Alsace wine

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The vineyards of Alsace extends throughout Alsace between Strasbourg (Departement du Bas-Rhin) in the north and Mulhouse (Department of Haut-Rhin) in the South. The production area is 14,800 hectares spread over 119 municipalities.  Along hundreds of miles, and virtually seamless, is a vineyard which has a width ranging from 1.5 to 3km.

Geography

The production area is the Rhine valley, with a north-south orientation. The vines grow on the eastern foothills of the Vosges and in small valleys that incise. The most popular wines are from the region of north-west of Colmar. The entire production area is traversed over a length of 170km, the wine route in Alsace.
Wine Route in Alsace
Only 67 of 119 communes producing the great plain of Alsace are on their way to the “Wine Route in Alsace”, as defined in May 1953.  It includes more than 300 wineries. It crosses the departments of Bas-Rhin and Haut-Rhin. Colmar hosts a wine school and an institute, the institute wine of Oberlin. Both work to improve viticultural practices in Alsace.
In the Bas-Rhin
Avolsheim
Andlau 
Barr
Blienschwiller
Dambach-la-Ville
Gertwiller
Marlenheim
Mittelbergheim
Molsheim
Obernai
Ottrott
Orschwiller
Rosheim

Map distribution of the vines in Alsace

In the department of Haut-Rhin
Ammerschwihr
Beblenheim
Bergheim
Cernay (Haut-Rhin)
Colmar
Gueberschwihr
Guebwiller
Eguisheim
Hunawihr
Husseren-les-Chateaux
Katzenthal
Kaysersberg
Kientzheim
Mittelwihr
Ribeauville
Riquewihr
Rouffach
Rodern
Rorschwihr
Saint-Hippolyte
Sigolsheim
Soultz
Thann
Turckheim
Westhalten
Wintzenheim
Wettolsheim
Zellenberg
Climate and soil

The prevailing westerly winds lose their moisture on the western slopes of the Vosges, and come in the form of katabatic winds, dry and warm in the plain of Alsace. The average amount of rainfall is the lowest of all French vineyards.

Thus, the climate is temperate (with an average annual temperature higher than 1.5°C) than would be expected at this latitude. The climate is continental with dry springs, hot dry summers sunny long autumns and cold winters. The soils are varied and complex. A sedimentary layer of chalk, marl and sandstone, covers ancient rocks: Vosges granite; gneiss and slate. The great wines grow mainly on marl or granite.

Winemaking

In general, the wine is white, using traditional methods. The wine ages for between six and twelve months in large oak casks.

Grapes

Tokay Pinot Gris, Riseling, Pinot Gris, Muscat, Gewurztraminer, Vendange Tardive
are the main grape varieties.  Also grown in Germany: Riesling; Gewurztraminer and Sylvaner. It also uses Pinot Gris (also known as Tokay d’Alsace, but this designation is no longer permitted), Muscat d’Alsace Pinot blanc or Klevner, not to be confused with Klevenerde Heiligenstein. Pinot noir is the only pink or red grape of the region. It is the basis of designations Pinot Noir, Red Ottrott, Red Stephansberg, etc.

The Edelzwicker, like the Gentile is a blend of several varietals. Cremant d’Alsace is a white sparkling wine, made from Pinot blanc and Pinot gris, vinified from the 19th century, from champagne. Also used are Auxerrois, Chardonnay (which is only produced in the production of Cremant), Riesling and Pinot noir (production of Blanc de Noirs).
A grape, the Chasselas is mostly consumed as table grapes and is rarely vinified.

Riesling is the most characteristic grape of Alsace. Unlike the German variety, it is a dry wine that age well, like half-dry (sweet) grapes. Sylvaner is abundant in the less prestigious areas of the region.  Pinot noir is the only red grape of Alsace, used to make red wines slightly colored.

Gewurztraminer occupies a growing area. It has a very strong character, and provides ample and generous wines. Pinot Blanc also called Klevner, is a dry and fresh white wine. Much of the production is for the production of sparkling wines, marketed under the name of Cremant d’Alsace.  Pinot gris, also known formerly as Tokay d’Alsace, is less abundant. The link with the Hungarian Tokay variety is quite difficult to establish, and the name is no longer officially used, to avoid confusion. There are two forms, Muscat d’Alsace and Muscat Ottonel.  Other varieties such as Chasselas and Pinot Auxerrois are confidential.