France

Alsace considers Riesling as one of its "noble grape varieties", which is an exclusive club of four varieties from which Grand Cru wines can be made (the other three being Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris and Muscat). Most Alsatian Rieslings are dry, although there are exceptions and alcohol levels tend to be around 13% or even higher, because all of the residual sugar is fermented out. And the grapes tend to accumulate quite a bit of sugar in France's driest wine region, where the Vosges Mountains shelter the area from rain clouds coming from the Atlantic.

Producers and tasting notes

• Alsace

• Beyer
• Blanck
• Hugel
• Josmeyer
• Kreydenweiss (B)
• Mann (O)
• Trimbach
• Zind-Humbrecht (B)

News

Hail destroys entire vineyards in Alsace

On June 20th hail and heavy rain destroyed large parts of several vineyards in Alsace. The Grand Cru vineyard Mambourg was amongst the ones that had been hit the worst. Domaine Blanck reported a 60% loss of their vines on that vineyard. Other domaines affected by the hail were Trimbach and Weinbach. At Bennwihr, Beblenheim and Mittelwihr entire vineyards were destroyed.

Since it usually takes a vines 2 years to recover from severe hail damage, not only the 2007 but the 2008 vintage will be affected, as Emanuelle Kreydenweiss from Domaine Marc Kreydenweiss in Andlau pointed out to me.

The 51st Alsace Grand Cru

For many people long overdue, the Kaefferkopf vineyard in Ammerschwihr has finally been awarded the status of AOC Alsace Grand Cru. Its 71 hectares lie on granite and limestone and its wines have for long been held in high esteem.

Kaefferkopf wines are either single variety wines made from either Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris or Riesling. A fourth wine is a blend of these three varieties with the possible addition of a maximum of 10% Muscat (Ottonel or Alexandria).

About 4% of the total wine production in Alsace are Grand Cru wines.