Alsace In 1962, Alsace achieved AOC status. Alsace, France s smallest region, is divided into two départements, Haut-Rhin and Bas-Rhin. Generally the best wines originate in the Haut-Rhin, and over two-thirds of Alsace s Grand Cru vineyards are located in the département. Geographically, Alsace is separated from the remainder of France by the Vosges Mountains in the west. The mountains provide a rain shadow effect; Alsace has one of France s driest and sunniest climates.
The vineyards of Alsace are planted along the lower slopes of the Vosges, and the aspect and location of each vineyard is important. The better vineyards have southern, southeastern, or eastern exposures to maximize sunlight. Alsace vines typically ripen with greater regularity than those in the Loire or northern Burgundy, due to the number of sunlight hours in the summertime. Soils Alsace vineyards have many soil types: granite, limestone, schist, clay, gravel, chalk, loess, and the local pink sandstone grés de Vosges can be found throughout the region. Although the soil structure varies greatly from village to village, the steeper mountain slopes are generally composed of schist, granite and volcanic sediment. The lower slopes sit on a limestone base, and the plain at the base of the mountains consists of richer alluvial clay and gravel soils. Soil type is critical in consideration of the appropriate grape variety. In Alsace, white grapes are paramount, and 90% of AOC wine is white. In 2008, this figure represents 18% of France s total AOC still white wine production. Grapes The four noble grapes of Alsace Riesling, Pinot Gris, Muscat, and Gewurztraminer occupy the premier sites and are, with minor exceptions, the only grapes planted in the region s grand cru vineyards. The region s main appellation, Vin d Alsace AOC allows the four noble grapes, + Pinot Blanc (Klevner), Chasselas (Gutedel), Sylvaner, and Pinot Noir to be bottled varietally. Alsace wines generally state the varietal on the label. All varietally labeled Alsace AOC wines must contain 100% of the stated grape. Auxerrois is accorded the title of Pinot on the label. Riesling, is the most planted grape, Pinot Blanc and Auxerrois represent the largest volume of appellation production.. Alsace Rieslings are characteristically dry, more powerful, and higher in alcohol than German Rieslings. Pinot Gris, achieves its fullest, richest expression, with spicy qualities and a frame of good acidity. Muscat shows fragrant floral and grapy notes and Gewurztraminer tends towards Lychee, sweet spices, rose petals and tropical fruit. Both are low in acidity, but Gewurztraminer is higher in alcohol and more likely to be off-dry. New oak is usually not a factor in the vinification of these varieties, although some producers use large neutral casks for fermentation and aging. Gewurztraminer is a pink variant of the grape Traminer,. Another pink variant of Traminer known as Savagnin in the Jura, is planted around the commune of Heiligenstein in the Bas-Rhin; the grape known locally as Klevener. Savagnin Rosé, or Klevener de Heiligenstein, is less aromatic than Gewurztraminer but higher in acidity. 5 communes may bottle this wine varietally under the existing Alsace AOC; however, Savagnin Rosé vineyards may not be replanted, and the designation is due to expire in 2021. If no grape variety is listed on the label, an Alsace wine may be a blend. The term Edelzwicker, or noble mixture, usually indicates an inexpensive blended wine. Alsace AOC wines labeled Edelzwicker do not need to be vintage-dated, nor are they even legally obliged to contain more than one grape, and do not need to indicate any percentages or grapes on the label Gentil s a superior designation for blends, requiring a minimum of 50% noble grapes. Any other Alsace AOC grape may compose the remainder, and the base wines must be vinified separately.
