Right from the start of our harvest on 1 october the grapes were very healthy and ripe, and so 20 was a classic alsace vintage of intense, pure, well balanced wines. Official website for tourism on the alsace wine route. Ask a young person about the wines of alsace, and chances are you will be met with a blank stare. The range of wines includes those fullbodied enough to stand up to meats and hearty meals. Alsace is a region which is as german as it is french, yet never dilutes the culture of one to satisfy the culture of the other. All wines are very individual and form a collection of small masterpieces. Alsace is best known for making rich, dry white wines, though a few reds from pinot noir are made as well.
An alsatian at the table from star chefs, this is a delightful essay on the pairing of food with the wines of alsace. In the medieval alsatian villages with their narrow, cobblestone alleys you will meet dedicated producers on terroirs tended by their forefathers since generations. This pretty enclave of fairytale villages in the lee of the forested vosges mountains offers a wide range of varietally labelled wines, of which the aromatic whites are still, despite global warming, much more successful than the light reds. Both of these grape varieties are more commonly associated with german wines, and serve as a reminder of alsace s history. The alsace sparkling wine should be served iced, between 5 and 7 degrees, in flutes. Alsace is a famous french region, tucked away in the northeastern part of france, right on the border to germany. Exceptions to the rule are wines labeled gentil or edelzwicker.
In bafoussam cameroon coimbatore this week philippe barrillon mulhouse alsace asus n550jk touch screen dynamica d n brouwer brothers eileen r angelo le rhine falls zurich address alain chamfort le temps qui court comme marie louise elisabeth orleans vola armaturen reinigen grimm welsh pony kaufen sachsenanhalt bc ministry of education anti. In contrast to other parts of france where wines take their name from their regions of production, alsace wines are helpfully labelled by grape variety and, with. The wines of alsace nestled between the vosges mountains and the rhine river, alsace is unique in france. The most rare and most expensive are the late harvest wines. The wines are usually varietal wines labeled as such, though field blends exist as well. It can be very refreshing and can age for a few years. Sep 29, 2014 nestled between the vosges mountains and the rhine river, alsace is a picturesque landscape of quilted vineyards and quaint medieval villages. Jan 11, 2018 alsace is the only french wine region to grow significant quantities of riesling and gewurztraminer. Alsace, lorraine, champagneardenne and franchecomte. A mustsee on the alsace wine route, the wine cellars in the northern section of the wine route are open to your curiosity. This beautiful region, with picturesque villages that make grimms fairy tales.
Learn more about alsace pinot blanc, riesling, pinot gris, gewurztraminer, cremant d alsace, and other varietals. As for the great vintages, fine wines, late harvests and selection of noble grains, it is recommended to let them. Central to this landscape of rolling hills and charming timber villages is the renowned alsace wine route route des vins dalsace, a 106 mile journey winding through more than 100 wine villages, 19 of which host 26 michelinstarred restaurants. The intelligent guides to wines and top vineyards focus on classic wineproducing regions. This is the wines of alsace by guildsomm on vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them. Following the french revolution, alsace was divided into two provinces. No single estate has meant more to alsace than hugel and the legendary jean hugel. The wines of the aoc alsace and alsace grands crus should be served cool but not icy at an ideal temperature of 8 to 10 degrees, in tulip glasses or fine longstemmed glasses. Tom stevensons monumental effort covers almost every aspect related to teh wines of the region, with the exceptions of travel tips. Because of its germanic influence, it is the only appellation. Improved understanding of the fermentation and stabilisation processes, improved technology and a willingness to make investments have increased the quality of both the average standard and the best wines.
Alsatian wines strike a balance of dry and sweet the new. The first records in alsace of lucien albrecht date back even further to the 15th century. Alsace wine or alsatian wine is produced in the alsace region in france and is primarily white wine. These are the results of the region having switched back and forth between german and french sovereignty in recent centuries and are evident not only in alsatian architecture and culture, but also in the wines. Alsatian cremants and dessert wines can be excellent as well. The 1990s has seen tremendous progress in the cellar. A short film of the beautiful alsace wine region in eastern france. Sheltered by the vosges mountains to the west and hard against the german border to the east, lie some of frances best vineyards and best winemakers. In the past, alsace wine was invariably drier than german wine. Alsace is a complete mosaic of terroirs, each yielding their own expression of noble grapes such as pinot blanc, riesling, pinot gris and gewurztraminer. Alsace has been producing wine since roman times even shakespeare was in love with them but the wines of this region are not as well. Alsaces wines are produced under three key appellations. The secret behind alsace wines also known as alsatian wines.
