Alsace, Jura, Savoie Flashcards

1
Q

When did Alsace receive AOC status?

A

1962 - it was the last major French region to do so

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2
Q

When percentage of Cremant d’Alsace Rosé must be Pinot Noir?

A

100%

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3
Q

Where are the vineyards of Alsace located? What is the best exposure?

A
  • Thin strand along the lower slopes and foothills of the Vosges
  • Aspect is very important
  • Southern, southeastern, & warm eastern exposures
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4
Q

Alsace is said to be a geological mosaic, what different soil types are located there?

A
  • Granite
  • Limestone
  • Schist
  • Clay
  • Gravel
  • Chalk
  • Loess
  • The local-pink sandstone (Grés de Vosges)
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5
Q

Can VT wines show bortytis?

A

Yes, but emphasize varietal purity

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6
Q

Are Vendange Tardive wins required to be dry?

A

Not obligated by statute to be sweet, the wines can vary in actual sugar, and can be quite dry

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7
Q

What is the workhorse for Cremant d’Alsace?

A

Pinot Blanc

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8
Q

Since when must standard Alsatian AOP Riesling be dry?

A

2008 vintage forward

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9
Q

What was Pinot Gris formerly known as in Alsace?

A

Tokay d’Alsace or Tokay Pinot Gris

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10
Q

What are the major requirements in the vineyard for Grand Cru wines?

A
  • Hand-harvesting
  • Min sugar must be higher than Alsace AOP
  • Yields are more restrictive than Alsace AOP
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11
Q

What are the min ABV’s for Alsatian Grand Cru wines?

A
  • Riesling & Muscat - 11%

- Gewurztraminer & Pinot Gris - 12.5%

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12
Q

What is France’s smallest “région”?

A

Alsace

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13
Q

What are the two departments of Alsace? Which is generally considered the best?

A
  • Bas-Rhin

- Haut-Rhin (Best)

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14
Q

What steadily replaced Traminer in Alsace through the latter half of the 19th century?

A

Gewurztraminer (a pink berried clone of Traminer)

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15
Q

What is the synonym for Savagnin in Alsace?

A

Klevener

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16
Q

What is “Grés de Vosges”?

A

A local pink sandstone that can be found throughout Alsace

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17
Q

What soil is generally found on the steeper mountain slopes?

A
  • Schist
  • Granite
  • Volcanic Sediment
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18
Q

What AOP in Alsace allows for noble and some non-noble grapes to be bottled varietally? What percentage must it contain? What is the exception?

A
  • Alsace AOP aka Vin d’Alsace AOP
  • 100%
  • Except Pinot Blanc - often blended w/the similar, but non synonymous, Auxerrois
  • Even if Auxerrois is bottled as a single variety, it may be labeled Pinot Blanc
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19
Q

What non-noble varieties may be bottled varietally as Alsace AOP?

A
  • Pinot Blanc
  • Chasselas
  • Sylvaner
  • Pinot Noir
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20
Q

What are the permitted varieties for Cremant d’Alsace?

A
  • Pinot Blanc
  • Pinot Noir
  • Riesling
  • Pinot Gris
  • Auxerrois
  • Chardonnay
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21
Q

What are the min must weights for VT wines?

A
  • Muscat & Riesling - 235 g/l

- Pinot Gris & Gewurztraminer - 257g/l

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22
Q

What is the smallest & largest Grand Cru vineyards in Alsace?

A
  • 3ha (Kanzlerberg)

- 80ha (Schlossberg)

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23
Q

What are the main points of controversy for the Alsatian Grand Cru system?

A
  • Rapid development of the system

- The lack of intermediary premier cru level

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24
Q

Klevener vs Gewurztraminer

A

Klevener is less intensely aromatic than GW but higher in acidity

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25
Q

What is edelzwicker?

A

An inexpensive blend

  • Do not need to vintage dated
  • Not required to be more than one grape (in practice they are blends)
  • Do not need to indicate any % of grapes on the label
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26
Q

What portion of Alsatian production is sparkling?

A

Nearly a quarter

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27
Q

Where is Lorraine located?

