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Alsace

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Alsace

Geography of Alsace wines and grape varieties

The Alsace wine region extends over 15,000 hectares of hillside vineyards, from north of Mulhouse to south of Strasbourg. Protected by the Vosges mountains, the Alsace vineyards enjoy a particularly sunny, warm, semi-continental climate, with little rainfall. This temperate climate makes Alsace France's leading producer of white wines. But it also produces rosés, reds and famous crémants.

Most Alsace wines are made from a single grape variety, which gives the wine its name: riesling, gewurztraminer, muscat, sylvaner, pinot gris, pinot blanc, pinot noir. These 7 grape varieties have very specific characteristics, making it possible to produce wines that are very different from one another. Riesling is the most widely used grape variety. 

No less than 3 A.O.C for Alsace wines

The Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée regulates the production of a wine in a particular geographical area, providing consumers with a guarantee of origin and quality.

The AOC for Alsace and Alsace Grand Cru wines was obtained following lengthy discussions at national level. In 1935, a first decree established French AOCs, but talks with the INAO, the certification body, were interrupted by the annexation of Alsace by Germany during the Second World War. It was also the region's first recognized appellation in 1962, the direct result of a vast campaign to delimit and rehabilitate the vineyards that had begun in 1945, and thus restore the vineyards to their former glory.

The Alsace A.O.C. now covers over 70% of Alsace wine production. In 2011, two new geographical denominations were added to the A.O.C.: communales and lieux-dits. 51 exceptional lieux-dits have been awarded the A.O.C Alsace grands crus. These grands crus can only be produced from 4 grape varieties: riesling, gewurztraminer, pinot gris and muscat, with one exception: sylvaner grand cru Zotzenberg. 

The label of an Alsace wine usually mentions the name of the grape variety concerned, and may also include a brand name or the words "Edelzwicker" or "Gentil" for a blend of several white grape varieties. Additional geographical indications (lieux-dits, communes, etc.) may also appear. 

Alsace wines (with the exception of Crémant) are still sold in the "Rhine wine" type bottle, known as the "Alsace flute", which is reserved for them by regulations. Since 1972, they must be bottled in their region of production. Alsace Grand Cru wines represent an average annual production of nearly 45,000 hectolitres, or only 4% of all Alsace wines. The Alsace Grand Cru appellation crowns exceptional terroirs, which give the wines a particular expressive strength and authenticity.

For sweet and syrupy wines, the A.O.C Alsace and Alsace grands crus are supplemented by the terms vendanges tardives or sélection de grains nobles for wines made from grapes harvested when very ripe. This is the case for the gewurztraminer Zinnkoepflé grand cru vendanges tardives (Boesch wine).

Established in 1976, A.O.C crémant d'Alsace recognizes the special expertise of our winegrowers in the production of this quality sparkling wine, which today accounts for a quarter of Alsace wine production. Crémant d'Alsace is the leading A.O.C sparkling wine consumed at home in France, after Champagne.

For several years now, a number of Alsace winegrowers have been committed to organic and biodynamic wine production (e.g. Domaine Ostertag in Epfig).

Some of Alsace's finest wine producers are Domaine Paul Blanck, Domaine Bott-Geyl and Albert Mann. Others include Domaine Léon Boesch et Schlumberger, Domaine Marcel Deiss, Domaine Louis Sipp, Domaine Marc Tempé, Domaine Zind-Humbrecht and Domaine Trimbach.

Alsace wines to accompany you from aperitif to dessert

With its fine bubbles, Crémant d'Alsace, served well chilled, opens a delicate meal. Vegetable starters are enhanced with a Muscat d'Alsace. This fruity yet dry white wine is the perfect companion for asparagus and vegetarian dishes based on cooked or raw vegetables. 

Choose an Alsace Pinot Blanc for shellfish, or a Riesling or Sylvaner for fish dishes.

Pinot noir goes well with red meats and game, while pinot gris is best served with roasts, stewed meats, poultry and tripe products.

No meal without cheese! Pinot gris is perfect with hard cheeses (comté, emmental, gruyère, abondance...). Gewurztraminer, on the other hand, is a perfect match for soft cheeses (Munster, Epoisses, Brie, etc.).

And to end on a sweet note, late-harvest Riesling and Gewurztraminer make friends with fruit or chocolate desserts.

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Albert Mann - Alsace Gewurztraminer Grand Cru Furstentum Vendanges Tardives 2022

98/100 James Suckling

gewurztraminer
tagliatelle with porcini mushrooms and diced foie gras
grand cru
late harvest

"A jewel in a bottle!"

