The Alsace Region

The vineyards of Alsace cover about 112 kms from north to south. The town of Colmar, is roughly at the centre of the ‘best’ vineyard area and most producers are no more than 45 minutes drive away.

The picturesque region of Alsace is renowned for its fine wines and food. Grapes have grown here since the Roman conquests. Alsace has seen many wars and much of its history is clearly visible today with old castles, fortified towns, villages and houses that date from the Middle Ages.

East of the Vosges Mountains and west of the Rhine River and Germany, Alsace is one of the driest areas of France. The local dialect is distinctively Germanic, but despite being very close to the German border, Alsace wines are totally different to those from the other side of the Rhine. The different soils and the local micro-climate of Alsace contribute to wines that, in most years, are of superior quality.

When wine was first produced in the Alsace Region it quickly became much sought after and one of the most expensive in the whole of Europe. However, this all came crashing down during the 17th Century with successive wars, the Black Death and the Wars of Religion.

Today, prosperity has returned and the wines of Alsace are back where they belong - among the world's finest. Vignerons are striving to keep up with forward thinking using traditional growing methods and protecting the ecology of the region by restricting or eliminating use of herbicides, fertilisers and other preparations.

Alsace is the only French region where AOC wines take their names from the grape variety rather than the villages or vineyards. The grape varieties are Sylvaner, Pinot Blanc, Muscat d’Alsace, Tokay Pinot Gris, Riesling, Pinot Noir and Gewerztraminer. Alsace Grands Crus have their own appellation which restricts production volume form the designated vineyards and limits the sugar content of the wine. It also requires the vineyard name to be shown on the label together with the grape variety.

Alsace wines have always formed the perfect accompaniment to the gastronomic dishes of the region. Their tall, slim and stylish bottle design is protected by law and makes the wine easy to identify even without a label. They are traditionally drunk from elegant, goblet shaped glasses with long green stems which reflect subtle green light into the pale golden wine.

For more information about Alsace, see Premier Pages