A

Neighboring region to Alsace

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28
Q

What Grand Cru does Trimbach’s Clos-Ste-Hune Riesling come from?

A

Rosacker

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29
Q

What is the synonym for Pinot Blanc in Alsace?

A

Klevner

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30
Q

What is the synonym for Chasselas in Alsace?

A

Gutedel

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31
Q

What is Gentil?

A
  • A designation for blends
  • Min 50% noble grapes - any other Alsace AOP grape may make up the rest
  • Base wines are vinified separately
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32
Q

Who is the staunchest advocate for field blends as the best approach for emphasizing Alsatian terroir?

A

Marcel Deiss

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33
Q

What soil do the lower slopes of Alsace sit on?

A

Limestone base w/rich alluvial clay and gravel

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34
Q

What portion of Alsace AOP wine is white?

A
  • 90%

- 18% of France’s still white production (2008)

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35
Q

Wine simply labeled “Pinot” may contain any proportion of what related varieties?

A
  • Pinot Noir
  • Pinot Blanc
  • Pinot Gris
  • Auxerrois
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36
Q

What varietal is the largest volume of production for Alsace?

A

Pinot Blanc & Auxerrois - when considered collectively

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37
Q

What house chooses not to promote admissible wines as Alsace Grand Cru AOP?

A

Hugel

Trimbach does not label their Clos Ste Hune as Rosacker, but as of ‘09 they released Geisberg Grand Cru

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38
Q

What is the only red variety permitted to be Alsace AOP?

A

Pinot Noir

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39
Q

What are the AOPs of Lorraine?

A
  • Côtes de Toul AOP

- Moselle AOP

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40
Q

What is Côtes de Toul AOP?

A

(Lorraine)

  • Red - Pinot Noir (light)
  • Rosé - pale vin gris style
  • From a high proportion of Gamay & Pinot Noir
  • White - Auxerrois & Aubin
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41
Q

Describe Alsace’s climate. What is the major moderating influence?

A
  • Vosges Mountains - provides a rain shadow
  • Semi-continental
  • One of France’s driest & sunniest climates
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42
Q

What are the two designations for late-harvest wines? When were they created?

A
  • 1984
  • Vendanges Tardive
  • Sélections de Grain Noble’s
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43
Q

What are the major requirements for VT and SGN to be labeled either Alsace AOP or Grand Cru AOP?

A
  • Contain a single, noble variety

- Pass a blind tasting panel

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44
Q

What is the capital of Haut-Rhin?

A

Colmar

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45
Q

What is Alsace’s most planted noble grape?

A

Riesling

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46
Q

What is last noble grape to ripen?

A

Riesling

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47
Q

When was Alsace Grand Cru system first proposed? When did the first appear? When were the rest promoted?

A

1975 - first decreed- Schlossberg

  • 1983 - 24 vineyards received the designation
  • 1985 - Another 25 vineyards promoted
  • 2007- 51st was promoted - Kaefferkopf

-2011- the actual number of Alsace Grand Crus increased from 1 to 51 as each received their own AOP

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48
Q

What is the Moselle AOP?

A

(Lorraine)
Red, white, rosé
-Principally from Auxerrois and Pinot Noir

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49
Q

Klevner vs Klevener

A
  • Klevner - Pinot Blanc

- Klevener - Savagnin

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50
Q

What is the only AOP in Alsace to allow Chardonnay?

A

Cremant d’Alsace AOP

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51
Q

What is Savagnin Rose?

A

A pink berried clone of Traminer - aka Klevener

  • Five communes may bottle this varietally under the Alsace AOP
  • but vineyards may not be replanted
  • designation expires in 2021
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52
Q

What are the noble grapes of Alsace?

A
  • Riesling
  • Pinot Gris
  • Muscat
  • Gewurztraminer
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53
Q

What clones of Muscat are permitted as a noble variety?

A
  • Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains
  • Muscat Rosé à Petits Grains
  • Muscat Ottonel
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54
Q

Where are there still a few plantings of Klevener?

A

Heiligenstein in the Bas Rhin

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55
Q

Are SGN wines required to be sweet?

A

No, but in practice are always dessert-like

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56
Q

What are the min must weights for SGN?

