Alsace is a gem located in the north-eastern corner of France bordering Germany and Switzerland, on the west bank of Upper Rhine. Alsace has picturesque towns that look like they were taken from a children’s book or a fairy tale, ancient wooden houses, narrow roads, gentle mist that create a dream-like atmosphere. We love visiting Alsace, always enjoying the delicious foods, old traditions, and elegant white wines. Welcome to Alsace!

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Location & Historical Background

Partly because of its location between two major European rivers at a crossroad of major land trade routes connecting France with Central Europe and connecting Southern Europe with Northwestern Europe, and partly because it has a rich, fertile land, Alsace has been in constant controversy among its stronger neighbors. In ancient times the Roman Empire, later the Gauls (of ancient France) and their successors Modern French on the one hand, and the Prussian/German kingdoms on the other hand.

 

For almost 2,000 years Alsace passed back and forth between the French side and the Prussian/German side, divided and reunited time and again. During the turbulent 17th - 19th centuries, there was a wave of immigration from Alsace to more peaceful areas in Austria and Russia. Thanks to the development of ocean routes - immigrants reached the United States and Canada and contributed to these economies with their hard-working mentality and industrious nature.

 

Alsace finally stabilized as part of modern France after World War 2. Interestingly, the French anthem, La Marseillaise, was composed in Strasbourg, Alsace’s beautiful capital, during the French Revolution as an Alsatian song. 

  

Unique Local Characteristics

Although an integral part of modern France, Alsace retained some unique characteristics,  a blend of French and German roots, such as using Alsatian dialect and studying German in schools even though French is the official and dominant language. The architecture of houses is typical German/Central and North European style, and, of course, the food. In Alsace, you can eat typical German dishes, like pork, sausages, sour cabbage (Choucroute), and enjoy great locally made beers as well as excellent foie gras, beef, cheese and of course excellent French-style wines.

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Topography

Alsace is narrow and long, mostly a plain with a succession of hills (200 - 400 meters altitude) along Lower Rhine and Upper Rhine, stretching over an area of approximately 8,000 square km, bordered by the Vosges mountains in the east. The land is very fertile, with sunny southern and south-east aspects. The climate is semi-continental, with sunny, warm days and cold/chilly nights. Alsace is one of the driest areas of France and the weather is excellent for wine growing. The dryness protects the vineyards from rot formation.

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Wine Routes 

Colmar is the wine capital of Alsace and its culinary capital. The Alsace Wine Route is one of the most beautiful wine routes in the world and it offers delightful activities combined with wine and food tasting and ancient traditions.  As you drive along the narrow roads and the Rhine River, you pass through charming ancient medieval villages and towns, surrounded by endless vineyards and impressive castles and fortresses, or you can stop for a picnic in the vineyards, celebrate in a local wine festival or sail down the river.

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Alsace Whites

Alsace is gradually gaining a place of honor in the wine world, rightfully due. The wines are mostly dry white, produced from 7 grape varieties among them are two of the most aromatic varieties. The wines are crystal clear, fresh with some zestiness, ranging from delicate and light, to floral, fruity, intense, and full-bodied. Most of the wines are drunk young, except for Riesling that can be enjoyed young or aged. Alsace is also one of the first areas in France to produce organic biodynamic wines.

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Unlike other French regions, Alsace wines are almost entirely white. Another difference is that the labels of Alsace wines mention the grape varieties and not the town, village or area. Finally, wines produced in Alsace taste uniquely different from wines produced with the same varieties grown elsewhere in France or Germany.  

 

The top wine of Alsace is Riesling d’Alsace, closely followed by Gewurztraminer. Unlike German wines produced from their aromatic “grape cousins”, these wines are dry. Riesling d’Alsace is elegant, acidic, zesty, crisp, aromatic, well balanced, pure crystal clear with shades of bright green or pale yellow color. Its aroma is an expression of the grapes, with a range that can include subtle lemon, grapefruit, peach, floral, spicy, and uniquely mineral. Riesling d’Alsace matures very well in the bottle and can be enjoyed even after tens of years. 

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Gewurztraminer d’Alsace grapes have skins with slight pinkish color, giving the wine a golden yellow sparkle. This wine is dry, aromatic, full bodied, powerful yet harmonious, with rich aromas of exotic fruits, flowers, and spices. It is considered the “biggest” wine of Alsace, perhaps even a bit extravagant, yet some delicacy and reserve are retained, typical to northern wines and to Alsace wines. 

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Other wines are: Pinot Blanc d’Alsace (light, delicate and fresh, with subtle stone fruits and floral notes), Sylvaner d’Alsace (clear, light, acidic, slightly citrus, slightly floral, fresh-cut grass), Muscat d’Alsace (dry, crisp, acidic, fresh fruity grape with some bitterness, aromatic), Pinot Gris d’Alsace (smoky, dried fruit, apricot, honey, gingerbread, generous, velvety, balanced intense). The legend says that Pinot Gris was brought to Alsace from Tokay (Hungary) or from Bourgogne (France). Either way, it is interesting to compare its expression with Pinot Gris produced in Tokay and in Bourgogne.

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Alsace Reds & Rose

The only red variety in Alsace is Pinot Noir, producing fresh, light red & black fruity wines, sometimes with silky tannins. In recent years, delightful rose wines are also produced from Pinot Noir. These wines are delicate, light, crispy, strawberry with a tender salmon pink color.  

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Alsace AOC Blends

There are two interesting local AOC blends. Gentil d’Alsace is a blend that must consist of at least 50% Riesling, Muscat, Pinot Gris, and/or Gewurztraminer, and the balance can be Sylvander, Chasselas and/or Pinot Blanc. Each variety must be vinified separately and qualify as an AOC Alsace wine. The vintage year must appear on the label.  The other white blend of Alsace is Edelzwicker AOC that consists of any white Alsace varieties blended together, without indication of percentage, vinified together or separately, with or without mention of vintage.  

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Alsace Sweet Wines

There are also two sweet wines: Vendange Tardive wine (late harvest to increase sugar content and rich over-dried fruits aromas and flavors), and the Selection de Grains Noble (with berries exposed to Noble Rot giving the wine a deep yellow color, and distinct flavors of marmalade, orange, cooked fruit, and honey). Both are relatively complex wines. 

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Cremant d'Alsace

As in the cooler areas of France, there is also the Cremant d’Alsace, that is produced in the traditional method with a second fermentation in the bottle, resulting in a delightful sparkling crisp wine with white fruit notes, and there is the Cremant Rose d'Alsace with its elegant pale pink bubbly wine with delicate red fruit flavors.

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