How many times has Alsace traded hands between Germany and France?
4 times to Germany and 4 times to France
58 BC ROMAN: Romans incorporate Alsace into the province of Germania Superior
378 "GERMAN": Alemanni Germanic tribes expel Romans and introduce their language
496 FRANCE: Alsace incorporated into Frankish Kingdom under Merovingian King Clovis
870 "GERMAN": Alsace incorporated into East Francia (predecessor of modern-day Germany) after the death of Louis le Pieux, son Carolingian Emperor Charlemagne
1648 FRANCE: France takes over Alsace after Thirty Years' War
1870 GERMAN: Alsace reclaimed by Prussia after Franco-Prussian War
1918 FRANCE: Alsace returned to France after WWI
1940 GERMAN: Alsace occupied by Germany during WWII
1945 FRANCE: Alsace returned to France after WWII
Name 7 types of Alsace AOC wine that may be blends of multiple varieties
Edelzwicker: no rules regarding composition
Gentil: min 50% (Riesling, Muscat, PG, Gewurztraminer), max 50% (Sylvaner, Chasselas, PB)
Where is Trimbach’s Clos Sainte Hune riesling wine grown?
A 1.67 ha parcel —held for 200 years (monopole)— in the lower portion of Grand Cru Rosacker in Hunawihr; there actually is no clos and the name is trademarked.
4,400: 1,800 cultivate > 2 ha and account for >90% area under vine
Describe the EU definition of organic wine
As of 2012 vintage, the entire grape to wine process is regulated
Sorbic acid: not allowed
Sulfites: 100 mg/l red (vs 150), 150 mg/l white/rose (vs 200) -- not allowed in U.S.
Sulfer and copper are permitted in the vineyard
Name the 2 organizations that certify biodynamic wine
Demeter: sets standards for biodynamic agriculture
Biodyvin: sets standards for biodynamic wine
Describe biodynamic wine guidelines
No GMOs
No seed treatment with chemicals
Bordeaux mixture and sulfur allowed; other chemicals are not
Manure and compost must receive plant preparations
All steps must be documented
Alsace allows acidification and chaptalization
True: but acid and sugar adjustments made before fermentation cannot be performed on the same vat
What is a lieu-dit?
A parcel of land, within a single commune, whose name recalls a topographical or historic particularity; it is a cadastral unit used by geographers, while a climat is a vigneron's notion for a delineated parcel enjoying specific geological or climatic conditions.
What is the oldest soil in Alsace?
Schist
Name the varieties the prefer each soil type in Alsace
True: prefers mountain and plain soils; it only prefers hill soils with sandstone
T or F? Gewurztraminer does well in 7 Alsace soil types
True: prefers hill soils; it doesn’t prefer mountain or plain soils (except alluvial)
T or F? Gewurztraminer and Muscat prefer similar soils
True: both prefer hill soils; Gewurztraminer also prefers alluvial soil
T or F? Pinot Gris does well in 6 Alsace soil types
True: prefers some mountain (S, V), hill (MC, LM), and plain (A, C) soils; it doesn’t prefer other mountain (G, T), hill (MS, MLS, L, LS), and plain (O) soils.
What soil type does Muscat prefer?
Muscat à Petits Grains: limestone/calcareous soils with ample light/heat
Muscat Ottonel: limestone and clay soils with ample light/heat
Muscat prefers hill soils; it does not prefer mountain or plain soils.
T or F? Sylvaner grows well in 4 Alsace soil types
True: prefers some hill (MC, LS, LM) and plain (C) soils; it doesn’t prefer mountain soils or some hill (MS, MLS, L) and plain (A, O) soils.
Name 4 mountain soils
G, T, S, V
Name 6 hill soils
Marl and limestone soils (MC, MS, MLS, L, LM, LS)
Name 3 plain soils
A, O, C
What type of climate does Alsace have?
Continental
T or F? Alsace receives some of the lowest rainfall in all of France
True
T or F? Alsace is the most northerly wine region in France
False: Champagne is farther north
Champagne: 49th-49.5 parallel north
Alsace: 47th-49th parallel north
In 1941, 30% of Alsatian vineyards were planted to what kind of varieties?