Whatever is listed on the label is whats in the bottle. Alsace wine region history and culture the alsace wine regions history and culture are very interesting. A blog in french dedicated to the northeast of france. Sylvaner, pinot blanc, riesling, muscat, pinot gris, gewurztraminer and pinot noir. It is a perfect blend, which can be found everywhere. Some 92 per cent of alsace and alsace grand cru wines are dry, aromatic whites. The design is topnotch, the upper part contains labels and comments on wines from producers still active. They are still sold in the traditional tall rhine wine bottle the flute dalsace and must be bottled in the region of production. The range wines is divided into classic, tradition and jubilee, the latter being from grand cru terroirs. In the 1600s, alsace found itself caught between opposing sides in the thirty years war, and residents asked france for protection. In alsace you will meet unmatched serenity, beauty, hospitality and, not the least, some of the worlds best white wines.
The alsace wine route extends for 105 miles from marlenheim in the north near strasbourg to thann in the south, almost at the swiss border. Alsace is known mostly for its white wines, primarily topnotch, mostly dry riesling, gewurztraminer, and pinot gris, but also very lovely and fresh muscat, sylvaner, and pinot blanc. Almost all alsace wine is produced under one of the regions three aoc designationsalsace, alsace grand cru and cremant dalsace. The intelligent guides to wines and top vineyards focus on classic wine producing regions. Mar 25, 2019 a guide to alsace varietals from the official us site of alsace wines, with descriptions of appearance, aroma, taste, and pairing suggestions. The best wines of alsace can be described as aromatic and honeyed, even when completely dry. Alsace wine region history and culture howstuffworks. Heres everything you need to know to become an expert. It twists through a rolling landscape of vineyards stretched along the foothills of the vosges mountains, from one quaint and charming village to. By the end of the century, the region was an autonomous protectorate of france source. The wines of alsace are some of the most food friendly and approachable wines around.
Alsace, in the far northeastern corner of france, stands out from other french wine regions thanks to its strong francogermanic influences. Alsace is similar to california in that wines are named after the grape type predominantly used in vinification, rather than the locale where the grapes were harvested, as is the usual french. Although the tasting room is, deliberately, small the. The next tier of wines, the reserves, can be from a specific, wellknown vineyard or a grand cru vineyard but doesnt necessarily have to be. Alsace is an ideal place to mix travel with wine tasting. The wines of alsace find out more explore book your trip books features despite the long, tall bottles and germanic names, alsatian wines are unmistakably french in their ability to complement the regions traditional cuisine.
A romantic dinner for two, an impromptu gettogether with friends, a family meal to planthe sheer diversity of alsace wines makes them the perfect accompaniment to mark all manner of occasions. The other thing to know about alsace is that by and large, the wines are 100 percent variety wines. Alsace is one of the great, underappreciated treasures of the wine world. The vosges mountains protect and provide alsace with a backdrop for some of frances most stunning scenery. Learn the most important facts about alsace including. The regions noble varieties, the only ones permitted within alsaces 51 grands crus vineyards, are riesling, gewurztraminer, muscat, and pinot gris. Cremant dalsace is the regions dry sparkling white wine, made like champagne. Alsace s appellations are unique in france because the regions wines are labelled according to grape variety, as opposed to the vineyard. The wines of alsace beautifully accompany many dishes, according to the different grape varieties. Alsace wines should be consumed rather young, from 6 months to 5 years after harvesting. A guide to alsace varietals from the official us site of alsace wines, with descriptions of appearance, aroma, taste, and pairing suggestions. This 600 page book profiles 300 producers, 118 wine villages, 51 grands crus, 84 lieuxdits, 28 clos and 4 wineproducing chateaux of alsace. As one of frances top white wine regions, alsace produces terroirdriven wines with pure fruit expression.
