Alsace is primarily known for its white wines, though some red, rose, and sparkling wines are also produced. The grape varieties grown there are unique to the Alsace region. It has a semi-continental climate with hot summers and cold winters. The soils vary from sand to granite to clay. Alsace uses a classification system including Grand Cru for its highest quality wines, and designates wines by grape variety and sometimes vineyard. The main grape varieties grown are Riesling, Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer, and Pinot Blanc.

1. Alsace
Alsace is primarily a white wine region, though some red rose, sparkling and fortified wines are
also produced. They are so typical that the grape varieties used there only grown in Alsace and
no-where else in France. And it is known as the smallest wine region in France with semi-
continental with hot summers and cold winters with frequent snowfall weather. Very diverse soil
types; sand, granite, clay and marl (with volcanic soil on Rangen and Kastelberg grands crus).
The ribbon-shaped Alsace situated north - East of France. It is bordered on the West by the
Vosges Mountain and on the East by the Rhine River which separates it from Germany. Alsace is
rich in cultural heritage of local French/Swiss/German.
The wine classification in Alsace includes as in Bordeaux and Burgundy a “grand Cru” grade to
distinguish the best of the best.
AOC Alsace Grand Cru: followed by the name of the grape variety and by the name of the
vineyard where the wine comes from.
AOC Alsace: followed usually by the name of the grape variety such as Gewurztraminer, Riesling,
Pinot Blanc, Sylvaner.
AOC Cremant d’Alsace: A sparkling wine
Riesling: it is an aromatic grape variety displaying flowery, sometimes petrol almost perfumed
as well as high acidity. It makes dry, semi-sweet, sweet and sparkling white wines.
Pinot Gris/Grigio: it is a full-body, dry white wine with a long lasting finish. It is such a rich
round white that is can even replace red wine with a red meat dish. However white meat is
generally recommended with Pinot Gris. It can be served with Foie Gras.
Pinot Blanc: it makes fresh, dry wines of Burundian character.
Gewurztraminer: it makes spicy, aromatic and grapey wines. It can be floral, solid and rich with
oily and flat.
Wine label terms:
Edelzwicker: this is white wine made from a blend of “noble” (edel) grape varieties, Chasselas
and Sylvaner being most common.
Vendage Tradive: This describes wine from one of the four main varieties-Gewurztraminer,
Pinot Gris, Riesling or Muscat – made using very ripe grapes. These are harvest later than normal,
the German equivalent is Auslese.
Selection de Grains Nobles: This wine is made from individually selected, nobly-rotten grapes.
Made only in very warm years, it is always lusciously sweet and can age for 10 to 20 years.