"An incredible nose of orange peel and orange blossom. No trace of the usual honey and thick exotic fruit typical of late-harvested gewurz. Incredibly pure and airy on the medium to full-bodied palate, it's a joy to drink. The balance is perfect and the natural sweetness of the grape is already fully integrated. The finish is very long and silky. A harvest that was basket-pressed". (James Suckling 2024)

Albert Mann - Alsace Riesling Grand Cru Furstentum 2022

96/100 RVF

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96/100 James Suckling

riesling
intensity
grand cru

"A high-flying vintage!

"This great dry Riesling shows hints of orange peel and orange blossom, but also a multitude of yellow fruit nuances. Concentrated and succulent, with a wonderful mineral freshness that gives it a fabulous delicacy. The finish is very long and concentrated. And this wine has only just begun to open up. From three parcels of limestone soil, one of which is planted with a massal selection of exceptional genetic diversity." (James Suckling 2024)

Albert Mann - Pinot Noir Clos de la Faille 2022

96/100 James Suckling

complex
long finish
grilled meat

"An Alsatian Pinot Noir with a Burgundian accent!

"I love the spicy aromas of allspice and clove and the generous red fruit character, but what really sets this wine apart is the wonderfully creamy texture that the very fine tannins give it on the mid-palate, and then a terrific minerality appears, giving the finish a dynamism that you wouldn't expect on first impression." (James Suckling 2024)

Marcel Deiss - Rotenberg - La Colline Rouge 2019

95/100 RVF

-

95/100 James Suckling

-

93/100 Robert Parker

complantation
complex
scallop

"Impressive depth of flesh! (RVF) "

"This wine from an unclassified lieu-dit is larger and more complex than many grand crus! Complex aromas of very ripe apricot, papaya, brioche and toast, with excellent structure and bright acidity behind the richness. The finish is long and very complete. A blend of riesling and pinot gris." (James Suckling 2023)

Marcel Deiss - Alsace Grand Cru Schoenenbourg 2019

99/100 Bettane & Desseauve

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97/100 RVF

-

97/100 Yves Beck

to be penned
impressive
grand cru

"The quintessence of Alsace, a fascinating, spellbinding cuvée of freshness and complexity of varied aromas".

"Powerful mineral nose, slightly austere. On the palate, the salinity vibrates, with a background of Corsican clementine and citron aromas. It will go a long way, but you'll have to be patient. It offers great density on the palate. With time, it should approach perfection, if not reach it". (Bettane+Desseauve)

Marcel Deiss - Altenberg de Bergheim Grand Cru 2019

98/100 Bettane & Desseauve

-

98/100 James Suckling

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96/100 Robert Parker

-

95/100 RVF

complantation
Sweet and sour
grand cru

"An impressive wine! (Wine Advocate) "

"Striking nose of toasted rye bread, forest honey, candied orange and dried Persian lemon. Full-bodied and powerful, yet graceful on the palate, with gigantic concentration and spice. There must be some natural sweetness from the grape, but it's lost in the cavernous space of this astonishing wine. It's just beginning to reveal its depth on the gigantic, incredibly complex finish. A blend of traditional grape varieties, with a focus on Riesling". (James Suckling 2023)

Marcel Deiss - Burlenberg 2020

95/100 RVF

powerful
pigeon
long-keeping wine

"Its velvety generosity enchants us (RVF)".

"The Burlenberg red shows advanced grape ripeness, which expresses itself in a tactile sensation of very subtle, grainy, crumbly tannins. Its velvety generosity enchants us". (Le Guide RVF 2025)

Domaine Marcel Deiss - Alsace Grand Cru Altenberg de Bergheim 2004

Wine rated 4.5/5Wine rated 4.5/5Wine rated 4.5/5Wine rated 4.5/5Wine rated 4.5/5

4.5/5 (2 reviews)

98/100 RVF

-

18,5/20 Bettane & Desseauve

-

94/100 Robert Parker

complantation
elegant
grand cru

"A wine for laying down (Bettane+Desseauve)".

"His 2004 Altenberg de Bergheim glows with honey, lily, baking spices, orange liqueur and citrus zest. On the palate, the underlying density evokes minerality [...]. Candied citrus, orange liqueur and marmalade, peach jam, walnut paste, honey and vanilla, as well as the richness of the pastry and the texture of the butter give this wine a pastry character - if you just imagine chalk powders instead of flour. It finishes with remarkable lift and elegance for such a rich wine." (Wine Advocate)

Zind-Humbrecht - Alsace GC Pinot Gris Rangen de Thann Clos Saint Urbain 2016

98/100 Coup de Cœur RVF

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19/20 Bettane & Desseauve

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98/100 James Suckling

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96/100 Wine Enthusiast

pinot gris
intensity
precise
poultry
great wine

"A wine that will stay in your memory!

