The basis of any wine story in this region should be the Alsatian Wine Road. Just to drive  would be enough, because this road tells the stories itself, just while traveling on it. Not for nothing is it called a living picture postcard.

It is worth giving you some more details about the major grape varieties, a total of seven, and some interesting points regarding their classification. After some more general information we invite you to come to Alsace and experience of  living in a picture postcard.

The seven

Seven different names, seven different tastes: Sylvaner, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Riesling, Muscat and Gewürztraminer. Here you find the first characteristic of the region, it is the white wine region in France. Six of the seven grapes are white wine grapes, whereas only the Pinot Noir is a red wine. The tastes of the wines range from light and fruity for the Pinot Blanc and the Sylvaner to the spicy, opulent and stronger Muscat, Pinot Gris and Traminer. And above all the excellent whites, like the king over his subjects, floats the best of the best, the Riesling. The only red (or rose) wins people over with its fruity cherry like taste. You will also find an Alsatian speciality called the Edelzwicker, which is not  a grape but a blend of several white wines, where the secret of  the blend lies with the winemaker.

The classification

A total of three classifications are given, two to the wines and one to sparkling wine. The wine classification are the AOC Alsace (AOC stands for Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée, means controlled bottling in this region), and the AOC Grand Cru, where you only find the Muscat, Pinot Gris, Gewurtztraminer and himself, the Riesling. The sparkling wine, called the Crémant, is classified as AOC Crémant d’Alsace, predominantly bottle fermented Pinot Blanc, but also Pinot Gris and Noir and sometimes Chardonnay.

Now…..

…you are nearly armed for the adventure “Wine” in Alsace. But we don’t want to let you go before we have recommended to you some things you should not miss while visiting the Wine Road. You should not miss visiting a winegrower in his cellar and let him introduce his wines to you, a lot of  stories and anecdotes will make you remember this visit. Of course, you should not miss one of the 50 wine fairs during the warm summer months, enjoying an inspiring evening with excellent wine in an outstanding ambience. Last and not least: Don’t forget to eat Alsatian gourmet food, it will make your wine more delicious.