Buy the wines of alsace classic wine library by stevenson, tom isbn. Alsace wines are considered to be among the very best whites france can offer, with intense, freshgrape aromas and a distinctively fruity, unoaked character. Learn more about alsace pinot blanc, riesling, pinot gris, gewurztraminer, cremant d alsace, and other varietals. Guide to the wines, villages and terroirs of alsace. The locals seem to have a much higher tolerance for pairing offdry pinot gris with dishes like salmon and veal with which wed instinctively reach for a drier white or a red. Benefiting from local microclimates, the alsatian vineyards are bordered to the west by the natural barrier of the vosges, andread more. Located in the quaint village of mittelbergheim, the winery is owned and operated by albert seltz, a. Alsace wine per warfvinge on the wines, villages and. Alsatian wines strike a balance of dry and sweet the new.
From the cremant dalsace for when bubbles are needed prosecco and cava are not the only alternative to champagne to wines made from the 7 key grape varieties in alsace riesling, gewurtztraminer, pinot gris, muscat, pinot blanc, sylvaner, auxerrois for whites and pinot noir for reds to the sweet wines of the vendanges tardives and. Sep 29, 2014 nestled between the vosges mountains and the rhine river, alsace is a picturesque landscape of quilted vineyards and quaint medieval villages. Alsace does have a little red wine made from the burgundy grape, pinot noir. The pinot blanc is the workhorse of alsace and is an excellent wine for novice wine drinkers to start alsace wines with. Alsaces appellations are unique in france because the regions wines are labelled according to grape variety, as opposed to the vineyard. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Indeed at some periods of history it was a part of germany and the. For alsace wine enthusiasts this is a wonderful read, and has just about all the pertinent facts about the region, among them all the famous and less well known varietals, all the major producers, the villages. Per warfvinge on the wines, villages and terroirs of alsace. On this private fullday tour from strasbourg, explore the alsace wine route at your own pace. Alsace wine region history and culture howstuffworks.
Alsace is one of the great, underappreciated treasures of the wine world. Here is a great overview of everything you need to get started with portuguese wine. At various competitions this wines vintages have been awarded prizes. The best wines of alsace can be described as aromatic and honeyed, even when completely dry. A while back, visiting little known wineries across new england, the thought, oh to do this every day passed through our minds eye. Guild of sommeliers on the wines of alsace duration. Learn about bottgeyl winery and shop the best selection at wine. The best wine lists in new york may have only a handful of alsatian bottles, and the hipper lists. Relaxing with a couple of glasses of these shouldbeknown wines have resulted in a fulfilled vision promoting the wines of the greater northeast.
Protected by the natural barrier of the vosges mountains, the vineyards of alsace. It offers visitors both neophytes and connoisseurs a wide range of activities related to wine and the vineyard all year. Famous wines of the alsace wine region howstuffworks. This volume, on the other hand, paints a vivid picture of the vineyards of burgundy, the landscape of alsace. Guide to alsace wines presents the region, producers and villages in alsace. The wines of portugal organized by region wine folly. In the 1600s, alsace found itself caught between opposing sides in the thirty years war, and residents asked france for protection. Muscat is one of the worlds oldest varieties of grape. The secret behind alsace wines also known as alsatian wines. The english version of my guide to alsace wines was publsihed in 2016. In this lush setting perfect for vineyards, the microclimates, exposures and varied geological blends all provide wine makers with numerous possibilities for compromising with nature to create unique wines. Free shipping with stewardship and fedex pickup avail. The vineyards are concentrated in a narrow strip, running in a roughly northsouth direction, on the lower eastern slopes of the vosges, at altitudes of 175420 m. If you love planning, but find arranging the logistics exhausting.
