Alsace is one of France’s most interesting wine regions. Bordering both Germany and Switzerland, over the centuries it has been bartered back and forth between France and Germany. Since WWII it has been part of France, though German cultural influences remain.
The Romans were probably the first to realize this land was prime for growing wine. Alsace has been one of the most prized wine regions and utterly devastated by politics and war. Today, Alsace is back on top, producing some of the world’s most desirable wines.
Geologically, Alsace is defined by the Vosges Mountains in the west and the Rhine River in the east. The Vosges protect the vineyards from rain and extreme cold, making Alsace the second driest region in France. Combined with 1800 hours of sunlight per year and excellent soil, the wines are exceptionally high quality, expressing the unique terroir of the region. The dry climate also allows growers to employ organic and biodynamic practices. This makes Alsace the top French wine region with the largest number of organic and biodynamic producers.
Gastronomy is a defining feature of this region and the Alsatians are especially proud of their wine heritage. While sharing many of the same varieties grown in Germany the winemaking style is decidedly French. No surprise Alsace ranks as one of the top regions for Michelin-rated restaurants in France.
Katzenthal vineyards, Alsace
Contents
What is terroir?
In a nutshell or a grape, if you prefer:
“Terroir is the characteristic taste and flavor imparted to a wine by the environment in which it is produced.” from Alsace-wine.net.
“The concept of terroir can be used to summarize all the natural characteristics that give a vineyard specific qualities. Terroir is composed of geological factors, such as the chemistry of the rock and the soil, physical properties such as the exposition and slope, as well as climatic factors such as solar irradiation, temperature, and precipitation.”
Fun fact: If you walk 100 feet in any direction in a vineyard, you’ll find a different soil type. In fact, Alsace has 13 different soil types, more than any other region in France.
photo courtesy of Drink Alsace
These rich and diverse soil formations are what give Alsace wines their unique minerality with a range of complexity for each grape variety. This accounts for the wide variety of wines produced in Alsace and the variation in flavors of wines produced from the same type of grape. Combined with warm spring months, hot summers, and cool nights, the weather gives higher levels of refreshing acidity, balance, and harmony with ripened fruit flavors. In Alsace, the saying is “purity of grape, purity of place.” If you can’t make it to Alsace, open a bottle of wine, close your eyes, engage your senses, and let the aromas take you there.
Reading the wine labels
Alsace wines are extremely consumer-friendly. It is the first and only region in France that lists the name of the grape variety on the bottle. You know exactly what kind of wine is in the distinctive tall, slim, bottle. Further, each wine must contain 100% of the varietal. The bottle label will also list the information about the appellation.
What is an appellation?
An appellation is simply the geographical area where the wine grapes are grown. In France, AOC stands for Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée. In Alsace you have Alsace AOC, Alsace Grand Cru AOC and Cremant AOC. Each appellation is governed by strict rules regarding what kind of grapes can be grown there and how they are grown.
Check out this infographic from Wine Folly to understand Alsace appellations.
Graphic courtesy of Wine Folly.com
The seven main varietals of Alsace
There are seven main varieties grown in Alsace: Riesling, Pinot Gris, Pinot blanc, Gewurztraminer, Muscat, Pinot Noir, and Sylvaner. The wines produced from these grapes range from very light and dry to full-bodied and fruity, to sweet.
If you haven’t found a white wine you like yet, you probably haven’t tried a white wine from Alsace. I had no idea when I attended my WSET class that I was already in love with Alsace wines. The moment I smelled the floral and stone fruit aroma of an Alsatian Gewürztraminer that was it for me.
Rangen vineyard, the most famous Grand Cru in Alsace.
Riesling
The grape that best expresses the terroir of Alsace is Riesling. It is the number one grape grown in Alsace. Like Chardonnay, Riesling is a grape that has the unique ability to express many different characteristics. And due to the climate, it ripens longer and can develop more complex flavors while at the same time expressing the minerality of the exact vineyard where it is grown.
I often host tastings and the number one comment I hear is, “I don’t like Riesling. It’s so sweet.” Newsflash: Alsace Riesling is not sweet at all. In fact it is a dry wine with notes of citrus, white flowers, and a distinct minerality. It pairs well with many different dishes including chicken, fish, shellfish, goat cheese, and classic German dishes, such as sauerkraut and sausages. So the next time you have a chance to try a Riesling, ask about its origin. If it’s from Alsace, drink up!
Pinot Blanc
Pinot Blanc is a subtly fruity wine. A delicate wine from the same family of grapes as Pinot Grigio but with more complexity and body, I predict once you try a Pinot Blanc from Alsace you’ll never drink Pinot Grigio again. You can pair it with many different foods, including seafood. Or enjoy a refreshing glass on a hot summer day, all on its own.
