An Unobvious Holiday Destination

If you’re planning to visit the vineyards on your next holiday, why not consider the Alsace.  It may not be the most obvious place to visit and it certainly may not be as popular a destination as Bordeaux or Burgundy, but that is arguably as good a reason as any for making the trip. 

A Welcome Smile

The Alsace lies east of Paris, on the border with Germany, and runs parallel along the river Rhine from Strasburg, in the north, to the southern town of Mulhouse just north of the Swiss border.  One thing is for sure, the Alsatians will welcome you with open arms.  There are so many attractions to the area; not least a superb climate that ensures an abundance of sunshine while at the same time offers sufficient rainfall, on the Vosges Mountains that lie to the west of the region, to supply water to the vineyards. The local cuisine is wonderful and manages to combine the delicacy of French fare with the wholesomeness of German food.  As is true of most places the local wines match perfectly the local cuisine, but what I particularly like is the variety of wines to be found in the area.  Unlike Burgundy, where most wines are either Pinot Noir or Chardonnay,  Alsace wine law permits the use of more than seven grape varietals.  Wines are also, by French standards, very simple to understand.  This is one of the few regions in France where the grape variety is clearly indicated on the label. Blended wines are less common here, as most wines are made from a single grape, and the vast majority of wine is white.

Abundant Grape Varieties    

The grapes to be found in Alsace are: Sylvaner, a remarkably fresh and light wine with delicate flavour;  Riesling, a dry, refined and delicately fruity wine, with an unusual nose of mineral and petrol notes;  Pinot Blanc, a well-rounded yet delicate wine combining freshness yet softness on the palate;  Muscat d’Alsace, a dry example of this grape very different from the sweet style of southern France, it is aromatic, fruity and fresh;  Tokay Pinot Gris, my favourite, offering a floral nose with a rich and full-bodied palate that can be slightly smoky;  Gewürztraminer, a full-bodied, off-dry, rich, spicy, and well structured wine probably best known of all the Alsace wines;  Pinot Noir, the only red variety, producing red and rosé wines, it is probably my least favourite of the wines produced here;

Germanic Style  

Alsace produces circa 150 million bottles a year, two-thirds of which is consumed in France -- mostly in the Alsace, while the rest is exported mainly to other countries within Europe.  The villages are very Germanic in style, with narrow cobble-stone streets, half-timbered houses and flower-decked balconies, clustered around traditional church steeples.  It is usually easy to find accommodation along the way in small local inns or guesthouses, and there are several vineyards that offer accommodation too. 

Visiting Colmar is a Must!

The town of Colmar is my favourite destination in Alsace and, despite repeated visits to this small quaint town; I never tire of the sights and sounds and, of course, the marvellous restaurants offering the local cuisine and wine.  Most vineyards up and down the region welcome visitors to try their wines.  Indeed, on one such visit I was invited into the winemaker’s house and was treated to a taste of each wine from his entire portfolio, along with some nibbles of local cheeses and bread. I even tried a 10 year old Grand Cru Gewürztraminer – absolutely wonderful. I confess that the boot of my car was rather heavy on the long journey home.

Worth a Visit

So next time you’re planning a holiday, do give the Alsace some thought.  And while you’re planning your trip, to get you in the mood, why not try our new range of wines from Domaine Bleger.  They are fresh in stock, exclusive to Essentially Wine, and definitely well worth a try.