Alsace Wine Guide - Guide of French Wines

Alsace Wines

Famous white wines from the North.

Geography and terroir

110 km (69 mi) long, from Haut-Rhin to Bas-Rhin, between Strasbourg and Mulhouse, the Alsatian vineyard benefits from a continental climate enabling the vine to mature well and provides wines with great aptitudes to ageing.
Protected from the oceanic rains by the Vosges and ideally exposed to the south/south-eastern, its sandy and varied grounds enable noble vines to grow.
The area, famous for its wine during the Roman period, has committed to a quality culture since the Twenties.

Grape Varieties

It is the only great wine-producing area of France whose fame rests only on type of vine.
Contrary to the majority of the wines, the Alsace wine is not made with the harmonious association of various types of vines but with only one type of vine.

7 main type of vines mature on the slopes of Alsace:

Gewurztraminer, Riesling and Muscatel are the most famous
Sylvaner, Pinot Blanc (or Klevner), Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir
Chasselas and Auxerrois are less cultivated

Appellations

Only 3 legal Appellations:

AOC Alsace
AOC Alsace Grand Cru (selection after tasting)
Cremant d'Alsace (Creaming of Alsace - Champagne method)

The Alsatian wine, marketed under its type of vine name, can also have three particular mentions:

Edelzwicker, for the wines made with assembled white vines
SGN: Selection of noble grape ("Selection de grains nobles")
VT: Late grape harvest, reserved for the best type vines ("Vendanges Tardives")

White wines

Riesling: scented white wine. End and race, its consistent personality accompanies very well fish and seafood or traditional sauerkraut.

Sylvaner: fruity and fresh white wine, sometimes slightly semi-sparkling. It will accompany delicate dishes like seafood or the game pots.

Gewurztraminer: dry and vigorous white wine with a single bouquet, one finds it with the mention "Late Harvest grapes". Serve it with strong cheeses preferably (Munster...), fish or foie gras.

Tokay Pinot Gris: flexible, generally heady white wine. Vigorous, it is served with white meats.

Red wines or Rose wines

Pinot Noir: red or Rosé, flexible, fresh and acidulous. It accompanies very well red meats or game.