107. Alsace - Climate, Grapes and Appellation Structure for WSET Level 2 and Level 3

Episode 107: Alsace - Climate, Grapes and Appellation Structure for WSET Level 2 and Level 3

Host: Joanne Close Episode Length: 16 minutes 27 seconds Release Date: April 16, 2025

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Episode Description

This week Joanne picks up where Episode 106 left off and dives deep into the grapes, climate, and appellation structure of Alsace. If you have ever wondered why this narrow strip of land on the French-German border produces such distinctive wines, this episode answers that question in full.

The Vosges Mountains turn out to be the key to everything. Joanne explains the rain shadow effect in detail, walking through how Atlantic moisture gets dumped on the western slopes while the vineyards on the eastern foothills enjoy some of the driest and sunniest growing conditions in all of France. That combination of continental climate and natural shelter is what makes Alsace capable of producing wines of genuine depth and complexity from aromatic white varieties.

Joanne also makes the case, clearly and without hesitation, that the white wines of Alsace belong in the conversation about the greatest wines in the world. If you are a WSET Level 2 or Level 3 student this episode covers material that is directly relevant to your exam, and Joanne breaks it down in a way that makes it genuinely stick.

What You'll Learn in This Episode The Rain Shadow Effect and Why It Matters

• How Atlantic winds carry moisture from the west and drop it on the western side of the Vosges Mountains
• Why the eastern foothills receive only around 500mm of rainfall annually compared to up to 2,000mm on the western side
• Why this dry, sunny microclimate is what makes Alsace wines possible at this northern latitude

The Grape Varieties of Alsace

• Riesling - the dominant grape, medium to full body, typically dry, high acidity, citrus and stone fruit with a stony mineral character
• Gewurztraminer - pungent, aromatic, spicy nose with lychee, rose, and sweet baking spices, full bodied with rich oily texture and high alcohol
• Pinot Gris - rich, full bodied, high alcohol, pronounced flavour intensity with fresh and dried fruit and a honeyed character
• Muscat - light to medium bodied, orange blossom, rose, and fresh grape aromas, and why Muscat Ottonel is more widely planted than Muscat Blanc a Petits Grains despite being less aromatic
• Pinot Blanc - planted on the plains and the key grape for Cremant d'Alsace
• Pinot Noir - the only red grape, less than 10% of total plantings

The Appellation System

• Alsace AOC as the regional appellation covering the majority of production
• Why grape varieties are labelled on Alsace wines and the 100% rule that applies
• Blended wines - Edelzwicker, Gentil, and producer-labelled blends
• Alsace Grand Cru AOC - the 51 grand cru sites, the rules, and the controversy over boundaries
• Vendanges Tardives - late harvest, minimum sugar ripeness, passerillage, and how it compares to German Spatlese and Auslese
• Selection de Grains Nobles - the sweetest category, noble rot, and its German equivalent

Winemaking in Alsace

• Why aromatic winemaking means oxygen is the enemy at every step
• The use of stainless steel and inert vessels to preserve primary aromatics
• Why MLF and extended lees ageing are avoided
• The role of large old oak barrels - why they impart no flavour but allow tiny amounts of oxygen to round out the texture
• The 2021 sweetness labelling law and why implementation has been uneven

Episode Highlights and Quotes

"If you give me that MW essay question about whether white wine can be as great as red wine, I am going to focus a lot on Alsace."

"Gewurztraminer jumps out of the glass at you in a blind tasting. Your textbook uses the word pungent, which I find hilarious."

"These large old oak barrels, some of them are a hundred plus years old. Any oak flavour is no longer being imparted into the wine. The tartrates have crystallised on the inside of the barrel."

Alsace Quick Reference Guide The Four Noble Grape Varieties

Riesling - medium to full body, dry, high acidity, citrus, stone fruit, mineral Gewurztraminer - full body, low to medium acidity, lychee, rose, sweet spice, high alcohol Pinot Gris - full body, high alcohol, honeyed, fresh and dried fruit Muscat - light to medium body, orange blossom, rose, fresh grape

Classification Terms

Alsace AOC - regional appellation, majority of production Alsace Grand Cru AOC - 51 individual vineyards, four noble grapes only Vendanges Tardives - late harvest, minimum sugar ripeness, dry to medium sweet Selection de Grains Nobles - noble rot required, always sweet

Sweetness Labelling Scale (introduced 2021)

sec - dry demi-sec - off dry moelleux - medium sweet doux - sweet

Resources Mentioned

• Episode 106: The History of Alsace
• Colmar - the city used as a reference point for eastern side rainfall figures
• Cremant d'Alsace - Alsace sparkling wine
• Edelzwicker and Gentil - blended wine categories

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About Wine Educate

Wine Educate is a WSET Approved Programme Provider offering internationally recognized wine certification courses. Through the podcast, Joanne Close makes wine education accessible to everyone, breaking down complex topics into practical, easy-to-understand lessons. Whether you are studying for your WSET certification or simply want to learn more about wine, you will find the guidance and knowledge you need to enjoy wine with confidence.

Episode 107 of the Wine Educate Podcast | Hosted by Joanne Close | © 2025 Wine Educate