sweet
* Blend or Varietal
* May boast a village, single vineyard designation, or special cuvée on the label
77
How many communes are in the sub-category of Alsace AOC?
There are 13 communes in the sub-category of Alsace AOC
* These are desiged to recognize wines of heightened character.
* Quality standards are higher than for Alsace AOC.
78
What are the 13 communes? (Not on exam!)
The 13 communes are :
* Bergheim
* Blienschwiller
* Coteaux du Haut Koenigsbourg
* Côtes de Rouffach
* Côtes de Barr
* Klevener de Heiligenstein
* Ottrott
* Rodern
* Scherwiller
* St. Hippolyte
* Vallée Noble
* Val St.-Grégroire
* Wolxheim
79
What are Alsace "*Lieu-Dit*"?
Alsace *Lieu-Dit* is the name given to a plot of land or vineyard because of its notable and significant expression of terroir.
* More stringent production standards which include
* Grape varietal limitations
* vine density
* pruning methods
* trellising
* restrictive yields
* grape maturity levels at harvest.
80
How are *Lieux*-*Dite* production methods more stringent?
Lieux-Dite productions methods dictate:
* Varietals planted
* vine density
* pruning methods
* Trellising
* Higher grape maturity level at harvest
* More restrictive yields.
81
Are V.T. and SGN allowed for communal and lieu-dit designations?
Yes, these are styles not AOCs.
82
How can a wine be a grand cru?
If the grapes were grown on a Grand Cru Vineyard site.
83
What is ranked in Alsace Grand Cru AOC - The Vineyard or the Producer?
Vineyards not the producer thus there can be many producers farming one Grand Cru vineyard.
* Only 51 vineyards are Grand Cru.
84
What percentage of Alsace wine is Grand Cru?
4%
85
What wines can be made from the 51 Alsace Grand Cru AOCs
White wine only specifically:
* Riesling
* Pinot Gris
* Muscat
* Gewurztraminer.
\*\* Slyvaner is permitted for Zotzenberg Grand Cru only. \*\*
* Zotzenberg can also be crafted from Gewurztraminer, Riesling, or Pinot Gris.
\*\* These wines may be sweet or dry and a special cuvée name may appear on the label.
86
What grapes can make Grand Cru Zotzenberg besides Slyvaner?
Zotzenberg can also be :
* Riesling
* Gewurztraminer
* Pinot Gris
87
What styles of wine can be made in Alsace Grand Cru AOC?
Alsace Grand Cru AOC can be
* Dry,
* Sweet,
* Special Cuvée on the label.
88
Which Alsace Grand Cru AOCs can be blends are blends?
2 Grand Cru Vineyards can make blends. They are :
* Altenberg de Bergheim &
* Kaefferkopf- Can be a single variety (Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris, or Riesling) or may be a blend.
89
What are the requirements for Altenberg de Bergheim if it is a blend?
Requirements are that :
* Must be comprised of at least 50% Riesling (Maximum use of 70%)
* Plus a minimum of 10% and a maximum of 25% Gewurztraminer and/or Pinot Gris.
* Plus no more than 10% of Chasselas, Muscat à Petit Grains Blanc, Muscat Ottonel, Pinot Blanc, and Pinot Noir in sum if these vines were planted before 2005.
90
What are the requirements for Kaefferkopf if it is a blend?
The requirements are that it :
* Must contain 60-80% Gewurztraminer,
* 10-40% Riesling
* No more than 30% Pinot Gris.
* Muscat à Petits Grains Blanc, Muscat à Petits Grains Rose, and Muscat Ottonel together they may contribute no more than 10% of the blend
91
Do Grand Crus need to label by grape variety?
It is no longer mandatory
92
What are the Alsace AOC Maximum yields?
Maximum yields are
* White - 4.8 tons/acre (80 hl/ha)
* Pinot Noir Rosé - 4.5 tons/acre (75 hl/ha)
* Pinot Noir Red - 3.6 tons/acre (60 hl/ha)- (73% of total production)
93
What are the Alsace COMMUNAL AOC Maximum yields?
Maximum yields are :
* White - 4.3 tons/acre (72 hl/ha)
* Red - 3.6 tons/acre (60 hl/ha)- (a sub-designation)
94
What are the Alsace LIEU-DIT AOC Maximum yields?
Maximum yields are :
* White - 4.1 tons/acre (68 hl/ha)
* Red - 3.6 tons/acre (60 hl/ha)- (a sub-designation)
95
What are the ALSACE GRAND CRU AOC Maximum yields?
Maximum Yields are :
* 3.3 tons/acre (55 hl/ha)
* **Remember** its all white! (4% of total production)
96
What are the CRÉMANT Alsace AOC Maximum yields?
Maximum yields are 4.8 tons/acre (80 hl/ha)-
* (23% of total Alsace production)
97
What grapes can be in Crémant d'Alsace?
Crémant is primarily made from :
* Pinot Blanc but also includes:
* Riesling
* Pinot Gris
* Chardonnay
* Auxerrois
* Pinot Noir
98
Is the term Réserve or Réserve Personelle regulated?
No.
99
Name 2 of the most prominent viticultural practices in Alsace?
Two prominent practices are:
## Footnote
* Organic and
* Biodynamic growing.
100
Did Alsace have France's first Biodynamic Estate?
Yes - Eugene Meyer
101
What was the first biodynamic estate in France?
Eugene Meyer
102
What is the recipe for the collective compost piles?
The Recipe is :
* 50% Cow Manure
* 33% Horse Manure
* 7% Sheep Manure
* 7% Pomace
* Balance vine clippings
103
Why do Alsatian vignerons use the plow?
Alsatian vignerons use the plow because :
* Encourages vine roots to grow down deep into the soil.
* Roots tap into more minerals.
* Roots are less susceptible to taking on too much water after a rain.
104
What do Alsatian Vignerons grow grass between rows?
Alsation growers grow grass between rows :
* To prevent the loss of topsoil due to erosion.
* The grass also competes with the vines for water and minerals --\> this results in lower yields.
* Grass adsorbs humidity and minimizes the threat of fungus disease.
105
Can the harvest date be changed?
Yes, the harvest date can be changed.
* The association of Vignerons d'Alsace sets the earliest date at which harvest can begin but
* A **special** **request** to the INAO can be made.
106
When does harvest begin and end in Alsace?
Harvest starts in :
* September -
Harvest ends in :
* November.
\*\* Different grapes have different ripening curves.
107
Why are Alsace Grand Crus still hand harvested?
The slopes they are grown on are to steep for Machinery.
108
What is unique about the yields for the Alsace AOC in terms of other regions?
They are the highest in France - 4.8 ton/acre (80 hl/ha).
109
Do most Alsace Grand Cru growers reach the 3.3 tons/acre maximum yield?
No, most prune and green harvest to achieve much lower yields (3 tons/acre or 50 hl/ha)
110
What is the drinking window for most Alsace wine?
6 months - 5 years after release.
111
How does Riesling age?
Can be cellared for decades.- Will lose its up front fruit character and develop subtle notes of pine nut.
French Wine Scholar
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