The alsace vineyard extends across the hills of the vosges at between 200 and 400 metres high, over some 14,000 hectares of grapevines which produce an average of 150 million bottles of wine each. As one of frances top white wine regions, alsace produces terroirdriven wines with pure fruit expression. The regions noble varieties, the only ones permitted within alsace s 51 grands crus vineyards, are riesling, gewurztraminer, muscat, and pinot gris. The alsace wines come from seven main grape varieties. Dec 14, 2016 the best, and best value, white wines youve never drunk. With about 20% of plantings in alsace, it is mostly used as the base for cremant dalsace, the alsatian bubbly wine. Pinot blanc, pinot gris, riesling, gewurztraminer, muscat dalsace, sylvaner, and pinot noir. 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.
Top pairings for alsace pinot gris possibly alsaces trickiest grape variety as its hard to call whether its going to be dry or rich and verging on sweet. The alsace vineyards offer a range of exceptional wines. The helfrich family wine the modern face of alsace. If you dont recognize the grape variety on a portuguese wine. The confrerie saintetienne kientzheim, one of the oldest brotherhoods in france, offers a programme of events throughout the year and awards a quality label for wines the. They are still sold in the traditional tall rhine wine bottle the flute d alsace and must be bottled in the region of production. Both countries deliberately avoid new wood and the second, softening. The vintage chart stretches from 1992 back to 585 in alsace, french or german. Many houses in alsace also make a traditional method sparkling wine called cremant dalsace. Gustave lorentz gewurztraminer reserve, alsace winesearcher. Alsatian wines have centuries of tradition behind them, and the helfrich family is.
The wine brotherhoods are the keepers of tradition and they promote alsace wines in france and abroad. This is the wines of alsace by guildsomm on vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them. Alsace wine or alsatian wine is produced in the alsace region in france and is primarily white. It produces a very good, clean, dry white that is not particularly aromatic, but has good acidity with. Most other wine books are full of facts, figures, maps and diagrams, with precious little in the way of decent narrative. A remarkable tasting with a remarkable presenter and some nice food too. The german gewurz means spice, and the wine reflects that. The alsace vineyard extends across the hills of the vosges at between 200 and 400 metres high, over some 14,000 hectares of grapevines which produce an average of 150 million bottles of wine each year. Try a sylvaner from the south of alsace, such as agathe bursin, rene mure or pierre frick source. Tom stevensons monumental effort covers almost every aspect related to teh wines. There are no fewer than 46 of these wine trails in alsace, winding their way through the heart of the vines and the. They are still sold in the traditional tall rhine wine bottle the flute dalsace and must be bottled in the region of production. Domaine albert seltz mittelbergheim 2020 all you need.
There are many small growers producing honest and reliable wines all along the alsace wine route and most of this is sold under the label of a cooperative. Alsace is an exuberant nature, a generous garden where each element contributes to creating an exceptional terroir. The nose is intense and with the grapeyness you may smell some subtle floral notes. Alsace, in the far northeastern corner of france, stands out from other french wine regions thanks to its strong francogermanic influences. Nestled between the vosges mountains and the rhine river, alsace is a picturesque landscape of quilted vineyards and quaint medieval. Of our four days in the alsace region this was our best tasting experience. Yes, you heard right, alsace, a regions whose wines are not exactly at the peak of wine fashion these days, and thats a shame.
It tends to be less aromatic than many other wines of alsace. Alsace is a most interesting of areas from not just a wine. Alsace, gewurztraminer, muscat, noble varietals, pinot gris, riesling. Alsace wines give the tingle of brilliant acidity but also offer a rich texture from moderate alcohol some wines are 14 15% abv. Updated and revised, with new producers included for 2020, the guides to wines and top vineyards are the definitive guides to classic wineproducing regions.
The food and the wine of alsace is also a bit of a mish mash. Jan 11, 2018 alsace, in the far northeastern corner of france, stands out from other french wine regions thanks to its strong francogermanic influences. The vineyard or village is not mentioned unless the wine is a grand cru. And so came the idea of a new appellation, alsace grand cru, modelled on. Learn more about alsace pinot blanc, riesling, pinot gris, gewurztraminer, cremant dalsace, and other varietals. Other grapes like pinot blanc, auxerrois, and chasselas also crop up. German tradition long before varietally labelled new world wines scored considerable. Aug 17, 2017 ask a young person about the wines of alsace, and chances are you will be met with a blank stare. If you are in the alsace region, domaine albert seltz is a must stop along the route des vins d alsace.
