The region of alsace, in the northeast of france, has a reputation to uphold. For much of its history, alsace was elsass and part of germany. Aug 10, 2011 alsace is a cultural hybrid with its germanic dialect and french sense of fashion, its love of foie gras and fine wine, beer and sauerkraut. These festivals are a good opportunity for you to taste our best wines and to wander in the picturesque streets of our most charming villages under the light of the moon, like the colour of our white wines. It is great book for who are really into greek wines. The vintage chart stretches from 1992 back to 585 in alsace, french or german. Alsace is an aoc producing mainly white wines in the east of france by the german border. Some of the greatest white wines in the world are produced in frances alsace region. Along with austria and germany, it produces some of the most noted dry rieslings in the world as well as. The alsace wine route has contributed to the fame of alsace wines for the past 60 years. Once it was widely planted in germany and alsace and easy to find, but bad practices made for bad wine, which ruined the market. An alsace wine tour includes many of these sights and wines and will make for a memorable experience in the north of france.
Discover the secrets of one of the worlds most famous wineproducing regions on this wine tasting tour of alsace from colmar. Wine and wine cellars of the ribeauville and riquewihr region in. The alsace wine route, one of the oldest in france, crosses these different wine districts. Jan 16, 2018 touring the alsace wine region of france, tasting wines and gastronomy.
This 600 page book profiles 300 producers, 118 wine villages, 51 grands crus, 84 lieuxdits, 28 clos and 4 wineproducing chateaux of alsace. The alsace wine route is ideal for walkers and hiking enthusiasts. It was once notably light but in an increasingly warm climate its colour is darkening and it is taking on more weight. Its white wines are delicious accompanied with one of the countless local specialties. Gewurztraminer alsaces most aromatic grape, with roses, lychees, honey, spices and all manner of exotic flavours.
This beautiful region, with picturesque villages that make grimms fairy tales. Guide to the wines, villages and terroirs of alsace. Alsace offers charming wines of great quality and unmatched diversity. It can be very refreshing and can age for a few years. In alsace, the cellars are generally nested, unlike what is done in the other french vineyards region, in the villages and not in the heart of the vineyard. Search and book your hotel in colmar and its surroundings. May 11, 2015 alsace is a famous french region, tucked away in the northeastern part of france, right on the border to germany. The wines of alsace faber books on wine stevenson, tom on. Visitors delight in the regions distinctive cuisine and superb wines.
Launched in 1953, the alsace wine route is one of the oldest wine routes in france. This book is well organized and perfectly suited to the readertraveller who is making a first aquaintance with the alsace region of france. Following the french revolution, alsace was divided into two provinces. The alsace wine region is one of frances most unique wine regions, famous for its riesling and pinot gris wines. Alsace has been a pioneer in wine tourism in france with the development of the wine route which has, over the past 60 years, contributed to the success of alsace wines. The best wine books, as recommended by the financial times wine critic, jancis robinson. Wine tourism is a tradition that has long existed in alsace, and many villages along the regions famous wine route celebrate the end of the grape harvest with wine festivals throughout october there are very good ones in eguisheim and turckheim this weekend. Wine is nothing if not geography in a bottle, she says. Here,experience your first alsace wine discovery by tasting a selection of different wines including pinot blanc, sylvaner and riesling. Riquewihr is a fabulous array of stone houses, towers, cobblestones, shops, tasting rooms, and the largest halftimbered houses i saw anywhere in alsace. The vosges mountains protect and provide alsace with a backdrop for some of frances most stunning scenery.
Contemporary hotel located in the quiet nature between vineyards and forest. After a wet first half of the year, alsace basked in the sun along with much of the rest of europe, resulting in particularly good ripeness in the two pinots, gris and noir. There are no fewer than 46 of these wine trails in alsace, winding their way through the heart of the vines. Casting hommesfemmes 1830 ans pour spots publicitaires et shootings photos. Published by catapulta, the book includes stories from wine regions of bordeaux, burgundy, sauternes, rhone valley, rioja, tuscany, napa, mosel valley, piedmont, barossa and mendoza. By the end of the century, the region was an autonomous protectorate of france source. The wines of alsace your guide to wine, beer and booze.