French-American hybrids
A northerly climate bathed in sunshine results in grapes that ...
Ripen slowly with complex aromatics
Describe the primary grape varieties grown in Alsace
Pinot Noir: acidity(M), tannin(M), red fruit, earth, mushrooms, violet
Sylvaner: acidity(H), usually neutral but can have complex minerality; little aroma
Muscat à Petits Grains: 16th C, sugar/extract(H), acidity(M), aromatic, raisin, honey
Muscat Ottonel: 10th C, acidity(M), less aromatic
Describe the 4 secondary grape varieties grown in Alsace
Chardonnay: sugar/extract(H), only authorized as a blending partner in Crèmant d’Alsace
Chasselas: neutral but can hint of flint/smoke, hay, and flowers
Klevener de Heiligenstein (near Barr): aka non-aromatic version of Savagnin Rose
Auxerrois de Laquenexy: a cross of Gouais Blanc x Pinot (as is Chardonnay) native to Lorraine; sugar(H), acidity(H), neutral
T or F? Klevner is an alternate spelling for Klevener
False: Klevner and Pinot Vrai are synonyms for Pinot Blanc; Klevener is a synonym for the non-aromatic version of Savagnin Rose
Name the non-aromatic version of Savagnin Rose (a mutation of Jura’s Savagnin Blanc)
Klevener: the aromatic version is Gewurztraminer
T or F? Sylvaner is native to France
False: the Savagnin Blanc x Osterreichish Weiss cross is native to Austria
T or F? Some believe all grape varieties descended from Muscat
True: it is one of the oldest varieties
How many wine producers are there in Alsace?
1,200: but 80% of production is carried out by only 175 producers
What percent of wine produced in Alsace is white?
90%
T or F? Trimbach holds a third of the U.S. market for Alsatian wine
True: family-owned and operated for 13 generations in an unbroken chain
T or F? Most growers produce 2 wines each year
False: Small growers usually make 6-8 wines while large producers make double that; due to varietal wines, special terroir/vineyard wines, and dessert wines being bottled separately
What percent of Alsace wines are blends?
20%: most crémants are blends
T or F? Each variety must be vinified separately in Alsace wine blends
False: true for Gentil, optional for Edelzwicker, field blends are fermented together; not sure about Pinot and crémant potential blends but probably true
Name a producer making a field blend
Jean-Michel Deiss: calls his Altenberg de Bergheim field blends “wines of terroir”
Describe production of AOC Crémant d'Alsace
Production: traditional method; dates back to 1800s; 500 producers today
Law: hand-picked and whole-cluster pressed
Aging: min 9 months sur lie aging plus 3 months before release
Sweetness: Extra brut(no dosage), Brut(<12), Extra Dry(12-17), Sec (17-32), Demi-sec (32-50 g/l RS)
T or F? VT wines may only be made from noble grapes
True: picked by hand when over ripe but noble rot is optional; MLC not encouraged
T or F? SGN wines may only be made from noble grapes
True: picked berry by berry and noble rot is required
Name the 6 varieties Crémant d’Alsace AOC can be made from
Pinot Blanc: primary grape
Pinot Noir: exclusively if rosé
Chardonnay
Pinot Gris
Auxerrois
Riesling
Note: most are blends but can be 100% varietal
Distinguish the production standards for AOC Alsace wine and its Communal and Lieu-Dit subcategories and for AOC Alsace Grand Cru
AOC Alsace / Communal / Lieu-Dit / Grand Cru
White Yield (hl/ha): 80 / 72 / 68 / 55
Rose Yield (hl/ha): 75 / 60 / 60 / -
Red Yield (hl/ha): 60 / - / - / -
Harvest: - / - / manual for PG, PN / manual
Vine density (vines/ha): 4000 / 4500 / 4500 / 4500 (Altenberg de Bergheim is 5500)
Max space between rows (meters): 2.5 / 2.2 / 2 / 2
Max space between vines (meters): all are 0.75-1.5
Guyot (buds per square meter for R, G): 12 / 11 / 11 / 8 (10 for G)
Guyot (buds per square meter for other varieties): 10 / 9 / 9 / 8
How many AOC Alsace with Communal Indication make both red and white wine?