A
  • Muscat & Riesling - 276g/l
  • Pinot Gris & Gewurztraminer - 306g/l

(@306 amongst the highest min must weights in France)

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57
Q

What 2 Grand Cru vineyards allow for blending according to prescribed proportions?

A
  • Altenberg de Bergheim

- Kaefferkopf

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58
Q

What is the historical site for Sylvaner?

A
  • Zotzenberg

- Allows for Sylvaner varietal Grand Cru wines

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59
Q

What are the two designations for Alsatian blends?

A

Gentil & Edelzwicker

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60
Q

What is the standard AOP for the Jura?

A

Côtes du Jura AOP

Red, white, rosé

61
Q

What grapes are permitted for Côtes du Jura AOP red wines?

A
  • Poulsard (Ploussard)
  • Trousseau
  • Pinot Noir
62
Q

What is Savagnin known locally as in the Jura?

A

Naturé

63
Q

What is Chardonnay known as in the Jura?

A

Gamay Blanc

64
Q

What is the grape of Vin Jaune in Jura?

A

Savagnin

65
Q

What are the permitted grapes for Vin de Paille in Jura?

A
  • Poulsard
  • Chardonnay
  • Savagnin
  • Trousseau
  • Pinot Noir is EXCLUDED
66
Q

In poor vintages (like 1980 & 1984), what may the wines of Chateau Chalon be declassified as?

A

Côtes du Jura AOP

67
Q

What is Altesse known as in Savoie?

A

Roussette

68
Q

What is the most common grape of Savoie?

A

Jacquère - not the best quality though

69
Q

What is the regional appellation for Altesse in Savoie?

A

Roussette de Savoie

  • 100% varietal
  • Chard no longer allowed for blending
70
Q

What communes may append their name to Roussette de Bugey AOP? Varietal?

A
  • 100% Altesse
  • Montagnieu
  • Virieu le Grand
71
Q

What are the 3 communal appellations of Jura?

A
  • Arbois
  • L’Etoile
  • Chateau Chalon
72
Q

What is the Jura’s leading wine village?

A

Arbois

73
Q

What is the home of Louis Pasteur?

A

Arbois

74
Q

What 4 communes may append their name to Roussette de Savoie AOP?

A
  • Frangy
  • Marestel
  • Monterminod
  • Monthoux
75
Q

What is produced under the Seyssel AOP?

A

Vin Tranquille Blanc (Sec and Demi-Sec): 100% Altesse
Varietal-Labeled Molette (Tranquille): 100% Molette
Vin Mousseux Blanc: Min. 10% Altesse, plus Chasselas and Molette

76
Q

What is vin de paille? What is the min must weight?

How long must it be aged?

A
  • AKA straw wine
  • Ripe, but not botrytized, grapes are left to dry for a min of 6 weeks
  • Must achieve min must weight of 320g/l
  • Aging - min 3 yrs (18 months in neutral wood)
77
Q

What AOPs of Jura may produce vin de paille?

A
  • Arbois
  • L’Etoile
  • Côtes du Jura
78
Q

What Savoie AOP located north of Lake Bourget produce dry and off-dry still mousseux wines?

A

Seyssel AOP

79
Q

What is Chateau Chalon?

A
  • A commune
  • Specializes in Vin Jaune
  • Must be the classic vin jaune style
80
Q

What is the grape of vin jaune? How long is it kept in barrel? What is the difference between this and fino sherry?

A
  • Exclusively Savagnin
  • Post-fermentation, it is kept in barrel until Dec 15th of the 6th year following harvest
  • The wine is not topped up
  • The voile, or veil, develops
  • Unlike sherry, it is not fortified
81
Q

What 3 crus are located along the shores of Lake Geneva in Savoie and require a min 80% Chasselas?

A
  • Marignan
  • Ripaille
  • Crépy
82
Q

What is Roussanne known as in Savoie?

A

Bergeron

83
Q

What production method is Crémant du Jura AOP? When was it established?

A
  • Méthode Traditionelle

- 1995

84
Q

What is macvin du Jura? What colors can it be? How long must it be aged?