Thats why weve partnered with local experts to help you plan and book tailormade trips that are packed with personality and stimulating adventure at all levels of comfort. Inspired by a love of his alsatian homeland, renes son joseph embarked on a new venture in the wine and spirits business. They regularly organise assemblies and take part in many events. Top pairings for dry and offdry alsace whites matching. The best, and best value, white wines youve never drunk. Wine 101 with uw professor michael wagner duration. In france, caroline explained, its often difficult to get the french to take the wines of alsace seriously. In france, caroline explained, its often difficult to get the french to take the wines of alsace. Guide to alsace wines presents the region, producers and villages in alsace in a compact and informed way. Rich in history and architecture and boasting a unique landscape, they hold a range of varied events all year round. Its a region densely populated with small familyrun wineries, miles. The wines of portugal organized by region everyone is talking about the amazing wine values you can find from portugal. Pinot noir is alsaces contribution to the world of red wine.
The alsace region is located in the north east corner of france. By the end of the century, the region was an autonomous protectorate of france source. This is one of the most popular wines from the region with wine searcher users. Needless to say a new edition with more recent vintages would be very welcome. Wines of alsace guides to wines and top vineyards book 8. Apr 19, 2017 frances alsace region is a quiet beauty located in the northeastern corner of the country, and it might just have it all. Prnewswire blending boldness and simplicity, frances alsace wine region has revealed its new global identity with a striking va logo. It was once notably light but in an increasingly warm climate its colour is darkening and it is taking on more weight.
Sylvaner, pinot blanc, riesling, muscat, pinot gris, gewurztraminer and pinot noir. For a wine futures order cancelled more than 30 days after payment has been made, a 20% service fee will be deducted from your refund. Find out everything you need to know about the regions finest grape varieties, common wine terminology, characteristics and classic food pairings. 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 nations many times over due to its strategic location. But a curious aspect of alsace wine labelling, is that in many cases, the producers. Wines from muscat are straw in color with frequent hints of silver. Alsace wine, also known as alsatian wine is one of the many wine varieties that are grown in the alsace. The locals seem to have a much higher tolerance for.
At rough guides, we understand that experienced travellers want to get truly offthebeatentrack. The local dialect is still alsatian, a variety of german, and many cities and landmarks and grapes bear german names. Launched in 1953, the alsace wine route is one of the oldest wine routes in france. We sell a lot of alsace riesling by the glass at restaurant le cinq. This tends to be quite lightweight, but can be delicious and interesting and more and more producers are now fighting this. A guide to alsace varietals from the official us site of alsace wines, with descriptions of appearance, aroma, taste, and pairing suggestions. The alsace wine region is one of frances most unique wine regions, famous for its riesling and pinot gris wines. Alsace is a beautiful area full of small, historic, halftimbered towns and dramatic scenery. Some 92 per cent of alsace and alsace grand cru wines are dry, aromatic whites. 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. Gewurztraminer spelled without the umlaut in alsace is the most famous wine of alsace source.
The producers in alsace do not use oak aging to add spice and richness, instead they rely on a balance of ripeness and alcohol to fill out the flavor. 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. Alsacebased sommelier romain iltis, who earned the title of best sommelier in france in 2012, says that alsatian pinot gris is like a white wine with a red wine structure because it has. The swedish edition has sold over 2000 copies, and it has been selected as the best book in its category by the swedish gastronomic academy. For instance, germanic grape varieties like gewurztraminer and riesling dominate. Pinot noir is the only red variety allowed in alsace, period.
For much of its history, alsace was elsass and part of germany. Protected by the natural barrier of the vosges mountains, the vineyards of alsace benefit from a unique climate and a variety of different grapegrowing districts. Alsace wines stem from a special climate, terroirs of exceptional geological diversity, and the skills of talented wine makers. The geography of the wine growing area in alsace is determined by two main factors, the vosges mountains in the west and the rhine river in the east. There is over 570 pages of detailed information, including a linguistic analysis.
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