Alsace is a small, but perfectly formed region in France which borders Germany and traditionally has something of an identity crisis as to which flag it flies.
The bottles are fluted (tall and slim), like the classic Germans, and the grapes are the same as those you’d find in the Mosel or the Rheingau regions of Germany. So, you can expect top quality minerally Rieslings and aromatic Gewurztraminers. The other unique distinction between Alsace and the rest of France (with the exception of Languedoc) is that the Alsace wines are allowed to use varietal labelling, which means that they can put the grape variety on the front unlike Bordeaux or the Rhone Valley. This immediately gives you an idea of what to expect from what’s in the bottle, which makes the wines from Alsace very user-friendly.
The wines from Alsace tend to be drier than their German counterparts, partly due the natural rain shelter provided by the Vosges mountain range. This helps to create the unique terroir and microclimate that is Alsace.
As well as being a wonderful place to visit, with amazing wines…you also have to try the local grub preferably with a glass of Riesling alongside. The tumultuous history of the region means that the local cuisine is influenced both by France and Germany, so expect big portions and lots of pork and sausages. Alsace also boasts the largest numbers of top-rated restaurants in France…this is a food-lovers mecca. The wines are perfectly food-friendly with a rare depth and character and a wonderful acidity to cut through the occasional fatty denseness of the local dishes.
One of the best bottles to seek out that is readily available is the Domaine Zind Humbrecht Zind Alsace 2018 (Waitrose, £17.99). This is a blend of all of the local noble varieties and is definitely one of the most food-friendly options from the region. If you’d rather explore the purity of the Riesling grape, grab a bottle of the Clos Saint Jacques Riesling 2018 (Majestic, £13.99) and pour a glass with a large plate of calamari at lunchtime.
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