Alsace

Front 1

What mountain range is near Alsace? What effect does it have on the region? What is the term for the local pink sandstone?

Back 1

The Vosges Mountains. Alsace is located on the Eastern part of this mountain range, successfully creating a rainshadow effect for Alsace. Alsace is one of the driest wine producing areas in France.

Local pink sandstone: "Gres de Vosges".

Front 2

What are the two departments of Alsace? Which one is located in the North? South? What year did Alsace reach appellation status?

Back 2

Bas-Rhin and Haut-Rhin, with the Bas-Rhin be located in the North and Haut-Rhin being located in the South.

1962

Front 3

Which wines do not allow Chapitalization in Alsace?

Back 3

Vendange Tardive and Selection de Grains Noble wines.
[van-dawnj tar-deev]
[say-lek-shion deh gran no-bluh]

Front 4

What is the minimum ABV for Alsace AOP wines?

Back 4

8.5% ABV

Front 5

What are the four noble grapes of Alsace?

Back 5

Pinot Gris, Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Muscat.

Front 6

What is Edelzwicker (Ay dels vicar)?

Back 6

"noble mixture" - an inexpensive blended wine. Does not need to be vintage dated, nor are they legally obligated to contain more then one grape.

Front 7

What is Gentil?

Back 7

A blend of two or more varietals, but must contain a minium 50% of Riesling, Pinot Gris, Muscat, and or Gewurztraminer. It also must be vintage-dated.

Front 8

If a varietal is listed on an Alsatian bottle, what must be the % in bottle?

Back 8

100 percent of the listed varietal.

Front 9

Which grapes can be used in VT and SGN wines?

Back 9

Muscat, Riesling, Gewurztraminer, and Pinot Gris.

Front 10

What are the varietal white wines of Alsace?

Back 10

Riesling
Pinot Gris
Gewurztraminer
Muscat d'Alsace: Muscat Blanc/Rose a Petit Grains and/or Muscat Ottonel
Pinot/Klevner: 100% Pinot Blanc Vrai, Auxerrois, Pinot Gris and or Pinot Noir(vinified as white wine)
Chasselas / Gutedel
Sylvaner
Klevener de Heiligenstein (Savagnin Rose)

Front 11

What are the red varietals allowed in Alsace?

Back 11

Pinot Noir

Front 12

What is the minimum ABV % for Riesling / Muscat VT wines? For Pinot Gris / Gewurztraminer VT wines?

Back 12

Riesling / Muscat: 14%

Pinot Gris / Gewurztraminer: 15.3%

Front 13

What is the minimum ABV % for Riesling / Muscat SGN wines? For Pinot Gris / Gewurztraminer SGN wines?

Back 13

Riesling / Muscat: 16.4%

Pinot Gris / Gewurztraminer: 18.2%

Front 14

What is the minimum must weights for Riesling / Muscat VT wines? For Pinot Gris / Gewurztraminer VT wines?

Back 14

Riesling / Muscat: 235 G / L

Pinot Gris / Gewurztraminer: 257 G / L

Front 15

What is the minimum must weights for Riesling / Muscat SGN wines? For Pinot Gris / Gewurztraminer SGN wines?

Back 15

Riesling / Muscat: 276 G / L

Pinot Gris / Gewurztraminer: 306 G / L

Front 16

What are some additional requirements for VT and SGN wines?

Back 16

1. Hand-harvested grapes.
2. Chapitalization is not allowed.
3. Must be vintage-dated.
4. Vintage wines are late-harvested, and may be affected by botrytis.
5. SGN wines are affected by botrytis, and are harvested in tries.

Front 17

Which two grapes are not allowed in Cremant d' Alsace wines?

Back 17

Gewurztraminer and Chasselas.

Front 18

When was the AOC established in Alsace?

Back 18

1945, officially designated in 1962. VT and SGN were added in 1984.

Front 19

What is Chasselas [shas-suh-LAH]? What is another name for it?

Back 19

Wines produced from Chasselas grape in Alsace. Rarely exported due to its quality; it is mainly used as table or house wine. No new plantings of the varietal is permitted. Guetedel is the other name for this grape.

Front 20

What is Sylvaner (sil-vah-ner)?

Back 20

A dry, light and fruity wine. It is best drunk young with fish or shellfish and is used widely as a local wine.

Front 21

What is Klevener de Heiligentein?

Back 21

Produced from the Savagnin Rose grapes, which is part of the Traminer family. New plantings are forbidden and the wine may be only produced through the 2021 vintage. It is less aromatic then Gewurztraminer, however, is higher in acidity.

Front 22

How many communes produce Klevener? What are they?

Back 22

Five total.
1. Bourgheim
2. Gertwiller
3. Goxwiller
4. Obernai
5. Heiligenstien

Front 23

What does the term moelleux mean in Alsace?

Back 23

The term must be put on any label of any Alsace wine which has a minimum of 12 g/L of residual sugar, other than Riesling wines for which the minimum is 9 g/L. If the acid content is more than 6 g/L the minimum residual sugar is 18 g/L, after which this term must be used.

Front 24

What is Auxerrois (OAKS-er-rwah)?

Back 24

One of the varietals permitted for "Pinot" wine and makes such a distinctly different product that it has often been labeled separately.

Front 25

Talk about Savagnin Rose.

Back 25

Known as Klevener de Heiligenstein, is less intensely aromatic than Gewurz, but higher in acidity. 5 communes may bottle this wine varietally under the existing Alsace AOP, however Savagnin Rose vineyards may not be replanted.

Front 26

Talk about the Alsace Grand Cru system.

Back 26

First proposed in 1975, but first vineyards weren't established until 1983. 25 vineyards in 1983, and 25 vineyards in 1985. A 51st GC "Kaefferkopf" was added in 2006. GC AOP wines are single varietal wines from the 4 noble grapes, plus a few exceptions.

Front 27

What 2 GC vineyards are allowed to produce both single varietal wines as well as blends? Which grape can NOT be bottled varietally?

Back 27

1. Alternberg de Bergheim and Kaefferkopf. They may NOT produce Muscat varietally.

In addition, Zotzenberg may not release Muscat varietally.

Front 28

What are the min ABV for all 4 noble grape varietals?

Back 28

1. Riesling / Muscat: 11%

2. Gewurz / Pinot Gris: 12.5%

Front 29

Name the smallest GC vineyard.

Name the largest GC vineyard.

What GC vineyard can bottle Sylvaner varietally?

Back 29

1. Kanzlerberg (3 hectares)

2. Schlossberg (80 hectares)

3. Zotzenberg

Front 30

Talk about Cremant d'Alsace wines.

Back 30

The sparking wines are usually based on Pinot Blanc. However, Riesling, Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Auxerrois, and Chardonnay are allowed. Cremant d'Alsace rose must be 100% Pinot Noir.

Front 31

Name 7 GC vineyards.

Back 31

1. Altenberg de Bergheim
2. Kaefferkopf
3. Kastelberg
4. Pfersigberg
5. Rosacker
6. Schlossberg
7. Zotzenberg

Front 32

Talk about Cotes de Toui AOP. What grapes are used for red and white wines?

Back 32

Light red wines are made from Pinot Noir and white wines are made from Auxerrois and Aubin. Rose wines, made in vin gris style, are made of Pinot Noir and Gamay.

Front 33

What kind of wines does Moselle AOP produce?

Back 33

The small Moselle VDQS/AOP produces red, white, and rosé wines from Alsatian grapes, Gamay, and Pinot Meunier.