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39 Cards in this Set
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Alsace (3)
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A small narrow band of wine producing regions only 140 km long. Due to it's Eastern proximity to the Vosges mountains, it draws influence from both France and Germany. Known for it's richly textured spicy white wines.
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Explain the geography of Alsace |
Alsace is a region of small vineyard holdings, not many of them are any bigger than three hectares. Most of the vineyards lie on or in between the foot-hills of the Vosges and the river Rhine. |
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Describe the climate of Alsace (4)
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Cool continental climate with unusually long autumns. The Vosges mountains play a key role in Alsace's climate. They shelter the vineyards from the westerly rainy winds, which results in hot summers and dry harvest. In the hottest years drought can be an issue.
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Describe the role of aspect in Alsace
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The climate is still cool enough to justify to put the best vines on South-East facing slopes. This especially true for the Bas-Rhin, where it the coldest. The slopes may be as steep as 40°.
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Describe the soils in Alsace (1) (5)
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There is a dramatic variation of soils and rock. The slopes include granitic, limestone, sandstone, loam and volcanic soils. The plain's soils are mainly alluvial.
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How do viticultural practices vary in Alsace?
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How a vine is grown in Alsace depends whether it is grown on the slopes, or on the plain.
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How are vines grown on the slopes? (3)
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- Vines are trained low to benefit from re-radiation.
- Rows are planted in an optimal direction to maximize sunlight. - Grapes are hand-harvested. |
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How are vines grown on the plain? (2)
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- Vines are trained high to combat the frosts.
- machine harvested |
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What is the viticultural style of Alsace.
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Wines are grown organic and biodynamic in order to reflect the sunny, dry, low disease conditions of Alsace.
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What are the most important varieties of Alsace? (7)
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Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris, Muscat, Pinot Blanc, Sylvaner and Pinot Noir.
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What is unique about the harvest in Alsace? |
Because the autumns are so long and the number of different varieties ripening at different times, Harvest can span from the middle of September to the beginning of December. |
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What is the outlook on vinifying wine in Alsace? |
The best wines receive the lowest amount of treatment. |
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How is juice usually pressed in Alsace? |
Pneumatic press |
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How is wine fermented in Alsace (3)
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Old cellars: Fermented in large oak barrels that can be over a hundred years old. The barrel is lined with a thick Tartrate deposit in order to minimize oak contact.
Modern cellars: Stainless steel vats, temperature controlled. No Malo. in Alsace with the exception of Pinot Blanc. |
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How is wine aged in Alsace |
Wine is bottled the next spring and it can be drank young, but many can age well in bottle. |
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How does the AC system work in Alsace? |
There is Alsace AC for basic appellations. Then there is Alsace Grand Cru AC. The simplicity of this system makes it difficult to differentiate between the different qualities of wine. Alsace is also a major producer of sparkling wine, Cremant d'Alsace AC. |
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Alsace AC (5)
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- Accounts for over 70% percent of the production.
- Mostly white wines. - Most are varietally labelled and if they are, they must contain 100% of that varietal. - The wines are bottled in the characteristic long bottle called the flûtes d'Alsace. - typically grown on the alluvial plain. |
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Alsace Grand Cru AC (4)
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- 51 specific vineyard sites.
- The wines usually come from sloped vineyard sites - conform to stricter production criteria. Low maximum yields, higher sugar ripeness, - must be produced from a single noble grape variety. |
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When was Alsace AC introduced? Alsace Grand Cru AC? |
Alsace: 1962 Alsace Grand Cru: 1975 |
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What are the noble varieties of Alsace |
Riesling, Muscat, Gewurtztraminer or Pinot Gris. |
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What Grand Crus are allowed to blend? |
Kaefferkopf and Altenberg de Bergheim |
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Which Alsace Grand Cru allows Sylvaner? |
Zotzenberg |
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Describe the controversy surrounding Alsace Grand Crus |
Difficulties arose when defining the areas into law. Many producers and commentators say that the land is too big and that it contains vineyards that are not worthy of the designation. |
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What is the name for the high quality late harvest white wines? |
Vendange Tardive (VT) |
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What is the name for the noble rot wines of Alsace? |
Sélection de Grains Nobles (SGN) |
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Vendange Tardive (VT) (6)
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- Late Harvest.
- Can only be made from the four noble varieties. - Must have a sugar ripeness capable for producing 14% ABV for Riesling and Muscat, and 15.3% for Gewurztraminer and Pinot Gris. - Corresponds to a ripe Auslese. - Ranges from dry to medium sweet, no requirement to designate sweetness. |
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Sélection de Grains Nobles (SGN) (5)
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- Noble Rot sweet wine.
- Can only be made from noble varieties. Must have a sugar ripeness of 16.4% abv for Riesling and Muscat, and 18.2% abv for Gewurztraminer and Pinot Gris. - Corresponds to a ripe full bodied Beerenauslese in style. - Only produced on some years and in small quantities. - The presence of noble rot will vary. |
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How would you generalize an Alsatian wine?
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Full bodied, dry, spicy, high alcohol. Botrytis can have an impact on some of the wines. Mostly white.
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How does botrytis affect the dry still whites of Alsace?
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Softening the fruit character, adding a touch of spicy complexity and viscosity.
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How is the level of sweetness changing in Alsace wines? What problem does this pose? |
There is an increase in wines being made off-dry. There is no label designation for sweetness, so consumers have no indication of the style of wine they are buying. |
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Describe the blended wines of Alsace? How will they be labled? (5)
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- Light in body.
- Lack any spicy character. - They're labelled as 'Edelzwicker' or 'Gentil'. - Made from juice unfit for varietally labelled wines. - There are some Grand Cru blends, but these are very rare. |
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Riesling (4)
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- Most widely planted of the noble varieties with over 20% of the plantings.
- Stands in contrast with the crisp light bodied German Riesling. - The best are full bodied, dry with medium/medium + alcohol, high acidity and a smoky minerality - Makes exceptional SGN. |
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Gewuztraminer (5)
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- Aromatic wine.
- Golden colour - full bodied and a rich oily texture. High alcohol. - Pungent tropical fruit, roses and spice. - Makes great VT. |
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Pinot Gris (6)
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- Previously labelled as Tokay d'Alsace.
- Rich, full bodied and high in alcohol. - Red skins give the wine a golden colour. - Pronounced flavour intensity. - Fresh and dried fruits, smokey honey character. - Great VT & SGN |
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Muscat (3)
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- Becoming rare in Alsace. Accounts for less than three percent of holdings.
- Classic grapey Muscat flavour, while remaining dry. - VT and SGN are very rare. |
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Pinot Blanc and Auxerrois (6)
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- Usually combined in wines labelled Pinot Blanc, but wines labelled Auxerrois are a pure varietal wine.
- Slightly less plantings than riesling, - Planted on the plains. - They make light refreshing still wines that lack the complexity of the other wines of Alsace. - Widely used in Crémant production. - Auxerrois is slightly more full bodied and spicy. |
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Sylvaner (4)
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- Only accounts for 9 percent of the plantings.
- Delicately perfumed. - Some richness. - Best drank young. |
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Pinot Noir |
Made to supply the demands of local consumers. Only ten percent of plantings. Lacks the weight and concentration of Burgundian Pinot. Best made as a light fruity red or rosé. Some winemakers are trying add substance with some oak. |
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How are the wines of Alsace priced? (4)
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Alsace AC (White Grapes): Med to Premium+ priced
(Pinot Noir): High priced. Vendange Tardive and Sélection de Grains Nobles: High to Premium + priced Alsace Grand Cru AC: High to Premium + priced. |