The alsace wines come from seven main grape varieties. The photographs provide a great documentation of alsace in the late 1970s, a little less wealthy, a bit more primitive but utterly charming. His list was full of the top names of bordeaux and burgundy, but the wines of alsace were his favored selections with the cuisine. Alsace lies on the border between france and germany and is most famously known for its elegant, dry riesling wines, offdry pinot gris and. Alsace wine region wines, villages and terroirs of alsace. The vintage chart stretches from 1992 back to 585 in alsace, french or german. Wine brotherhoods are the guardians of alsace winemaking tradition and celebrate the regions wines both in france and abroad. Alsace wines are considered to be among the very best whites france can offer, with intense, freshgrape aromas and a distinctively fruity, unoaked character. Picturesque timber villages nestled into rolling hillside vineyards make alsace one of frances most stunning regions. Alsace is your guide to wine touring in alsace by foot, by bike and by car. No visit to france would be complete without a visit to alsace. Indeed at some periods of history it was a part of germany and the. The picturesque region has spent much of its history being fought over by france and what is today germany, having exchanged hands between the two.
An important influence in the history of alsace wine has been the repeated changes of nationality of the alsace region, which has passed from france to germany and vice versa several times throughout history. Alsace wine is one of the many wine varieties grown in the alsace region of france which is noted for its sweet and dry wines. Guide to the wines, villages and terroirs of alsace. A 2000 vintage alsace wine labelled tokay pinot gris. They are still sold in the traditional tall rhine wine bottle the flute d alsace and must be bottled in the region of production. The northern section of the alsace wine route alsace tourism. Uneven weather at the very end of the harvest prevented any significant production of late harvest wines. What should you know about alsace wine as you explore all the wine regions of france. Alsace offers charming wines of great quality and unmatched diversity. May 11, 2015 alsace is a famous french region, tucked away in the northeastern part of france, right on the border to germany. Alsace and alsace grand cru for still white wines both sweet and dry, and.
Visit howstuffworks to learn about the alsace wine regions history and culture. Aug 17, 2017 alsatian wines strike a balance of dry and sweet. High in the northeast corner of france sits alsace. The vineyard or village is not mentioned unless the wine is a grand cru. Learn more about alsace pinot blanc, riesling, pinot gris, gewurztraminer, cremant dalsace, and other varietals. Alsaces appellations are unique in france because the regions wines are labelled according to grape variety, as opposed to the vineyard. Balanced and refreshing, the wines from alsace not only complement but also enhance an enormous array of cuisinesfrom highly spiced and complex asian and latin dishes to simple, earthy american and french fare.
It was once notably light but in an increasingly warm climate its colour is darkening and it is taking on more weight. So rarely does a region encapsulate so perfectly the best qualities of its neighbours. Tourism on the alsace wine route official website holiday ideas. The ultimate guide to alsace wine expertise explore discovery. Alsace is an appellation created in 1962,although there has been viticulture here since at least the medieval period,producing mainly white wines though this one is a red in the east of france by the german border. Sheltered by the vosges mountains to the west and hard against the german border to the east, lie some of frances best vineyards and best wine makers. Today, etienne loew has not a single wine that can be considered a standard product. The muscat from the green marles is one of the best in alsace, and perfect to vegetable based dishes. Two names who wont be there, but who are making waves in natural wine, or vin nature as i prefer to call it in english, are domaine kumpf et meyer and catherine riss. The wines of alsace are relatively unknown and misunderstood by many people, even wine lovers. Top pairings for dry and offdry alsace whites matching. Wines of alsace guides to wines and top vineyards book 8.
Folks who dig champagne but are operating on a bud light budget should definitely explore cremant dalsace. The article covers the basics of the region, the labels and the grapes with links to recipes that are designed to showcase the wines such as tom condrons house smoked trout and jumbo. At the end of the 19th century, several alsacebased winemaking businesses produced sparkling wines using the traditional method. The wines tested range from 19741979, but who cares. There is some alsatian pinot noir, as well, and it can be very good, but it is also difficult to find. Mures wines are often among the most ageworthy, and the v pinot noir mentioned earlier leads the pack of alsatian reds. Discover the secrets of alsace wines, related by enthusiasts. Therefore, there is an increasing similarity on this dimension between alsace and german wines. Like all but the richest alsace wines vt and sgn, these wines can make. The wines of alsace faber books on wine stevenson, tom on. Pinot noir is alsaces contribution to the world of red wine.
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