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T or F? The special terroirs of Alsace are clustered around core groups of villages
True: Special terroirs refer to Grand Crus, Clos and Lieux-Dits
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When does the vine need to be pruned?
During its dormant season (Dec-Mar) after harvest and leaf fall
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Why does the vine need to be pruned?
- Control yields
- Provide ample sun and air exposure to the canopy
- Restrain its tendencies to get tangled
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T or F? The vine is self-pollinating
True: the flower is non-aromatic so doesn't attract birds or insects
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How long does it take for grapes to mature in Alsace?
- 100-110 days after the median date of flowering
- 45 days after veraison
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What is veraison?
The time (usually August) when hard green berries change into soft fruit; grape sugar levels increase dramatically and acidity begins to drop
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What is the principal vine training method in Alsace?
Guyot: During dormancy most growth from the prior season is pruned away, leaving one (Guyot simple) or two (Guyot double) canes
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T or F? Guyot is a type of vertical shoot positioned (VSP) vine training method
True: designed for low to moderate vigor vineyards; cane pruning is favored in cooler areas while spur-pruning is favored in warmer locations
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Why are canes tied into a bow during Guyot training?
- Encourages the development of buds at the base of canes
- Provides a balanced spread of vegetation in the vertical plane
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When are new vines planted?
mid-March to mid-May, depending on soil conditions (dry topsoil over damp sub-soil)
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T or F? Only grafted vines are planted in Alsace
True: rootstocks are chosen to the match terroir (e.g., avoid chlorosis in limestone soils and tolerate drought around Colmar)
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What is hedging?
- Trimming growing vine tips, between mid-May and July
- Often done by machine
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What is culling?
- Pulling off leaves close to the bunches to increase sun exposure and airflow
- Always done by hand
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Why is ground cover encouraged between vine rows?
- vs bare earth: Reduces erosion, Retains water, Limit nitrate leaching in autumn and winter
- vs mono-crop: Key to IPM (attracts "good bugs")
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What is phytosanitary protection?
Use of agro-chemicals to fight disease and pests
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Name the 3 most frequent vine diseases
- Powdery Mildew (Oidium): blankets the vine with thick white filaments; yields reduced (if before flowering) or inhibits pigment/berry size (on clusters); marked by off-flavors; transported to Europe from North America;
- Downy Mildew (Peronospera): fungus that attacks leaves and stems; appears as "oil spots" then "cotton filaments"; vines lose their leaves, delaying/preventing ripening
- Grey Rot: when cool moist morning are NOT followed by warm dry afternoons, botrytis degenerates into grey rot; aided by butterfly larvae which make holes in grape skins
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How can the use of insecticides be limited?
Place capsules in the vines to spread pheromones of female butterflies that confuse males, limiting reproduction
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What do vignerons do during veraison?
Remove the last few leaves around the bunches
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T or F? Grapes are harvested when most grapes possess the best sugar to acid ratio
False: Although this is the goal, harvest dates for each AOC are set by decree
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When are grapes harvested in Alsace?
- Crémant d'Alsace: mid-September
- AOC Alsace/Grand Cru: after Crémant d'Alsace
- VT/SGN: mid-October; mainly done by hand (250 hours per ha)
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Define Lutte Raisonnée
- Sustainable viticulture: "reasoned struggle"
- Avoiding a prescribed spray schedule independent of disease pressure ("don't spray unless you have to")
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Describe Integrated Viticulture/Integrated Pest Management
- Use natural methods for disease and pest prevention as well as minimizing the use of agro-chemicals
- Examples: pheromone traps, diversified ground cover (attract "good insects" that prey upon "bad insects"), compost (build the soil without outside "inputs"
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Describe Organic & Biodynamic Viticulture/Integrated
Contain the enemies of the vine (plant and animal) through eco-balance, rejuvenation of the soil, and reinforcement of the vine's auto-immune system (vs relying on chemical input)
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Define Organic Wine
- EU: Producers that follow regulations (from grape to wine) may use the term "organic wine"; sorbic acid not allowed, max sulfites 100 mg/L (red wine) and 150 mg/L (rose/white wine); sulfer and copper may be used in the vineyard
- US: Wines labeled "organic" permit no use of additional sulfites
- Note: Organic wine must be produced with organic grapes
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Define Biodynamic Wine
- Two certifying bodies: Demeter and Biodyvin
- All steps must be documented (vineyard maintenance, grape processing, production, storage, transportation, export)
- All agriculture must be converted to biodynamic (including secondary crops, animals and their food - typically takes 3 years)
- No chemical treatment of seeds/plants (must be of Demeter quality)
- No agro-chemicals except Bordeaux mixture (copper sulfate and lime) and sulfur
- No GMOs
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What is the maximum yield for Alsace wine?
- Alsace: 80 hL/ha
- Alsace Grand Cru: 55 hL/ha
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How do the soils affect the wines in Alsace?
- Granite: aromatic with fine acidity
- Schistose: austere and svelte (clean)
- Graywacke: smoky with body
- Sandstone: express varietal character
- Limestone: long acidity
- Marly limestone: full-bodied, well-structured, peppery
- Marly clay: coarse, almost tannic
- Marly sandstone: fruit, good acidity, body
- Sandy-marly-limy: pronounced minerality
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What is the minimum residual sugar in VT/SGN Alsace wines?
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