The
Alsace Wines
Names of Controlled origins (A.O.C.)
Historic
The history of Alsace wine can be traced
back to the first centuries, when the Romans legions introduced
the cultivation of the vine and the production of wine to
the left bank of the river Rhine. To the VI Th. century, Gregory
of Tours mentioned the characteristically grape flavour of
Alsace wines. During the Middle Ages, these wines were among
the most renowned and the most expensive wines of Europe and
honoured all the Royal tables. The wine growers assured the
fame of their wines by strictly rules of production and of
grape selection. Unfortunately, the thirty Year's War that
ravaged Alsace and decimated its population. It was only after
the first World war, that the vineyards regained their former
reputation. Today, after more of a half century of a harsh
politics of quality, the Alsace is proud to be one of the
most highly respected AOC wine regions of France.
Beginning on the outskirts of Strasbourg, the capital of Europe,
the Alsace vineyards extend for about one hundred kilometres
southwards along the foothills of the Vosges mountains, at
an altitude of between 200 and 400 metres. Some 14 000 hectares
produce about 150 millions bottles of wine per year, and sheltered
from oceanic influences by the bulk of the Vosges, enjoy a
semi-continental climate that is particularly sunny, warm
and dry. Precipitation is one of the weaker of France (400mm/year).
This climate ensures slow, extended ripening of the grapes
which in turn favours the development of extremely elegant
aromas in the wine.
The vineyards
Situated along the fault zone that give
birth to the Rhine basin, the vineyard region of Alsace is
geologically extremely varied (granite, gneiss, limestone…)which
explains its multitude of vineyards and the diversity of grape
varieties.
In average the annual production of Alsace wines, rises to
a million hectolitres of name of controlled origins, of which
93 % are white and 7 % red or pink.
The Alsace wines are coming from seven grapes : Sylvaner,
Pinot Blanc, Riesling, Muscat d'Alsace, Tokay Pinot Gris,
Gewurztraminer and Pinot Noir. In contrast to the usage of
the other wine countries in France, it's not the terror but
the grape himself that gives his name to the Alsace wine