This wine is a blend of Pinot Blanc and Auxerrois. Though not as well known, Auxerrois is a relative of the pinot blanc. It lends more aromatics to the wine and higher acidity. When I first poured this wine I thought it didn’t smell as aromatic as I expected. But, it soon opened and smelled of ripe stone fruits and a bit of honey. To me this wine tasted very balanced and had a nice long finish.
Sylvaner
Sylvaner d’ Alsace is a light-bodied wine with fruity citrus notes and a hint of freshly cut grass. This is the wine to replace your Sauvignon Blanc.
Pinot Gris
Pinot Gris is more full-bodied than a Pinot Blanc and can be kept longer. It can be dry or off-dry, with smoky aromas and notes of dried fruit. Serve this wine with savory foods and Asian dishes.
Muscat
Muscat d’ Alsace is the same grape as Moscato in Italy but it is drier, with a biting acidity. It is usually served as an aperitif wine.
Fun fact: This wine pairs well with asparagus and if you go to Alsace during the asparagus harvest you can find restaurants devoted to serving only Muscat and asparagus.
Gewürztraminer d’ Alsace
Gewürztraminer is a full-bodied off-dry wine with very powerful aromas of exotic fruits like lychee, roses, and spices. This can be served as an aperitif wine and also pairs well with strong cheeses and spicy food. If you think you don’t like sweet wine, try this with some good Indian or Thai food. It’s a whole new world. Though I typically avoid wines high in residual sugars, the aromas of Gewürztraminer won me over immediately.
Pinot Noir
Finally, the only red wine grape grown in Alsace is Pinot Noir. Pinot Noir is used to make Crémant d’ Alsace — a sparkling wine produced in the méthode champenoise, as well as still wines. Red berries, autumn leaves, and more structure make this a wine you can pair with meats, and it will stand up well to aging. This is the second most popular sparkling wine in France after Champagne.
Fun fact: Pinot Noir is gaining in popularity and more land is being dedicated to growing this varietal.
Dry Riesling. Try it!
When are you going to Alsace?
In addition to incredible wines, Alsace is a beautiful region with many storybook pretty villages. People are friendly, and the food is amazing.
Thanks to Wines of Alsace, a sponsor of the Wine Bloggers Conference in Lodi, California, I attended a workshop and tasting to expand my knowledge of this unique wine region. In the wine world, tasting is learning.
PIN IT!
44 comments
I’ve always found Alsace wines a bit tricky to navigate, but your guide breaks it down perfectly. The tips on understanding the different varietals are exactly what I needed to make better choices. Thanks for clarifying the sweetness levels; I’ll definitely feel more confident buying my next bottle!
thanks for the feedback.
[…] are many other varietals grown in Alsace. However, you simply cannot speak of Alsace without mentioning Riesling, as the grape is synonymous […]
[…] To learn more about the wines of Alsace read my article The Consumer’s Guide To The Wines of Alsace. […]
[…] surprise. I have written and easy to read guide to understanding these wines which you can find here. If you go, I have a few recommendations. I only had a half day there but I managed […]
Oooo! Thank you for this! As a wine lover myself, I found a lot of this information super interesting! The wines of this region of France sound absolutely divine!
This is a really great wine guide. I don’t know much of anything about wine, but this post left me feeling educated! The Gewürztraminer d’ Alsace sounds right up my alley because of the fruity flavors!
Fantastic Guide on Wines. I write on food too and get several invites to sample and comment on Indian Food and Wine Pairing. This concise guide is going to be like a reference for me.
My girlfriend is the wine drinker and I’m the beer drinker. She recently went on an Alsace Wine Tour with her mother though and only had good words for the wine and the region. I knew what a terroir is (I’m Swiss and had to learn some French at school 🙂 ) but I didn’t knew that there are 13 different soils in the Alsace region. This is really fascinating. Of all the wines from Alsace, the Gewürztraminer is definitely my favourite one. It’s quite sweet and perfect for dessert 😀 Thank you for this informative article
As a regular traveler to my neighbours, France, I have barely touched the Alsace region. I tried wines form other regions but not this area but hopefully will try them out soon. Very informative post and loved reading this. Now I want some wine and it’s only breakfast! 😀
Cheers!
I’m not really a wine drinker but I have visited Alsace, which is beautiful. Sounds like you had a great time learning and tasting!
HI Loise, I did!
It’s so fascinating to think about how the different soil types play a role in the flavor of the wine. A winemaker has to be such a knowledgeable artisan to understand all the factors that go into a bottle. I’d love to visit Alsace and do some tastings. I love Pinot Noir and Pinot Blanc wines. They both are very drinkable wines suitable for a variety of meals and occasions.
