Level 3 · Wine & Spirits Exam Prep
France: Alsace
Alsace's aromatic white wines — Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris, and Muscat.
Topics covered
- Alsace AOC
- Grand Cru vineyards
- Vendange Tardive
- Sélection de Grains Nobles
Level 3 Study Guide
Germany — The Prädikat System
Quick Revision
- Vosges mountains = dry, sunny climate
- Alsace style: typically DRY or off-dry
- Noble 4: Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris, Muscat
- 51 Grand Cru vineyards
- VT = late harvest; SGN = botrytised berries
- Wines sold by grape variety on label (unlike most of France)
Key Facts for the Exam
- Protected by the Vosges mountains: one of France's driest and sunniest wine regions — favours full ripeness
- Four noble varieties: Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris, Muscat — allowed for Grand Cru production
- Alsace wines are typically DRY or off-dry despite the Germanic grape varieties
- Vendange Tardive (VT): late harvest, naturally sweet styles from noble varieties
- Sélection de Grains Nobles (SGN): individual botrytised berries — richest, rarest sweet wines
- Alsace Grand Cru: 51 vineyards; only four noble varieties permitted; mineral-driven, complex
Level 3 Exam Tips
- 1.The four noble varieties for Grand Cru: Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris, Muscat — no others.
- 2.Alsace is mostly DRY despite being geographically Germanic. Sweetness must be specified on label.
- 3.VT (late harvest) vs SGN (botrytised berries) — two sweet wine categories unique to Alsace.
- 4.The Vosges mountains = rain shadow = dry, sunny climate = full aromatic ripeness in white grapes.
Common Exam Mistakes
- ✗Assuming all Alsace Riesling is sweet — Alsace Riesling is typically dry or off-dry
- ✗Thinking Pinot Gris is a "noble" variety everywhere — it is only in the context of Alsace Grand Cru
- ✗Confusing Vendange Tardive (late harvest, may or may not be botrytised) with SGN (always botrytised)
Related Topics
Frequently Asked Questions
- Why does Alsace label wines by grape variety when the rest of France doesn't?
- Alsace has a historically Germanic tradition of labelling wine by grape variety (as Germany does with Riesling, Gewurztraminer, etc.). The region changed hands between France and Germany multiple times and retained this consumer-friendly varietal labelling. It is one of the few French regions where the grape variety is prominently shown on the label rather than the appellation alone.