A
  • Vin de liqueur
  • Aged marc is added to unfermented grape must
  • May be red, rosé or white
  • Must be aged in oak for one year after mutage
85
Q

What appellation in Savoie can produce Méthode Ancestrale Rosés?

A

Bugey Cerdon

86
Q

When did Bugey AOP get upgraded? What color wines?

A

May 2009

-Red, rosé, white

87
Q

What is the required bottle for Chateau Chalon?

A
  • A clavelin

- A squat 62 cl bottle

88
Q

Of the 12 communes, what is the only one that is allowed to append its name to Arbois AOP?

A

Pupillin

89
Q

Describe the L’Etoile AOP. What grapes are permitted?

A
  • White wine only appellation
  • Chard, Poulsard (generally the blanc mutation), and Savagnin
  • Generally bottled late in an oxidative style
90
Q

What are the 3 most common red grapes for red and rosé vin de Savoie?

A
  • Gamay
  • Mondeuse
  • Pinot Noir
91
Q

Which cru in Savoie is 100% exclusively Roussanne?

A

Chignin-Bergeron

92
Q

What grapes are the best Savoie whites produced from?

A
  • Altesse
  • Roussanne (Bergeron)
  • Chardonnay
93
Q

What is western Europe’s largest body of water?

A

Lake Geneva (known as Lac Léman in France)

94
Q

What grapes are permitted for Côtes du Jura AOP white wines?

A
  • Typically 100% Chard (Gamay Blanc)

- Savagnin

95
Q

What grapes are permitted for Côtes du Jura AOP rosé wines?

A

-Can include all 5 grapes

  • Poulsard
  • Trousseau
  • Pinot Noir
  • Chardonnay
  • Savagnin

-Usually made in a vin gris style

96
Q

Capital of Alsace Lorraine

A

Strasbourg

97
Q

Better vineyards of Alsace get what type of exposure?

A

South, southeastern or eastern (to maximize sunlight)

98
Q

Lower slopes of Alsace typically have ___ soils:

A

They sit on a limestone base

99
Q

Plains at the base of the mountains in Alsace typically have ___ soils:

A

Richer alluvial clay and gravel

100
Q

Last Alsatian grand cru to be added:

A

Kaefferkopt in 2006

101
Q

Altenberg de Bergheim and Kaefferkopt are known for:

A

Being grand crus allowed to use blends

102
Q

Zotzenberg is known for:

A

Using Sylvaner in their grand cru wines

103
Q

What is the general minimum alcohol for Alsace grande cru muscat?

A

11%

104
Q

The term VT was authorized for use by Alsatian producers in:

A

1984

105
Q

Which grand crus of Alsace can produce blends?

A

Altenberg de Bergheim and Kaefferkupt

106
Q

Sylvaner may be bottled as a single varietal in which grand cru of Alsace?

A

Zotzenberg

107
Q

Of the 4 noble grapes of Alsace, which typically have less acidity?

A

Muscat and Gewürztraminer

108
Q

Gewürztraminer is genetically linked to which grape of Jura?

A

Savagnin

109
Q

Most northerly grand cru of Alsace

A

Steinklotz

110
Q

Most southerly grand cru in Alsace

A

Kaefferkopt

111
Q

What 5 communes can bottle Klevener de Heilgenstein?

A

Heilgenstein; Bourgheim; Gertwiller; Goxwiller; Obernai

112
Q

When was Alsace Grand Cru AOP first proposed? What was the first promoted vineyard?

A

1975- Schlossberg

113
Q

What is the harvest method required for Alsace Grand Cru?

A

hand harvesting

114
Q

What is the minimum abv required for Riesling and Muscat?

A

11%

115
Q

What is the minimum abv required for Pinot Gris and Gewurz?

A

12.5%

116
Q

When were the designations VT and SGN created?

A

1984

117
Q

What are the red only subzones of Alsace?

A

Ottrott, Rodern, Saint Hippolyte

118
Q

What subzone can make red and whites in Alsace?

A

Cote de Rouffach

119
Q

What is the minimum potential alcohol for non-varietally labeled whites?

A

9.5%

120
Q

What is the minimum potential alcohol for Pinot Blanc, Pinot, Riesling, and Auxerrios?