The wine festivals each year, some villages celebrate the wine in a warm, joyful and lively atmosphere. This pretty enclave of fairytale villages in the lee of the forested vosges mountains offers a wide range of varietally labelled wines, of which the aromatic whites are still, despite global warming, much more successful than the light reds. Alsace wines give the tingle of brilliant acidity but also offer a rich texture from moderate alcohol some wines are 14 15% abv. From marlenheim to thann, it allows you to discover 170 km of scenic landscapes, from medieval villages and halftimbered houses decorated with flowers, to castles and roman and gothic churches. The digital version above is for personal use only. In the 1600s, alsace found itself caught between opposing sides in the thirty years war, and residents asked france for protection. Hubrecht duijkers second book on alsace could have been the perfect guide book. Stunning memories from the millesime alsace week where wine experts from all around the world gather to taste and learn. I think it makes it easy to remember the villages and their location along the wine route. For me alsace is the greatest white wine in the world, its just that a few people in. So whilst i love alsace, i will only buy the lewin if it is good. Two names who wont be there, but who are making waves in natural wine, or vin nature as i prefer to call it in english, are domaine kumpf et meyer and catherine riss.
The main animation is the great procession on sunday afternoon. Alsace wine tour the wine travel specialist bkwine. Famous wines of the alsace wine region howstuffworks. Gewurztraminer alsace s most aromatic grape, with roses, lychees, honey, spices and all manner of exotic flavours.
The rich mixing of cultures has done the alsace well. Riesling was perhaps less classic, thanks to the softer acidities resulting from the heat. Tourism on the alsace wine route official website holiday ideas. Wines of alsace guides to wines and top vineyards book 8. Alsace book recommendations discussions discussion. The vineyards are concentrated in a narrow strip, running in a roughly northsouth direction, on the lower eastern slopes of the vosges, at altitudes of 175420 m. The village itself is considered to be located at the heart of the alsace wine region and is home to the grand cru frankstein. Pinot gris rich, fruity, smoky and more understated than gewurztraminer. Originally a popular touring rally, it has become one of the jewels of the. The geography of the wine growing area in alsace is determined by two main factors, the vosges mountains in the west and the rhine river in the east.
The pour silvaner, a lovely yet unloved spring wine, needs friends. Visit our web pages and have a look at our mustsee events. Alsace aop, cremant dalsace aop and alsace grand cru aop. There is also a wideopen range of sparkling wines made in the same traditional method as champagne known as cremant d alsace. Alsace does have a little red wine made from the burgundy grape, pinot noir. Especially the history of greek wines, which spans thousands of years, is presented in a fascinating way by mr lazarakis. Discover the three great grapes used in the region, as discussed by three of. Alsace sits on the verge of france, with a culture, architecture, and cuisine uniquely its own. Wine enthusiasts guide to alsace by anne krebiehl mw tucked into frances northeast corner, alsace s identity has been shaped by centuries of being passed back and forth between france and. Indeed at some periods of history it was a part of germany and therefore the wines are not diss.
Just picture yourself tasting some of the best rieslings in the world in a local winery or getting exclusive access to areas within the cathedral of strasbourg that are normally offlimits to the public. The 10 best alsace wine route hotels where to stay in alsace. Colmar alsace france tourist office the wine festivals. From marlenheim to molsheim, a few kilometres from the capital of alsace, lies the northern entrance to the alsace wine route. Alsace wine region history and culture howstuffworks. I f you dont know the wines of alsace, i suggest that you check them out, especially now that it is the height of summer alsace specializes in riesling, pinot gris, gewurztraminer and pinot noir, its lone red wine. Around fifty marked wine paths reveal all the secrets of our most prestigious vineyards. A guide to alsace varietals from the official us site of alsace wines, with descriptions of appearance, aroma, taste, and pairing suggestions. This 600 page book profiles 300 producers, 118 wine villages, 51 grands crus. Alsace based sommelier romain iltis, who earned the title of best sommelier in france in 2012, says that alsatian pinot gris is like a white wine with a red wine structure because it has. Discover its vineyards and traditional houses along the alsace wine route from strasbourg. The little alsace tourism book, alsace, the wine route isbn 9782915626216, has a brief write up of each village, from thann up to wissembourg, with pretty pictures.
London has gone natural wine mad this week, with the opening of the raw wine london fair. Were exploring the wine road of alsace the route du vin. Kientzheim to molsheim explore on foot route guides book 2. On the borders of the latin and germanic civilizations, alsace offers astonishing cultural wealth. Take a look inside everything you need to know to be confident including tasting, handling, and food pairing.
Floral and peachy smells fly out of the glass and many of the wines are unctuous enough to pair nicely with savory fowl, like roast quail. Alsace wine or alsatian wine is produced in the alsace region in france and is primarily white wine. Learn more about alsace pinot blanc, riesling, pinot gris, gewurztraminer, cremant dalsace, and other varietals. The book is divided into the different varieties of wine based on region. For those of you whove come to realize that white wine can be serious, then alsace is a region youll gravitate towards. Sep 29, 2014 nestled between the vosges mountains and the rhine river, alsace is a picturesque landscape of quilted vineyards and quaint medieval villages. The most famous wine route in france proudly reveals its medieval chateaux and renaissance houses and the flowery lanes of its charming villages. Alsacebased sommelier romain iltis, who earned the title of best sommelier in france in 2012, says that alsatian pinot gris is like a white wine with a red wine structure because it has. On this private fullday tour from strasbourg, explore the alsace wine route at your own pace. A land of tradition and wine, offering a unique experience. It offers visitors both neophytes and connoisseurs a wide range of activities related to wine and the vineyard all year round.
