The alsace wine region is one of the oldest wine routes in france. Reading guide to the wines, villages and terroirs of alsace. Villages of the alsace wine route in alsace france offer amazing architecture, great food and wine, and lots of history to explore. Following the french revolution, alsace was divided into two provinces. How about a guide to alsace written by a local private tour guide who spends her time showing small groups around the region. This pretty enclave of fairytale villages in the lee of the forested vosges mountains offers a wide range of varietally labelled wines, of which the aromatic whites are still, despite global warming, much more successful than the light reds. With more than 50 panoramic maps, this brandnew book illustrates and explains the vital connections between the landscape and the wine. Visit alsace official website for tourism in alsace. The best gothic art books to understand french churches 50 beautiful. In his trademark lively and opinionated prose, clarke takes readers on a grand tour of the great wine regions, explaining the flavors behind different wines and how to find the wine you want.
Renowned for its aromatic white wines, the alsace wine region is ideally suited for wine production, with a dry and sunny climate, complex geology, and rich soils. For alsace wine enthusiasts this is a wonderful read, and has just about all the pertinent facts about the region, among them all the famous and less well known varietals, all the major producers, the villages, the grand cru vinyards complete with maps, technical. There is, in my opinion, no french region with a more consistent or more attractive cooperative wine offer than alsace. The alsace wine route has contributed to the fame of alsace wines for the past 60 years. A land of tradition and wine, offering a unique experience. Colmar is the principal centre of the winegrowing region, whose vineyards extend in a narrow strip along the lower slopes of the vosges west of the city. By rooting the narrative in the stories of five prominent winemaking families from frances key wineproducing regions of burgundy, alsace, the loire vally, bordeaux, and champagne, journalists don and petie kladstrup vividly illustrate how men and women risked their lives for a cause that meant saving the heart and soul of france as much as protecting its economy. Alsace is one of the great, underappreciated treasures of the wine world. A history of the alsace wine region october 21, 2016 posted by julien miquel uncategorized although wine may not have been invented in alsace, there is no doubt that it has been enjoyed in the region since immemorial times.
The region effectively keeps its traditions alive as you will be able to discover through delicious cooking and excellent wines and beers, leisure, medieval houses, great cathedrals and so on. Launched in 1953, the alsace wine route is one of the oldest wine routes in france. Discover the wines and regions of frances rhone valley wine. Historically, though, the cooperative movement is immensely significant in alsace and in terms of quality, too, there are many contenders in the frame. To begin to understand the complex world of alsace wines the grapes, the. What should you know about alsace wine as you explore all the wine regions of france. Learn the most important facts about alsace including its major wine grapes and blends. Alsace, with its distinct francogermanic character, stands out from other french wine regions. Cremant dalsace is the regions dry sparkling white wine, made like champagne. Each vineyard has its own page with a map, data, geology, history and characteristics. The region s climate and complex geology are what gives alsace wines an unmistakable character, but the ultimate edge comes from centuries of knowhow, tradition and a healthy dose of innovation. Our essential guide to the alsace wine region wine paths. It has switched between german and french sovereignty several times a history clear not only in the local architecture and culture, but also in the wines. Stevenson traces the historical development of alsace back to the protocelts who settled this.
A few weeks ago, lonely planet released the first book. This simple itinerary of 170km, between strasbourg and mulhouse, invites visitors to discover the beautiful landscapes of alsace and its more than 1. By the end of the century, the region was an autonomous protectorate of france source. Please welcome the region of alsace, the 6th map in the france map series. Alsace sits on the verge of france, with a culture, architecture, and cuisine uniquely its own. Top 10 guide to the alsace wine route travel the guardian. Wine 101 wine style tasting course grapes regional wines regions wine glossary. Alsace wine makers have great respect for their land and are proud of past accomplishment, producing wines which reflect their character authentic, fresh and aromatic. The wines of alsace faber books on wine paperback january, 1993. A guide to alsace varietals from the official us site of alsace wines, with descriptions of appearance, aroma, taste, and pairing suggestions. Bounded by the rhine river on the east and the vosges mountains on the west, this is a green region of hanselandgretel villages, ambitious vineyards, and vibrant cities.
Frances alsace wine region seems a world apart from the rest of france. Alsace wine region let terroirs travels create an intimate tour customized to your needs, or select one of our prepackaged value tours for small groups. During tastings offered by the house, visitors can learn more about the different wines of alsace. Tourism on the alsace wine route official website holiday ideas.