White and Red: 1 (Côte de Rouffach)
Pinot Noir only: 3 (Ottrott, Rodern, Saint Hippolyte)
White only: 9 (Muscat is not authorized)
How many communes produce Alsace AOC commune wines?
13: stricter production standards than regional AOC wines (less yield for white and rose wine, less max space between rows, fewer buds)
Note: Communal indications are also referred to as "complementary denominations".
Name the communes with AOC Alsace with Communal Indications (from N to S)
Wolxheim: R
Ottrott: PN
Klevener de Heiligenstein: Savagnin rose
Côtes de Barr: Sylvaner
Blienschwiller: Sylvaner
Scherwiller: R
Coteaux du Haut Koenigsbourg: R, G
Saint Hippolyte: PN
Rodern: PN
Bergheim: G
Val Saint Grégoire: PB, A, PG
Côte de Rouffach: R, G, PG, PN
Vallee Noble: R, G, PG
T or F? The Alsace AOC lieu-dit sub-category has more strict production standards than the Alsace AOC communal sub-category
True: lieu-dit wines have less yield for white wine and less max space between rows compared to communal wines.
There are limitations on grape varieties, vine density, pruning methods and trellising, higher grape maturity levels at harvest and more restrictive yield.
Describe the March 1984 law that permitted mention of Vendanges Tardives (VT) and Sélection de Grains Nobles (SGN) on the label
Applies to AOC Alsace and AOC Alsace Grand Cru levels
Inspiration from German tradition: VT from spätlese (late harvest) and SGN from beerenauslese (select berries)
Made from noble grapes
Harvested by hand
No chaptalization
Mandatory approval tasting
note: Jean Hugel contribution
T or F? Vendanges Tardives and Sélection de Grains Nobles wines can be categorized as Alsace AOC with communal and lieu-dit designations
True: VT and SGN are not AOCs in their own right
When was Grand Cru status awarded to the most exceptional terroirs in Alsace?
1975: recognized Schlossberg
1983: added 24 more lieux-dits
1992: added 25 more lieux-dits
2007: added Kaefferkopf lieu-dit
2011: each of the Grand Crus was recognized an an independent AOC
Describe the significance of recognizing each Grand Cru in Alsace as an independent AOC
Independent management has led to 3 notable exceptions to the original cahier des charges:
Altenberg de Bergheim: Can be a varietal (R, G, PG) or blend (50-80% R).
Kaefferkopf: Can be a varietal (R, G, PG) or blend (60-80% G).
Zotzenberg: Can be a varietal of R, G, PG, or Sylvaner
How many Alsace AOC with Lieu-Dit Indication are there?
The “lieux-dits” aren’t defined in the cahier des charges, but if a specific vineyard name appears on the label, the wine must comply with stricter production rules, notably lower maximum yields.
Describe the proposal to add AOC Alsace 1er Cru level
AOC wines with a "complementary denomination" (AOC Alsace with a Communal indication) would be upgraded to a new "village" level
Some high-quality lieux-dits that have shown consistency over time would be upgraded to a Premier Cru level.
Each 1er Cru area will have to demonstrate “geological unity” (the soil type, the slope angle and the orientation must be homogenous)
Sandstone, volcanic, and schist soils produce spicy, smoky, wine with ripe fruit. Try smoked fish.
Limestone produces powerful and sometimes bitter wine that benefits from age. Try seafood.
Marl produces fruity, fat wine that ages well but can be closed during first 7 years. Try powerful fish like bass or cod.
As an example, GC Schossberg, at the bottom of a slope with granite soil, produces perfumed, crisp wine. GC Furstentum, at the top of a slope with limestone soil, produces powerful wine. Altenbourg lieux-dit (below GC Furstentum) with clay soil produces rounder wine with botrytis when ripe.
Name four Grand Crus with granite soils near Colmar
