If you are curious about wines from a top white wine region in France then let us take a look at Alsace wines. The Alsace Wine Route runs for 170 kilometers north to south through picturesque villages, along the eastern foothills of the Vosges Mountains. Located in northeastern France, near the German border the AOC (Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée) Alsace was approved in 1962. Approval followed by AOC Alsace Grand Cru in 1975 and AOC Crémant d'Alsace in 1976. During #wbc15 in Upstate New York Spaswinefood tasted Alsace Riesling, sparkling wine and pinots.
Alsace Appellations
Alsace, primarily due to its Germanic influence, is the only AOC in France that labels its wines by variety. Alsace, along with Austria and Germany, is well known for its high quality Riesling. 10% of the world's Riesling comes from Alsace. Most of the wines produce in Alsace are white wines. Alsatian wine, or as they say in French (Vin d'Alsace), includes these Alsace Appellations:
1. AOC Alsace is used for wines from this region made from one of the permitted seven grape varieties or blends. The seven permitted grape varieties include: Sylvaner, Muscat, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Riesling, Pinot Noir and Gewürztraminer. When you see AOC Alsace on the wine label it is a guarantee of terroir and producer's expertise. Since 2011 AOC Alsace can be supplemented by naming a local denomination or a lieu-dit (named place). The AOC produces white, rosé and red wines.
2. AOC Alsace Grands Crus are appellations granted to fine white wines (Riesling, Muscat, Pinot Gris and Gewürztraminer) that meet a very strict criteria. This criteria has been applied to 51 exceptional terroirs with very clearly defined locations.
3. AOC Crémant D'Alsace designation is used for sparkling wines made using the traditional method. The grapes permitted include Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Riesling, Chardonnay or Pinot Noir (Crémant Rosé).
There are two additional classifications for late harvest wines namely, Vendange (VT) and Sélection de Grains Nobles (SGN).
Tasting Alsace Riesling
A tasting session for Alsace Riesling included three Riesling wines.
Of course it was fun to taste Alsace Riesling with wine blogger friends.
Now let us take a look at the wine in the glasses:
1. Zind-Humbrecht Riesling, AOC Alsace 2013
2. Schoenheitz Riesling Herrenreben, Vin D'Alsace 2010
3. Barmè-Buecher Riesling Rosenberg, AOC Alsace 2012
These were all great Alsace Rieslings with price tags of $28, $22 and $32. I would highly recommend them.
Riesling has not been on my wine list until recent years. My interest peaked after I discovered dry Riesling wines for which Alsace is also known. During visits to Clare Valley, Australia, a region well known for its Riesling, I was able to develop an appreciation for the wide range of Riesling wines that are available. During #wbc15 I was totally jazzed about the opportunity to taste Finger Lakes Rieslings.
Other Alsace wines were available for tasting during a number events throughout #wbc15. I also took advantage of these happenings to taste the sparkling wines and pinots.
Tasting AOC Crémant D'Alsace Sparkling Wines
AOC Crémant D'Alsace designation is used for Alsace sparkling wines.
The Alsace sparkling wines that I tasted included:
1. Gustave Lorentz Brut, AOC Crémant D'Alsace NV
2. Domaine Rieflé Bonheur Festif Brut, AOC Crémant D'Alsace NV
3. Domaine Saint-Rémy Prestige, AOC Crémant D'Alsace NV
4. Lucien Albrech Brut Rosé, AOC Crémant D'Alsace NV
After tasting these Crémant D'Alsace sparkling wines, if you can get your hands of these wines give them a try. I think you will like them.
If you like sparkling wines then you will love these sparkling wines from Alsace.
Tasting "The Pinots of Alsace "
Other Alsace wines available for tasting were "The Pinots of Alsace".
This time I tasted the following Pinot Blanc wines:
1. Louis SIPP, Pinot Gris Nature's 2010 & Trimbach, Pinto Gris Reserve 2012
2. Helfrich Pinot Blanc 2013 & Emile Beyer Pinot Blanc
Wow! Tasting such expressive wines has provide me a wonderful introduction to Alsatian wines.
Now I am ready to explore more on the Alsace Wine Route, one of the oldest wine routes in France. I invite you to join me in the exploration of wines on this route or elsewhere in France. You can check out my travels at Spaswinefood.