You will find a description of cities and villages crossed by the tourist road, a presentation of the alsatian vineyard. With an informative guide, travel along the gorgeous alsace wine route to the pictureperfect towns of mittelbergheim, dambachlaville, ribeauville and riquewihr. The towns architecture is so rich now thanks to its wealth from wine production during its heyday in the 15th to 17th centuries. The grape varieties that grow there, for the most part, dont grow elsewhere in france. This historical french region is home to famous wine villages. Updated and revised, with new producers included for 2020, the guides to wines and top vineyards are the definitive guides to classic wine producing regions. The landscape of swiss wine, the latest book by sue style swiss. In the medieval alsatian villages with their narrow, cobblestone alleys you will meet dedicated producers. Yes, you heard right, alsace, a regions whose wines are not exactly at the peak of wine fashion these days, and thats a shame.
It also has floral notes and a whiff of the perfume of fruits such as mango and lychee source. Between vineyards and forest, on the wine road of alsace. It is easy to fall in love with this wine region where the picturesque village lie on a dotted line along the route du vin. The landscape is distinctive too, with grand castles. I seem to enjoy wine books, and i have three unread on my pile, including wink lorchs wines of the french alps, which arrived last weekend. Gewurztraminer spelled without the umlaut in alsace is the most famous wine of alsace source. It contains practical knowledge that is immediately useful to help you find and enjoy better wine. Visit 3 wineries to enjoy tastings of the regions characteristic white wine including the riesling and. New illustrated book tells stories of 12 renowned vineyards.
Centuries of successful wine production have built prosperous and colorful villages. Get the full experience of the famous french wine region of alsace on this winetasting day trip from strasbourg. Cremant dalsace is the regions dry sparkling white wine, made like champagne. Im keen to know whether he covers the new producers. Frances alsace wine region seems a world apart from the rest of france. The landscape of swiss wine by british and alsace based wine writer, sue style, published by bergli books in basel is the latest book to be.
Each day, new wine and grands crus are proposed for wine tasting, accompanied with traditional meals. Though its main focus is introducing the many wines which are produced in this area, i found it to be very informative regarding the history, architecture, and other main attractions of the local cities, towns, and villages. On the whole, alsace is overwhelmingly devoted to white wine production, upwards of 90 percent. The best books on wine five books expert recommendations. In the medieval alsatian villages with their narrow, cobblestone alleys you will meet dedicated producers on terroirs tended by their forefathers since generations. Central to this landscape of rolling hills and charming timber villages is the renowned alsace wine route route des vins dalsace, a 106 mile journey winding through more than 100 wine villages, 19 of which host 26 michelinstarred. Wine tours in alsace, france wine tasting holidays in. A region proud of its identity, alsace is a great wine making region. Pinot noir is alsaces contribution to the world of red wine.
This tends to be quite lightweight, but can be delicious and interesting and more and more producers are now fighting this varietys corner, some even suggesting that pinot sites on top terroirs like the grand cru hengst are worthy of grand cru, or a new tier of premier cru status. Top 10 guide to the alsace wine route travel the guardian. Traditional wine festival for the capitale of alsatian wine in the basrhine. Dec 14, 2016 the best, and best value, white wines youve never drunk.
The german gewurz means spice, and the wine reflects that. Famous for its exceptional natural beauty, the wine route leads visitors across rows of undulating, vinecovered hills, and through delightful quaint villages with narrow. Central to this landscape of rolling hills and charming timber villages is the renowned alsace wine route route des vins d alsace, a 106 mile journey winding through more than 100 wine villages, 19 of which host 26 michelinstarred. Its funny how you never tend to spend much time traveling in your own region, so as a resident of alsace, i decided to spend a day exploring the alsace wine route. To paraphrase my late chum etienne hugel, a tireless promoter of his familys, and all alsatian, wines. Discover 50 of the worlds top wines organized by style. The wine route of alsace seduces of entry the visitor in the course of its 170 km of route where blooms one of the treasures of the alsatian lifestyle. They are supplemented by a dozen crosscommunity routes which invite the visitor to journey through the wine region on foot or by bicycle. The wines of alsace faber books on wine by tom stevenson jan 1, 1994. Alsace is one of the great, underappreciated treasures of the wine world.
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