Varietal Label Varietals Permitted AOC Alsace Alsace Grand Cru VT & SGN Riesling Gewurztraminer Muscat Muscat blanc a petit grains Muscat rosé a petit grains Muscat Ottonel Pinot Gris Comments Not permittted for Grand Cru on Zotzenberg Chasselas (Gutedel) Chasselas Klevener Savagnin Rosé Only permitted in commune of Heiligenstein Pinot noir For red & Rosé wines Sylvaner Varietal pure or blended with Gewurztraminer, Pinot gris, Riesling is permiited in the GC Zotzenberg Not varietally labelled Pinot blanc Must be 100% Pinot blanc Auxerrois Auxerrois blanc Often confused with Pinot blanc but is a separate varietal Labels outside AC Regulations Gentil Varietals permitted Any varietal permitted for AC Alsace Comments An unregulated designation for blends. Consensus is ths Gentil should have a min of 50% of the four noble varietals The remainder from Sylvaner, Chasselas &/or Pinot blanc May be thought of as a high end Edelzwicker Other varietals Chardonnay Comments Permitted for AC Crémant d Alsace but not in AC Alsace Still wines from Chardonnay can only be sold as Vin de France
Classic Alsace Blends A small amount of blended wines are produced made from noble varietals (not to be confused with Edelzwicker - various wines blended together) These wines are sourced from the same vineyard and vinified together. eg. Grand vin de Schonenberg, Clos du Zahnacker, Clos du Schlossberg, Côtes du Ribeauvillé Alsace Grand Cru was first proposed in 1975, but the first grand cru vineyards did not appear until 1983. 25 vineyards were designated as grand crus in 1983 and 25 more were declared in 1985. A 51st grand cru Kaefferkopf was added in 2006. Grand Cru AOC wines are single varietal wines from the four noble Alsatian grapes, with several notable exceptions. The grand crus Altenberg de Bergheim and Kaefferkopf may blend according to certain proscribed proportions. In addition, Zotzenberg is a historical site for Sylvaner, and as such the grape is permitted in Grand Cru Altenberg de Bergheim Goldert Moenchberg Sonnenglaz Altenberg de Bergheim Hatschbourg Muenchberg Speigel Altenberg de Wolxheim Hengst Ollwiller Sporen Brand Kaefferkopf Osterberg Steinert Bruderthal Kanzlerberg Pfersigberg Steingruber Eichberg Kastelberg Pfingstberg Steinklotz Engleberg Kessler Praelatenberg Vorbourg Florimont Kirchberg de Barr Rangen Wiebelsberg Frankstein Kirchberg de Ribeauvillé Rosacker Wineck- Schlossberg Froehn Kitterlé Saering Winzenberg Furstentum Mambourg Schlossberg Zinnkoepflé Geisberg Mandelberg Schoenenberg Zotzenberg Gloeckelberg Marckrain Sommerberg 51
Altenberg de Bergheim Kaefferkopf Zotzenberg 50-70% Riesling, 10-25% Pinot gris, 10-25% Gewürztraminer Up to 10% total of Muscat Ottonel, Muscat blanc à petits grains, Muscat rosé à petits grain 60-80% Gewürztraminer, 10-40% Riesling, 0-30% Pinot gris Up to 10% total of Pinot blanc, Pinot noir, Muscat Ottonel, Muscat blanc à petits grains, Muscat rosé à petits grains, Chasselas Gewurztraminer Riesling Pinot Gris Sylvaner Hand-harvesting is compulsory for all grand cru wines. Minimum sugar levels at harvest are higher than those for Alsace AOC, and yields are more restricted. The minimum alcohol required is 11% for Riesling and Muscat and 12.5% for Pinot Gris and Gewurztraminer, although certain vineyards require higher levels. In 1984, shortly after the first 25 grand crus were elevated, a new decree created two new designations for late-harvest wines: Vendanges Tardives and Sélections de Grains Nobles. These two terms imply sweetness and may be printed on either Alsace AOC or Alsace Grand Cru AOC labels, provided the wines contain a single, noble varietal and pass a blind tasting panel. Quality VT wines usually originate from vines in a state of passerillage. VT and SGN wines are not obligated to be sweet; in practice SGN wines are always dessert-like but VT wines may vary in residual sugar, and can be quite dry. Grapes for both wines must be hand-harvested at specific, minimum sugar levels: Vendanges Tardives = min 235 grams per litre for Muscat and Riesling, 257 grams per litre for Pinot Gris and Gewurztraminer. Sélection de Grains Nobles = min 276 grams per litre for Muscat and Riesling 306 grams per litre for Pinot Gris and Gewurztraminer. At 306 grams per litre, these wines are amongst the highest minimum must weights in France. Pinot Noir is the only red varietal permitted for Alsace AOC wines. Light red and rosé wines are the result, although the wines can achieve depth in warmer vintages. Pinot Noir may contribute to the Cremant d Alsace blend, although Pinot Blanc is the general base for these sparkling wines. Crémant d Alsace is the only appellation in the region to allow Chardonnay. Riesling, Pinot Gris and Auxerrois are also authorized. Sparkling wine production has developed commanding nearly a quarter-share of the appellation s output.
Cotes de Toul AOC, light red wines are produced from Pinot Noir and white wines contain Auxerrois and Aubin. Rosé wines, made in a pale vin gris style, include a high proportion of Gamay and Pinot Noir. Moselle VDQS/AOC produces red, white, and rosé wines from Alsace grapes,+ Gamay, and Pinot Meunier.