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Sunday drive in alsacian vineyards |
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 There are few Sunday drives more charming than the one that takes you on the small roads that weave through the vineyards of Alsace. The route is a pleasant one, and one weaves their way past ruined fortresses while making their way through romantic towns that retain much of their medieval charm. Alsatians treasure their wines and their vineyards are spread along the entire length of the eternally green Vosges Mountains and along the hills lining the Rhine.
There are two major differences between the wines of Alsace and those found in most other parts of France.
First, because many of the vines planted here originated in Germany, Alsatian wines are more German in character than French. Even the bottles, with long, sloping sides are similar to German bottles. The fact is however, that the soil of Alsace is radically different than that found only a few kilometers away in Germany, and these wines have a character uniquely their own.
The second difference is that unlike most French wines that carry the name of a specific region or town, Alsatian wines are usually varietals that take their names from the grapes from which they are made.
Wines produced from the Riesling grape are the most highly regarded wines of the region. Dryer than most German Riesling, the Alsatian wines have a fresh, flowery bouquet, good character and a pleasing style and depth.
Running close in quality and popularity to the Riesling are those wines known as Gewurztraminer, and some feel that these are the most typically Alsatian wines. "Gerwurz" means spicy, so the name means "spicy Traminer" and these spicy wines, with their unusual scent and taste go well with heavy Alsatian foods. Fruity but dry, a chilled bottle of this crisp wine is the perfect match for foie gras. Full bodied and full tasting, with its enormous bouquet, it is also an ideal match to the heavy choucroute garni of the area.
Nearly all of the regional wines are white and other important grapes are the Sylvaner, Pinot Noir and Muscat, all of which produce wines that are dryer than those of the same grapes that grow in other regions.
More modest grapes like Zwicker, Traminer, Knipperle and Chasselas make for light, pleasant table wines. At their best these are light and fresh and all are worth trying.
Daniel Rogov
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Posted on Tuesday, March 28 @ 01:47:14 MST by pierre
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