Alsace
Alsace
A narrow strip on the French side of the Rhine, sheltered from Atlantic weather by the Vosges mountains — which makes it one of the driest and sunniest places in northern France. It is also the one French region that puts the grape variety on the front label, a habit inherited from its long spells under German rule.
The grapes
Four are designated nobles and are the only ones permitted for Grand Cru: Riesling, dry and firm; Gewurztraminer, strongly aromatic; Pinot Gris, broad and often faintly sweet; and Muscat, grapey and dry. Around them, Pinot Blanc and Sylvaner, Pinot Noir for the region's only red, and Crémant d'Alsace — France's largest-volume Crémant.
The classifications
Fifty-one Grand Cru vineyards, each named on the label. Vendanges Tardives means late-harvested; Sélection de Grains Nobles is made from botrytised fruit. Both denote how the grapes were picked, and both result in sweetness.
Serving
8–10°C. Gewurztraminer and Pinot Gris are better at 10–12°C — over-chilled, the aromatics you paid for do not appear.
One more glass
The tall slim green bottle Alsace uses is called a flûte, and many people read it as a signal that the wine inside is sweet. It signals nothing. The shape is a regional bottling rule — a bone-dry Riesling and a dessert-sweet Sélection de Grains Nobles arrive in the identical bottle.
The reliable guide is the back label, where most producers now print a dryness scale of 1 to 5. Two things worth being clear about: sweetness is not a quality tier — an off-dry Pinot Gris is not a lesser wine than a dry Riesling, it is a different one; and how much residual sugar you enjoy is a preference, not a level of expertise. Tell us which end of the scale you like and we will read the sheet for you.
Filters
MAISON TRIMBACH Riesling Clos Ste. Hune 1.5L 2017 (1x150cl)
MAISON TRIMBACH Riesling Clos Ste. Hune 1.5L 2018 (1x150cl)
MAISON TRIMBACH Gewurztraminer Vendanges Tardives 375ml 2018 (1x37.5cl)
MAISON TRIMBACH Pinot Gris Sélection de Grains Nobles 2005 (1x75cl)
MAISON TRIMBACH Riesling Grand Cru Mandelberg 2021 (1x75cl)
MAISON TRIMBACH Riesling Grand Cru Brand 2020 (1x75cl)
MAISON TRIMBACH Riesling Grand Cru Schlossberg 2020 (1x75cl)
MAISON TRIMBACH Riesling Grand Cru Geisberg 2015 (1x75cl)
Domaine Mittnacht Cuvee Copains Copines Gentil (1x75cl)
BLANCK Auxerrois Vieilles vignes 2019 (1x75cl)
BLANCK Pinot Gris 2020 (Screw Cap) (1x75cl)
BLANCK Riesling 2023 (Screw Cap) (1x75cl)
Famille Hugel Classic Pinot Gris 2022 (1x75cl)
Famille Hugel Classic Pinot Gris 2023 (1x75cl)
Famille Hugel Classic Riesling 2022 (1x75cl)
Famille Hugel Classic Riesling 2023 (1x75cl)
Famille Hugel Gewurztraminer SGN 2010 - Half Bottle (1x37.5cl)
Famille Hugel Riesling Estate 2020 (1x75cl)
Famille Hugel Riesling Vendange Tardive 2012 - Half Bottle (1x37.5cl)
Wolfberger Signature Pinot Blanc 2021 (1x75cl)
Wolfberger Signature Pinot Gris 2022 (1x75cl)
Wolfberger Signature Riesling 2022 (1x75cl)
MAISON TRIMBACH/ALSACE Pinot Noir Réserve 2022 (1x75cl)
MAISON TRIMBACH Riesling Grand Cru Geisberg 2018 (1x75cl)
MAISON TRIMBACH Riesling Cuvée Frédéric Emile Sélection de Grains Nobles 2000 (1x75cl)
MAISON TRIMBACH Gewurztraminer Sélection de Grains Nobles ""Hors Choix"" 2017 (1x75cl)
MAISON TRIMBACH Gewurztraminer Sélection de Grains Nobles 2001 (1x75cl)
MAISON TRIMBACH Gewurztraminer Vendanges Tardives 375ml 2017 (1x37.5cl)
MAISON TRIMBACH Gewurztraminer Vendanges Tardives 2017 (1x75cl)
MAISON TRIMBACH Gewurztraminer Seigneurs de Ribeaupierre 2016 (1x75cl)
MAISON TRIMBACH Riesling 390ème Anniversaire 2016 (1x75cl)
MAISON TRIMBACH Riesling Sélection de Vieilles Vignes 2020 (1x75cl)
MAISON TRIMBACH Pinot Noir Réserve 375ml 2019 (1x37.5cl)
MAISON TRIMBACH Pinot Noir Réserve 2022 (1x75cl)
MAISON TRIMBACH Muscat Réserve 2022 (1x75cl)
MAISON TRIMBACH Riesling Réserve 2022 (1x75cl)
MAISON TRIMBACH Pinot Gris Réserve 375ml 2019 (1x37.5cl)
Schlumberger Pinot Gris Les Princes Abbes 2023 (1x37.5cl)
Schlumberger Pinot Gris Les Princes Abbes 2022 (1x75cl)
Famille Hugel Schoelhammer Riesling 2010 (1x75cl)
Josmeyer Pinot Gris Brand Exception 2009 (1x150cl)
Josmeyer Riesling Les Pierrets 2021 (1x150cl)
Josmeyer Riesling Les Pierrets 2007 (1x150cl)
Josmeyer Riesling Les Pierrets 2002 (1x150cl)
Josmeyer Riesling Grand Cru Hengst Samain 2014 (1x150cl)
Josmeyer Riesling Grand Cru Hengst Samain 2008 (1x150cl)
Josmeyer Riesling Grand Cru Hengst Samain 2000 (1x150cl)
Josmeyer Riesling Grand Cru Hengst Samain 1997 (1x150cl)
- Featured
- Most relevant
- Best selling
- Alphabetically, A-Z
- Alphabetically, Z-A
- Price, low to high
- Price, high to low
- Date, old to new
- Date, new to old