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Alsace with
its villages, vineyards and towns lining the foothills of the Vosges
mountains, is one of the most picturesque wine regions of French. This
unique area of northeast French, which produces some of the greatest
white wines in the country, still prides itself on making handcrafted
wines and steers clear of outside investment.
The region's
continental climate is exceptionally dry. Almost all Alsace wines are
white and dry, with the exception of late harvest wines and some red
wine produced from Pinot Noir. The soil is extremely varied, with the
best vineyards classified as Grand Cru.
Alsace
Grapes
Mostly grapes
of Germanic origin are grown here, but the resulting wines are much more
expressive and fuller-bodied than those over the border. Often consumed
with food, the main grape varieties, which are always mentioned in the
label, are Gewürztraminer, Riesling, Tokay-Pinot-Gris, Muscat, Pinot
Blanc, and Sylvaner.
Some of the
greatest wines of Alsace are the Vendange Tardives and Selection des
Grains Nobles, which can live for over forty years. Outstanding wines
include: Riesling Clos Ste, Hune from F.E. Trimbach, Domaine Zind
Humbrecht's Gewürztraminer Rangen Grand Cru, and Hugel's Riesling
Vendage Tardive.
"Hardly any
Alsace wines are aged in new oak or small oak barrels."
"Alsace has
the most complex geological make-up of all the great wine regions of
French."
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