Ep. 968 Map 13 Alsace | Jumbo Shrimp Maps

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This episode, we'll be looking at El SAS. Close out our series of map focuses on France. We'll be looking at Elsace, an area right up in the north eastern corner of France on the border with Germany that is famous for aromatic white wines made from a selection of what we call noble grape varieties. That's gonna be our focus, but we'll also talk about some of the other varieties here. First off, I want to talk about labeling because it's very different here to the labeling system we've seen in France so far because we have a generic regional Afolacian of Alsac alastion Controlet. So this is the vast majority of wines produced most are single variety and interestingly, variety labeled something that's very unusual in France. You get the occasional blends but it's rare. And some villages can add their names to the labels. Now from this AlSAS Aplashon Control a, we go immediately to the next level, which is Grand Crew. So there's no village level here, no communes, no premier crew. We go immediately to this top level of Alsas Grom crew. And these are fifty or so vineyards that are given the designation of Grand Crew, the wines must be a single noble variety. So riesling gewirtz, Jamina, pinot gris, or muscat. And the label must have the vineyard name on it, the vintage, and the grape variety. Now in addition to this, we have two other key labeling terms. The first of which is von Donch tardive or v t. This is a labeling term that designates a late harvest But what makes it specific in our SaaS is it is a legal naming term. Therefore, it is actually legally regulated by the regional body, which means that the regional body select the date after which it's possible to label your wines Von Launch Tardive. So if you harvest your grapes after that date, you are allowed to use Vondange Tardive on your label. Provided that it is made from one of the four noble grape varieties and that it meets the minimum sugar ripeness requirements. Often, you will find as well here that grapes will have undergone pastillarage, so this drying of the grapes slightly. Finally, we have selection, the grand nobel, which must have a higher level of sugar ripeness than Vonage tardive. Therefore, they will have been picked later or undergone longer drying. They are also wines that usually have some degree of noble rot. Again, focused around these four noble varieties, and these wines are not produced every year. They're only produced in very small quantities in the select best years. So as you can tell already from these labeling terms, we have a huge potential here for picking during this extra ripeness period. Why is this? This is because of the particular climate conditions within the AlSaaS. So it's a cool to moderate continental climate, but it's actually relatively warm and dry in comparison to other areas because of the rain shadow provided by the Voes mountains. So the Vuge mountains shadow the vineyards from wind and rain. The wind and rain coming across France hit the mountains and can travel no further. And the vines are planted on the other side of this rain shadow. Provided with sunny summers, long dry autumns, and great amounts of sunshine. It's so dry here that often in the driest years drought is an issue in the vineyards. Now as a result of this, we have some of the longest growing seasons in Europe. And this allows for aromatic grape varieties such as riesling, Gewirtz, Jameena, you know, gree, a muscat, to be harvested at different times to produce different types of wines. Italian wine podcast, part of the Mamma jumbo shrimp family. The other things to think about in terms of having these mountains is position on the slopes. So the best vineyards are on the mid slopes gaining great aspect. So east to southeast aspect, gaining extra sunshine, extra ripeness. They're trained low to benefit from radiated heat and are harvested by hand for extra selection, allowing these different picking times through the vineyard in different selections. These will be the Alsaas Grand Crew wines, one, Donch tardive, selection of Grand Nobel. On the plains, however, so on these flatter areas, the vines are trained much higher up to avoid rot, and grapes are often used for the Apelacian wines, for the Alsas, Apelacian, and also sometimes for creme on Delasas. The sparkling wines here. So let's dive in a little bit to the grape varieties and think about styles. Starting with these four noble varieties of riesling, gewvertz demeanor, pinot gris, and Muscat, of which there are actually two types planted in the El SaaS. So riesling is our number one planted grape variety here producing medium to full bodied dry wines with often medium alcohol and high acidity. They have citrus and stone fruit, sometimes steely character. Many wines are left with residual sugar to balance the high acidity. They tend to be a little bit less floral than German rieslings, a little bit more stony or steely. Gavirtz demeanor produces pungent golden wines often with a slight tinge of pink. They are full bodied oily with low to medium acidity and quite often high alcohol with lots of powerful aromatic spicy notes. Pinot gree here tends to be rich and full bodied, again, with high alcohol. Lots of acidity, but they tend to be less aromatic than the covered stromina and reasoning wines. Fresh and dried fruits in a honey character. Finally, the Muscat wines, we have two types here. The most prestigious of which is Muscat Blanc, a pity gram, which is intensely aromatic with lots of orange blossom rose, grape, Light to medium body low to medium acidity. The problem is that it's prone to poor fruit set and rot. Muscat ottonell, on the other hand, is more widely planted because it's easier to ripen, but does tend to be less aromatic. Now all four of these grape varieties we've been talking about are used to produce a broad range of wines from alsace, Apolacian wines, so a little bit easier, simpler, fruity aromatic, all the way up to the select underground Nobel, hand harvested noble rock wines. Often you find dry wines here with great suitability for aging. The wines that are planted on the plains that are used either for sass, Apolasion, or even table wines, a pinot blanc, or soa, and Sylvana producing much more neutral wines with no suitability for aging, lovely light refreshing acidity. Now before we leave the Alsas and close out our French series of the jumbo shrimp wine study maps podcast, we will talk about the black grapes of the Alsas because it is possible to grow pinot noir here. It's the only black grape variety permitted, but it is dry here and you have a long growing season. So it is with great potential and tanning ripeness. Tends to be light and fruity, though, less weight and concentration. Than the burgundy wines of pinot noir, obviously because we're in this cooler climate, so lighter and fresher. Really, one of the key things to be focusing on in the Al SaaS is this influence of the Voes mountains and how that can affect ripening and this ability to pick at different times to produce these different styles of wine from Apelacian, AlsAS AOC wines, to Alsas Gorn Crew, to Vonage Tardive, to selection on the Grand Nobel. Thanks for listening to this episode of Italian wine podcast brought to you by Italian wine Academy, offering WSET levels one, two, and three in English. Visit our website at Italianwine Academy dot org for more information and sign up today to start your personal adventure in Global Wine Education right here in the heart of Verona. Remember to subscribe and like if Italian wine podcast and catch us on SoundCloud, Spotify, and wherever you get your pods. You can also find our entire back catalog of episodes at Italianwind podcast dot com. Changinging. Hi, guys. I'm Joy Living Den, and I am the producer of the Italian wine podcast. Thank you for listening. We are the only wine podcast that has been doing a daily show since the pandemic began. This is a labor of love and we are committed to bringing you free content every day. Of course, this takes time and effort not to mention the cost of equipment, production, and editing. We would be great for your donations, suggestions, requests, and ideas. For more information on how to get in touch, go to Italian wine podcast dot com.