Alsace

The Alsace region has strong cultural roots in the history of Germany as well as France, and its wines show elements of both the German and French tradition.

Alsace is located at the northeast corner of France, stretched out in a north-south swath 60 miles long, between the Vosges Mountains on the west and the Rhine River on the east. It lies across the river from the German wine region of Baden and south of the Pfalz. The region is divided into the Bas-Rhin to the north and Haut-Rhin to the south.

Alsace has a cold continental climate due to its northerly location and distance from the ocean. It is also one of the driest parts of France as a result of the rain shadow created by the Vosges. The mountains block rain and humidity coming off the Atlantic and give the region an abundance of sunshine. The sunny, dry summers allow grapes in Alsace to ripen much more fully than those in Champagne and Chablis.

The primary white “noble varieties” include Riesling, Pinot Gris, Muscat, and Gewürztraminer, along with Pinot Blanc and Sylvaner (which are not considered a part of the noble varieties but still are known to produce high quality wines). There are some plantings of Pinot Noir which account for about 3,800 acres total of the region.

There are presently 51 grand crus in Alsace. These grand crus are only permitted to use the noble white grape varieties. There is also the Crémant d’Alsace appellation for sparkling wine – Albert Mann uses a blend of Pinot Blanc, Auxxerois, and Riesling.