I agree and it’s one of the factors that makes wine and winemaking interesting to me.
This is fantastic! I always wish I knew more about wine but I feel like I actually learned something. I do love Riesling and I’m guessing I’d love a Pinot blanc…going to look for that ASAP! And of course I’d love to experience it all in the Alsace region itself…ahhh- one day!!
Alsace is high on my radar.
I’m not very much a wine drinker but the wine making process always fascinated me. Maybe because my husband’s family produces wine in Italy. Yet I never heard of “terroir” before. It makes sense, but woah, 13 different soil types is a lot, and I guess it’s what makes the difference!
I’ve always wanted to visit this region and this is definitely the types of wines I love to drink from the extremely dry Rieslings to sweet Muscats – looks gorgeous and I’m sure the wines are memorable and delicious to try there.
Awesome post! I stumbled upon the Alsace when I was driving from Germany into France. Not only is it gorgeous, but the wine is fantastic. I loved stopping at the tiny degustation rooms. The region seemed predominantly focused on white wine when I visited. I’m excited to hear that they are producing more Pinot Noir – one of my favourite wines!
Hi Nancy, yes they are beginning to focus more on Pinot Noir. I’d love to take that drive.
Yes Alsace is really lovely. I had a great time visiting Strasbourg for a day trip outside Paris. I am not really wine drinker so this information are all new to me but sure is helpful to learn some of the words! Thanks for sharing this!
Thanks for stopping by.
Penny, great article indeed… the first sentence made me laugh since my daughter also learned a lot about geography during her WSET. We even bought a giant map of European wines.
Maybe you should elaborate a little bit more about the Pinot Noir since it is by far not limited to the sparkling wine. The pinot noir is one of the pleasures of Alsace in still wines too – of course it doesn’t compete with Burgundy”s, but it can be a really interesting wine.
Hello Ameline, About the geography, it’s the truth! About the pinot noir, yes, I was sent a bottle to sample after the article and it was very nice. You’re right. I should write more about it. Thanks for the comments.
This is such a great post. My husband and I love wines but by no means are experts. This really helps. We shall try the pairings. We need to take a vinery resort vacation asap after reading this post.
Glad to hear you found it helpful. Thanks for the comments
Alsace is one of my favorite regions in France not only is the wine superb but the food pairing is also so delicious. Thanks for reminding me how much I love France and French wine.
Thanks Sue. Glad to hear from a fellow lover of Alsace.
I am definitely one of those people who avoid Riesling because I think generally it’s too sweet. But it’s good to know Alsace Riesling isn’t sweet at all, now I know what to look for on a wine list!
Yeay! Then I have done my job.
Sounds like you’ve been learning a ton in your course! My favourite wines are Sauvignon Blac and Pinot Gris- easy summer sips!
Good choices Tamara!
I enjoy white wines from Alsace and often choose them over those from Burgundy or the Loire. Gerwurztraminer isn’t very common in the world, so it’s a special treat. Santé!
I’m so glad to know a fellow Gewurztraminer fan. Love to share a bottle some day. Santé!
Yum you make these wines sound amazing. I love Riesling, Gerwurztraminer, and Muscat wines, but I don’t think I’ve had them from this region before. I’ll have to keep an eye open the next time I’m picking up a bottle.
Ah the best! Definitely try them.
I lived in Alsace for a year and got closely acquainted with many of these wines. We headed back last year on a reminscing trip and I was once again reminded of what a stunning part of France this is.
I have not been there yet but I am planning to go this fall. Very much looking forward to it.
[…] Not all the wines I tasted in Lodi were local. Drink Alsace, a conference sponsor hosted a breakout session and tasting. I was familiar with some of the wines prior but after the workshop I can say I’m a die hard fan. Alsace is a region in France known for producing very aromatic white wines. You can read more about Alsace in my article, A Consumer’s Guide To The Wines of Alsace. […]
We know a little about wine – and enjoy wines from Alsace. But we don’t know nearly as much as you! It must be great fun learning all there is about the different wines from various parts of the world :-). Especially if you get to travel there and learn right on the spot. We hear Alsace is beautiful too – would be a lovely place to visit…
I want to go to Alsace – let’s plan a meetup there ! Learning on the spot is the most fun for sure.
Penny,
This is your most delightful, informative and beautifully photographed blog entry ever!!! Just love you energy, your passion for wine and travel, and your excellent knowledge of food and wine pairings. Happy to trade lives any old time–you live a great one. Thank you for this wonderful
Alsace adventure! Janet Howe, Dallas
Hey Janet, thank you so much for the lovely words. I love Alsace wines. You can come along!