Sharon
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| Alsace Riesling © Spaswinefood |
Alsace, primarily due to its Germanic influence, is the only AOC in France that labels its wines by variety. Alsace, along with Austria and Germany, is well known for its high quality Riesling. 10% of the world's Riesling comes from Alsace. Most of the wines produce in Alsace are white wines. Alsatian wine, or as they say in French (Vin d'Alsace), includes these Alsace Appellations:
1. AOC Alsace is used for wines from this region made from one of the permitted seven grape varieties or blends. The seven permitted grape varieties include: Sylvaner, Muscat, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Riesling, Pinot Noir and Gewürztraminer. When you see AOC Alsace on the wine label it is a guarantee of terroir and producer's expertise. Since 2011 AOC Alsace can be supplemented by naming a local denomination or a lieu-dit (named place). The AOC produces white, rosé and red wines.
2. AOC Alsace Grands Crus are appellations granted to fine white wines (Riesling, Muscat, Pinot Gris and Gewürztraminer) that meet a very strict criteria. This criteria has been applied to 51 exceptional terroirs with very clearly defined locations.
3. AOC Crémant D'Alsace designation is used for sparkling wines made using the traditional method. The grapes permitted include Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Riesling, Chardonnay or Pinot Noir (Crémant Rosé).
There are two additional classifications for late harvest wines namely, Vendange (VT) and Sélection de Grains Nobles (SGN).
Tasting Alsace Riesling
A tasting session for Alsace Riesling included three Riesling wines.
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| Tasting Alsace Riesling © Spaswinefood |
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| Tasting Alsace Riesling © Spaswinefood |
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| Ready to Taste Alsace Riesling © Spaswinefood |
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| Alsace Riesling Time © Spaswinefood |
1. Zind-Humbrecht Riesling, AOC Alsace 2013
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| Zind-Humbrecht Riesling, AOC Alsace 2013 © Spaswinefood |
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| Schoenheitz Riesling Herrenreben, Vin D'Alsace 2010 © Spaswinefood |
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| Barmè-Buecher Riesling Rosenberg, AOC Alsace 2012 © Spaswinefood |
Riesling has not been on my wine list until recent years. My interest peaked after I discovered dry Riesling wines for which Alsace is also known. During visits to Clare Valley, Australia, a region well known for its Riesling, I was able to develop an appreciation for the wide range of Riesling wines that are available. During #wbc15 I was totally jazzed about the opportunity to taste Finger Lakes Rieslings.
Other Alsace wines were available for tasting during a number events throughout #wbc15. I also took advantage of these happenings to taste the sparkling wines and pinots.
Tasting AOC Crémant D'Alsace Sparkling Wines
AOC Crémant D'Alsace designation is used for Alsace sparkling wines.
 |
| Alsace Sparkling Wines © Spaswinefood |
1. Gustave Lorentz Brut, AOC Crémant D'Alsace NV
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| Gustave Lorentz Brut, AOC Crémant D'Alsace © Spaswinefood |
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| Domaine Rieflé Bonheur Festif Brut, AOC Crémant D'Alsace © Spaswinefood |
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| Domaine Saint-Rémy Prestige, AOC Crémant D'Alsace © Spaswinefood |
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| Lucien Albrech Brut Rosé, AOC Crémant d'Alsace © Spaswinefood |
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| AOC Crémant d'Alsace Wines © Spaswinefood |
Tasting "The Pinots of Alsace "
Other Alsace wines available for tasting were "The Pinots of Alsace".
 |
| The Pinots of Alsace © Spaswinefood |
1. Louis SIPP, Pinot Gris Nature's 2010 & Trimbach, Pinto Gris Reserve 2012
 |
| Louis SIPP, Pinot Gris Nature's 2010 & Trimbach, Pinto Gris Reserve 2012 © Spaswinefood |
 |
| Helfrich Pinot Blanc 2013 & Emile Beyer Pinot Blanc © Spaswinefood |
Now I am ready to explore more on the Alsace Wine Route, one of the oldest wine routes in France. I invite you to join me in the exploration of wines on this route or elsewhere in France. You can check out my travels at Spaswinefood.
August 2015
Fingers Lakes, New York
© Spaswinefood
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