A WINE REGION IN FRANCE
Alsace
Site-specific, aromatic, often off-dry to sweet at GC level.
About Alsace
Alsace is a wine region in France (classified Grand Cru). It makes white wine. Our database holds 604 wines from here.
The grapes of Alsace
The main grapes are Riesling, Pinot Gris, Muscat and Gewurztraminer. The appellation table lists them as: Riesling/Gewürztraminer/Pinot Gris/Muscat.
Style in the glass
Site-specific, aromatic, often off-dry to sweet at GC level. Combines Burgundian site-specificity with German varietal labeling. It is a warm (for gewurtz/pg) / cold (for riesling), dry (riesling) / wet (gewurtz) place to grow grapes.
Climate and soil
Dry, sunny (rain shadow of Vosges mountains). 51 distinct Grand Cru sites with individual geology (granite, limestone, marl, volcanic sandstone).
The rules
- Blending: Single varietal ONLY (4 noble varieties for GC). France's exception to 'place not grape' labeling.
- Ageing: None mandated — but ages remarkably.
What to eat with Alsace
Choucroute (Riesling), Munster cheese (Gewurztraminer), foie gras (Pinot Gris VT).
More wine regions in France
Champagne, Meursault, Chablis, Chassagne-Montrachet, Pauillac, Gevrey-Chambertin, Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Vosne-Romanée.
Good to know
Alsace = the French exception: varietal labeling, dry wines from aromatic grapes. VT (Vendanges Tardives) and SGN (Sélection de Grains Nobles) = sweet styles from 4 noble varieties.
Open it in the app
Pair every dish on a menu with a wine you can order: scan a menu, swipe the pairings, explore restaurants, wineries and hotels.