"Elegant smoky touch, pretty notes of yellow flowers, then fresh banana, on the palate the signature of the terroir is evident with that rubbed match note, it tastes totally dry (2 g!) which makes tasting even more immediate, the balance is splendid thanks to a rare unctuosity in the touch, finish carried by bitters and a roasted toasted note. A great wine" (Bettane+Desseauve)

Domaine Zind-Humbrecht Alsace Pinot Gris Clos Jebsal Sélection de Grains Nobles 2005 (37.5 cl)

98/100 RVF

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97/100 Vinous

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95/100 Robert Parker

elegant
intensity
foie gras

"Grandiose (RVF)

"The Pinot Gris Clos Jebsal Selection de Grains Nobles 2005 can only be described as "out of the ordinary" [...] Aromas of tea, honey, apricot jam and fresh lemon assault you right from the glass. On the palate, it's almost gelatinous, but with a citric intensity and concentration worthy of a laser. [...] Count on a more bearable concentration in 15 to 20 years, and on the fact that it will outlive anyone reading this note today." (Wine Advocate 2008)

Domaine Zind-Humbrecht - Alsace Gewurztraminer Clos de Windsbuhl 2011

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5/5 (3 reviews)

95/100 RVF

-

95/100 Bettane & Desseauve

-

94/100 Robert Parker

-

94/100 Wine Spectator

gewurztraminer
spicy
mineral
salt
pan-fried foie gras

"A lot of class (Bettane+Desseauve) "

"Clos Windsbuhl is perhaps even more revealing of the advantages of a cool, windy, chalky site in a vintage where extremely high must weights were the price to pay for a truly full-flavored Gewurztraminer. Smoked meats, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, lychee, pineapple and the decadent scent of rose and lily combine to create a seductive aroma and a lush, creamy, multi-faceted palate. Not only is the fresh fruit surprisingly juicy on the finish, but the wine also has surprising buoyancy for a wine grading close to 14% alcohol, and a hint of salinity stimulates the salivary glands while perfectly complementing the liquid florality and aura of caramelization that also emerge. There's even a suggestion of chalk and stone to fuse this grandiose tribute to its site, grape variety and producer. The more it's exposed to the air, the more it reveals its charm." (Wine Advocate 2014)

Domaine Weinbach - Alsace Grand Cru Schlossberg Riesling 2022

98/100 James Suckling

riesling
freshness
grand cru

"The oldest cru in Alsace with remarkable finesse!

"How can you resist the delicacy and finesse of this elegant dry Riesling? So light on its feet, despite the major stony minerality that reaches every nook and cranny of your palate. So pure and straightforward in the crystalline finish that just won't stop." (James Suckling 2024)

Domaine Weinbach - Alsace Riesling Cuvée Théo 2022

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5/5 (1 review)

94/100 James Suckling

riesling
tangy fruits
shellfish

"A successful vintage of remarkable refinement".

"At once juicy, concentrated and refined, this is an astonishing wine destined to be drunk more or less every day. Rich aromas of stone fruits, fresh almonds and a touch of tangerine. The very long, silky finish is of stunning balance and finesse." (James Suckling 2024)

Domaine Weinbach - Alsace Les Vignes du Prêcheur 2023

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5/5 (1 review)

93/100 James Suckling

-

91/100 RVF

(Vintage 2022 notes)
assembly
generous
accessible
aperitif

"Thanks to complantation, taste all of Alsace in one bottle!"

Les Vignes du Prêcheur is a cuvée from a parcel below the Kaefferkopf grand cru. A blend of 5 Alsatian grape varieties, this wine reveals seductive aromas of white flowers, peach and apricot. The palate is full-bodied, light and generous, with a tangy texture.

François Braun et Fils - Alsace Gewurztraminer Sainte Cécile blanc 2019

2*Coup de Coeur Hachette

gewurztraminer
harmonious
exotic cuisine

"This 2019 plays a remarkable score (Hachette)"

"Dedicated to the patron saint of musicians, this 2019 plays a remarkable score. Harvested about a month after the start of the harvest, the Gewurztraminer has produced a superb mellowness, a reflection of the grape variety and a fine vintage. From the outset, this wine displays its richness in an intense golden yellow color and a generous, complex nose, with varietal notes (lychee, mango, spices) and more original nuances of violet and toast. Equally aromatic, the palate is full-bodied, unctuous and long-lasting. Fresh, spicy (clove), tinged with a slight bitterness, the finish leaves a memory of rare harmony". (Le Guide Hachette 2025)