Alsace
Northeastern France, a narrow strip between the Vosges mountains and the Rhine river along the German border.
One of France's driest and most protected regions; the Vosges shield the vineyards from Atlantic rain, giving long sunny autumns.
Alsace sits on the fault line between France and Germany and has inherited the best of both: German varieties like Riesling and Gewürztraminer, raised with French polish and dryness. Its flûte-shaped bottles hold some of the most aromatic white wines on earth.
These are among France's most food-friendly whites - dry, precise and powerful with the region's own cuisine of sausages, choucroute and tarte flambée.
For the buyer, Alsace offers the best-value white wines in France, especially its aromatic Gewürztraminer and Pinot Gris.
Terroir & Soil
A patchwork of soils - granite, schist, limestone, sandstone - over the geological fault line between France and Germany.
What to Expect from the Wines
- · Alsace is one of the world's greatest white-wine regions, famous for Riesling, Gewürztraminer and Pinot Gris.
- · Unlike most of France, Alsace wines are made single-varietal and named for the grape - unusually straightforward.
- · Grand Cru and Vendanges Tardives (late harvest) and Sélection de Grains Nobles (botrytis) are the prestige tiers.
Remarkable Bottles from Alsace
All wines →Trimbach Clos Sainte Hune
Alsace · 2024 (representative vintage)
Trimbach Clos Sainte Hune is an white wine from France, in the Alsace region (Northeastern France, a narrow strip between the Vosges mountains and the Rhine river along the German border.), made principally from Riesling. The Alsatian Riesling benchmark — two hectares in Ribeauvillé producing one of the world's great dry whites.
$250–$450 est. retail
Alsace Riesling
Alsace · 2024 (representative vintage)
Alsace Riesling is an white wine from France, in the Alsace region (Northeastern France, a narrow strip between the Vosges mountains and the Rhine river along the German border.), made principally from Riesling. a house-style Alsace riesling that showcases the grape in this region.
$12–$28 est. retail
Alsace Gewürztraminer
Alsace · 2024 (representative vintage)
Alsace Gewürztraminer is an white wine from France, in the Alsace region (Northeastern France, a narrow strip between the Vosges mountains and the Rhine river along the German border.), made principally from Gewürztraminer. a house-style Alsace gewürztraminer that showcases the grape in this region.
$12–$28 est. retail
Alsace Pinot Grigio
Alsace · 2024 (representative vintage)
Alsace Pinot Grigio is an white wine from France, in the Alsace region (Northeastern France, a narrow strip between the Vosges mountains and the Rhine river along the German border.), made principally from Pinot Grigio. a house-style Alsace pinot grigio that showcases the grape in this region.
$12–$28 est. retail
Alsace Muscat
Alsace · 2024 (representative vintage)
Alsace Muscat is an white wine from France, in the Alsace region (Northeastern France, a narrow strip between the Vosges mountains and the Rhine river along the German border.), made principally from Muscat. a house-style Alsace muscat that showcases the grape in this region.
$12–$28 est. retail
Alsace Pinot Noir
Alsace · 2024 (representative vintage)
Alsace Pinot Noir is an red wine from France, in the Alsace region (Northeastern France, a narrow strip between the Vosges mountains and the Rhine river along the German border.), made principally from Pinot Noir. a house-style Alsace pinot noir that showcases the grape in this region.
$14–$34 est. retail
Food Pairing
- · Riesling pairs with seafood, sushi and lightly spiced dishes.
- · Gewürztraminer and Pinot Gris stand up to aromatic Thai, Indian and Moroccan cuisine.
- · Crémant d'Alsace is a superb aperitif.
Buying from Alsace
- › Riesling is the great white of Alsace - dry, steely and a noble match for food.
- › Gewürztraminer is explosively aromatic and best with spicy Asian cuisine.
- › Vendanges Tardives and Sélection de Grains Nobles are the iconic sweet wines from botrytis.