A

10% (10.5% if labeled with subzone or lieu-dit)

121
Q

What is the minimum potential alcohol for Chasseslas, Muscat Ottonel, Muscat, and Sylvaner?

A

9.5% (10.5% if labeled with subzone or lieu-dit)

122
Q

VT and SGN requirements:

A

-Cannot be chapitalized; -Must be vintage dated; -VT must be late harvested and may be affected by bot; -SGN wines must be affected by bot and harvested in tries; -VT and SGN cannot be released until June 1 of the year following harvest

123
Q

All Alsatian wines must be bottled in…

A

Vin du Rhin/ Flute d’Alsace bottle

124
Q

Where is Jura located?

A

Eastern France (south of Alsace, east of burgundy) on the Swiss border.

125
Q

Soils of Jura

A

Jurassic limestone & marl with a substantial amount of clay at the lowest sites

126
Q

Jura climate

A

Continental with harshly cold winters

127
Q

Which appellation of Jura is white only?

A

L’Etoile. Using Chardonnay, poulsard and savagnin. Typically bottled late in an oxidative style

128
Q

How long is chateau Chalon kept in barrel after fermentation?

A

Until December 15 of the 6th year following harvest

129
Q

What is a ‘voille’

A

A film-forming yeast that covers the wines surface, similar to the flor of sherry

130
Q

Clavelin

A

The required bottle for a chateau Chalon wine. It’s a squat bottle that holds 62 cl (about 20 ounces)

131
Q

Elevage of vin de Paille from Jura.

A

Min 3 years including 18 months in neutral wood barrels

132
Q

What is the vin de liqueur appellation of Jura?

A

Macvin du Jura

133
Q

Pupullin is a subzone of which Jura region?

A

Arbois

134
Q

Climate of Savoie

A

Continental, moderated by lake Bourget and lake Geneva

135
Q

Red grapes of vin de Savoie AOP

A

Gamay, mondeuse, Pinot noir

136
Q

White grapes of vin de Savoie AOP

A

Jacquere (most common), but altesse, roussanne, and Chardonnay produce higher quality wines

137
Q

Seyssel AOP (Savoie)

A

North of Lake Bourget. Dry, off-dry, and mousseux wines. Still wines = 100% altesse. Sparkling wines = min 10% altesse + molette & chasselas

138
Q

Bugey AOP (Savoie)

A

Upgraded in may 2009. Red, rosé, and white wines. Sparkling wines labeled as Bugey-Cerdon

139
Q

4 communes of Roussette de Savoie AOP

A

Frangy, Marestel, Monterminod, Monthoux

140
Q

2 communes of Rousette de Bugey AOP

A

Montagnieu & Virieu Le Grand

141
Q

Most producers of Grand Crus of Alsace must declare their intent to make a grand cru wine by when?

A

March 1st the year of harvest

142
Q

What are the two permitted training methods for Alsace Grand Cru wines?

A

Single and Double Guyot

143
Q

Name 2 Grand Crus of the Bas Rhin

A

Steinklotz

Zotzenberg

144
Q

Name 5 Grand Crus of the Haut Rhin

A
Altenberg de Bergheim
Brand
Furstentum
Geisberg
Hengst
Kaefferkopf
Kanzlerberg
Kessler
Mambourg
Osterberg
Rangen
Rosacker
Saering
Schlossberg
Sommerberg
145
Q

What are the two clos vineyards of Rangen?

A

Clos de Theobald- Schoffit

Clos St Urbain- Zind-Humbrecht

146
Q

What is the clos vineyard of Rosacker?

A

Clos Ste Hune- Trimbach

147
Q

What are the blending proportions for Altenberg de Bergheim?

A

50-70% Riesling
10-25% Pinot Gris
10-25% Gewurztraminer
Max 10% Chasselas + Muscat + Pinot Noir + Pinot Blanc

148
Q

What are the blending proportions for Kaerfferkopf?

A

60-80% Gewurztraminer
10-40% Riesling
max 30% Pinot Gris
max 10% Muscat

149
Q

Name two Grand Crus of Alsace that do not allow for varietally labeled Muscat.

A

Zotzenberg

Kaefferkopf