Alsace

Question 1

Where is Alsace located?

Answer 1

Northeastern corner of France. It is nestled between the Vosges Mountains to the west and the Rhine River to the east.

Question 2

What is the historical background of Alsace?

Answer 2

1. Isolated region.
2. Heavily disputed between countries.
3. Alternating French and Germanic rule, results in wines strongly connected to each.
4. Prominent Germanic grapes with French winemaking techniques.

Question 3

What is the climate in Alsace?

Answer 3

1. Cool continental (due to northernly latitude)
2. Dry, sunny summer due to rain shadow from Vosges Mountains.
3. Alsace is one of the driest regions in France.

Question 4

What characterizes the topography in Alsace?

Answer 4

1. Vineyards are planted on the rolling foothills of the Vosges Mountains
2. The region also features flat plains along the Rhine River.

Question 5

What characterizes the soils in Alsace?

Answer 5

There is tremendous diversity across the region because of ancient geologic activity, with various soil types including marl, limestone, gneiss, schist, sandstone, granite, clay, and volcanic soils.

Question 6

What are the red grape varieties in Alsace?

Answer 6

1. Pinot Noir

Question 7

What are the white grape varieties in Alsace?

Answer 7

1. Reisling
2. Gewurztraminer
3. Muscat
4. Pinot Gris
5. Pinot Blanc
6. Sylvaner

Question 8

What characterizes the viticulture on Alsace?

Answer 8

1. Long, Cool, dry growing season due to rain shadow
2. Better vineyards are planted on lower slopes facing east-southeast

Question 9

What grapes can be used for Vendange Tardive (VT) and Sélection de Grains Nobles (SGN) wines in Alsace?

Answer 9

1. Riesling
2. Geewurztraminer
3. Muscat
4. Pinot Gris

Question 10

What is important about the bottling of Alsace AOP wines?

Answer 10

Must be bottled in traditional Flute d’Alsace shaped bottle.

Question 11

How does the geography of the Haut-Rhin differ from that of the Bahs-Rhin?

Answer 11

1. Higher elevation
2. Location of best vineyard sites (presumably due to more protection from the Vosges Mountains)

Question 12

True or False: Alsace is one of the wettest regions in France>

Answer 12

False

Question 13

What style of wine is Cremant d’Alsace?

Answer 13

Méthode Traditionnelle (technically methode champenoise or methode classique) sparkling wines that are usually made from a blend of grapes.

Question 14

What percentage of wines are made from white grape varieties in Alsace?

Answer 14

Over 90%