Alsace is a French wine region on the border of Germany and the Rhine River. characterised by pretty villages, elegant wines and vineyards between the foot of the Vosges mountains to the west and the Rhine on the east. It enjoys a semi-continental climate with cold and dry winters and hot summers. An area previously held by Germany, the wine bottles and labels have a distincly German style, but most Alsace wines finish dry rather than medium as in German wines. There are however some superb late-harvest dessert wines produced in Alsace. In Alsace wines are largely identifies by grape variety, such as Riesling, Gewurztraminer etc
An often underrated wine region until properly explored, Alsace may be France’s most unique appellation. Alsace’s rich heritage intertwines French and German influence, due to its geographical position. It sits on the border of the two countries, and has been contested over many times throughout history. As a result, the dual influence blends into one in many aspects. Long, slender bottles contain famously aromatic wines made with German grapes like Riesling and Gewürztraminer – but in a classic French style. If you’re a fan of German Riesling, you can expect the French iteration to be much drier, but just as delicious. And once you delve into Alsace wines, it’s hard not to fall in love.