This familyoperated winery, whose wines are certified organic farming, implements a reasoned culture of grapes. In his own inimitable style, tom stevenson has not only profiled 300 producers and every style of alsace wine, but has also analysed all 118 wine villages, 51 grands crus, 84 lieuxdits, 28 clos and 4 wine producing chateaux. The alsace wine route, in the region of grand est, is the most famous wine route in france. Thats not a problem for me, but i thought you might like to read it too, so ive created a condensed history of alsace. During a halfday tour, visit 2 wineries with tastings and learn all about the 7 main types of alsace wines. The best wines of alsace can be described as aromatic and honeyed, even when completely dry. History of the alsace wine region, classification of wine in alsace. With its germanic dialect and french sense of fashion, love of foie gras and choucroute sauerkraut, fine wine and beer, this region often leaves you wondering quite where you are. Frances neighbours 25, french history 48, first world war 2. As a result, everything is geared to serious eating, amazing drinking and good times. The grape varieties that grow there, for the most part, dont grow elsewhere in france. The alsace wine region produces some of frances most unique varietals and this smallgroup tasting tour from strasbourg is the ideal introduction for those short on time.
For alsace wine enthusiasts this is a wonderful read, and has just about all the pertinent facts about the region, among them all the famous and less well known. The french wine guide to alsace vineyards in france, home of riesling, gewurztraminer. Alsace history when the romans conquered alsace in 58 bc, they quickly established viticulture and julius ceasar himself claimed the wine made there was the best of wine produced in gaul. Pamper yourself in one of alsace s 7 outstanding spas.
If you want to know more about strasbourg, this is the book for you. Watch frances alsace, an episode of the rick steves europe tv show. Charming french village of riquewihr riquewihr is one of the crown jewels of the alsace region in france. It offers visitors both neophytes and connoisseurs a wide range of activities related to wine and the vineyard all year round originally a popular touring rally, it has become one of the jewels of the alsace. A history of the alsace wine region social vignerons. For much of its history, alsace was elsass and part of germany. Understanding alsace wine w maps a detailed wine map of alsace, descriptions of the region s wine classifications and a chart displaying the distribution of wine varieties planted in the region. Because of its germanic influence, it is the only appellation dorigine controlee region in france to produce mostly varietal wines, typically from similar grape varieties to those used in german wine.
Alsace the province of alsace stands like a flowerchild referee between germany and france. Alsace grape varieties and styles of wine are as well as some history for. The result is a culture that is a little bit french, a. As a starting point to explore the wine route, theres no better place than the alsatian capital of strasbourg. Travel through time at the castle of hautkoenigsbourg. Colmar is the capital of alsace wines that you can taste along the wine routes or in one of the 100 winstubs.
Alsace wine region history and culture howstuffworks. Alsace halfday wine tour from strasbourg obernai expedia. German, but it was the french who were the first to invade the region. The region has one of the lowest rainfall levels in france 500mm per year. Why, in the land of living fairy tales, of course, where vineyards fade into watercolour distance, hilltop castles send spirits. Producers and traders within the civa conseil interprofessionnel des vins d alsace and the ava association des viticulteurs d alsace, contribute to promoting vins d. The boundless romance of alsace, the enchanting appeal of the towns and villages of the route des vins and the unique mixture of german and french viticultural tradition all blends together to create a wine region and wines like no other. One of the few towns not be greatly damaged in world war ii, it still retains its original medieval charm and was the inspiration for the village in beauty and the beast. Alsace wine or alsatian wine is produced in the alsace region in france and is primarily white wine.
He sets the scene by succinctly summarising the region s rich and colourful history. How alsace cooperatives saved growers and wines to try. What should you know about alsace wine as you explore all the wine. Alsace is a lovely and fascinating region of eastern france to explore, with impressive cities such as strasbourg and colmar, the alsace wine route to follow, historical castles set on isolated hilltops, pretty villages sitting quietly in the vineyards and forests of the region, and large areas of. In alsace, the wines are mostly named after the variety of the grapes, and not by the. Along with austria and germany, it produces some of the most noted dry rieslings in the world as well as highly aromatic gewurztraminer wines. Check out a map of the region and some amazing photos of what its like to be there. With the decline of the roman empire, the region fell to the allemans, a people who would give it its language. Ask the french what they think of alsace and watch them grow mistyeyed with nostalgia and affection for this most idiosyncratic of regions, which borders switzerland to the south and germany to the east. Explore alsace holidays and discover the best time and places to visit. Official website for tourism on the alsace wine route. After the wines of one vast country last week australia today we turn.
Terroirs travels will design itineraries, recommend and reserve hotels, restaurants, transportation, english speaking guides, cultural activities, special events and so much more. Travel with rick on this video guide to alsace, france, and find out what to do on your next trip. This 600 page book profiles 300 producers, 118 wine villages, 51 grands. Follow the scenic alsace wine route, pass through the traditional villages of mittelbergheim, barr, and obernai.
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