Alsace wine
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Alsatian wine (French: Vin d'Alsace) has a long history. The wine producing region of Alsace in France primarily produces white wines. Its wines, which have a strong Germanic influence, have the Appellation d'Origine Contrôlées Alsace AOC, Alsace Grand Cru AOC and Crémant d'Alsace AOC. Along with Austria and Germany, it produces some of the most noted dry Rieslings in the world. Because of its Germanic influence, it is the only region in France to produce mostly varietal wines, typically from similar grapes as used in German wine. France has agreed to stop calling its wine Tokay.
Wine styles
Almost all wines are white, except those made from the pinot noir grape which are pale red, often rosé. Typically they are dry, although some are off dry (and not labelled as such, causing confusion among buyers). There are two late harvest styles, vendange tardive and Sélection de Grains Nobles (SGN) (similar to German trockenbeerenauslese). Sparkling wines known as Crémant d'Alsace are also made.
Grape Varieties
- Sylvaner
- Muscat grape
- Riesling
- Gewürztraminer
- Clevner de Heiligenstein
- Auxerrois Blanc
- Pinot Blanc
- "Tokay" / Pinot gris / Tokay Pinot Gris (The use of any form of Tokay is being phased out to avoid trading on the name of wines from Tokaji.
- Pinot noir
Growers
Some of the best known growers include Trimbach, Hugel, Zind-Humbrecht, and Josmeyer.
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