French Wine Regions: Alsace
Mar 4th, 2009 | By admin | Category: All Things WineThe French still wine regions are comprised primarily of six regions; Alsace, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Loire, Provence and the Rhone Valley. These regions are known for particular grape varietals with regional district definitions created and maintained by the A.O.C. or Appellation d’Origine Controlee.
The Region of Alsace
French Wine Region of Alsace
Located on the northeastern border adjacent to Germany and Switzerland, Alsace produces wine based primarily on Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Pinot gris and Muscat.
The wines produced by this region will be labeled by the appellation Alsace or Alsace Grand Cru. The primary difference being the Alsace Grand Cru designation dictates the vineyard source to be from a “top-class vineyard” with a lower yield (insuring greater grape concentration).
Riesling and Gewurztraminer account for over 40% of the Alsatian (al-say-shen) wines produced and as a whole, Alsace accounts for nearly 20% of the wine production of France.
- Alsace Riesling: Most notable for its “bone dry” and austere taste with scents of the classic Riesling including apple and lemon, as well as the occasional petroleum.
- Alsace Pinot Gris: Richer than its Riesling counterpart, tons of fruit, luscious flavor with scents of candied fruits.
- Alsace Muscat: Huge floral scents, fruits like apricot on the nose but the taste is “bone dry”.
- Alsace Gewurztraminer: Tons of spice, candied fruit and nuts on the nose with a velvet texture and tastes of pineapple, apricot, sometimes even ginger with higher amounts of residual sugar.
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