The ABC of Alsace Wines!

The Alsace vineyards: a long history and reputation

Dry and sunny, the Alsace region offers ideal conditions for wine growing. According to some historians, it was the Romans who first brought vines to Alsace, while others believe it was during the early Middle Ages.

Viticulture then flourished under the influence of monastic orders, particularly the Carolingians. Highly renowned in the Middle Ages, Alsace wines were in great demand, with their quality assured by Alsatian winegrowers, who quickly established rules for selection and production. In the 16th century, the Alsace wine production area covered twice the size of the current vineyard.

After the Thirty Years' War, a large part of the vineyards were destroyed. The long reconstruction of the Alsace vineyards was completed after the First World War, and especially after 1945, when a quality policy was introduced. This reached its peak in 1962, when the A.O.C. Alsace was recognized by the Institut National des Appellations d'Origine Contrôlées (National Institute of Controlled Designations of Origin). This was followed in 1975 by the A.O.C. Alsace Grand Cru and then in 1976 by the A.O.C. Crémant d'Alsace.

In 2013, the vineyard covered more than 15,000 hectares, which is modest in size compared to the other major French vineyards.

Alsace wines: types and characteristics

One of the main characteristics of Alsace wines is that they are all made from a single grape variety, with the exception of Edelzwicker (which is a blend).

The grape varieties authorized in Alsace are:

• Riesling, the most characteristic grape variety, which produces dry wines that age well, but also sweet wines (late harvests)
• Pinot Blanc and Auxerrois, which are used in particular in the production of Crémant d'Alsace
• Gewurztraminer, a powerful grape variety that is only authorized in France in the Haut-Rhin, Bas-Rhin, and Moselle regions
• Pinot Gris, formerly known as Tokay d'Alsace
• Pinot Noir, the only red grape variety grown in Alsace
• Sylvaner and Muscat
• A few other grape varieties are grown on small areas, such as Savagnin Rose, used for the Klevener de Heiligenstein communal appellation

Alsace wine production is therefore mainly composed of white wines and sparkling wines, with Pinot Noir accounting for only 12% of the total.