Location and terroir
Alsace lies in the north-east of France between the Rhine and the Vosges. The vineyards extend over a foothill plain and a succession of slopes, which are mostly at elevations of between 200 and 400 metres. Southern and south-eastern exposures increase the amount of sunshine.
Climate and geology
The semi-continental climate is sunny, warm and comparatively dry, as the Vosges weaken the influence of the ocean. With around 500 to 650 millimetres of annual rainfall, the wine-growing region is among the drier parts of France. Warm days and cool autumn nights favour a slow, long ripening, the development of aromas and the preservation of acidity. Geologically, the area includes, among other things, granite, gneiss, sandstone, slate, limestone, marl, clay, loess and alluvial deposits. It is divided into the Vosges, sub-Vosges hills and the Rhine plain.
Viticulture and wine styles
In Alsace, organic and biodynamic viticulture is widespread. The simplest or double Guyot pruning system is regarded as the most important training method. Harvesting is carried out mostly by hand; the grapes are brought in vats or regional harvest containers, the cuvées, to the cellars. Significant grape varieties include Riesling, Pinot Blanc, Sylvaner, Muscat, Pinot Gris, Gewürztraminer and Pinot Noir. The range extends from fresh, dry and full-bodied white wines through sweet wines and Pinot Noir to the sparkling wine Crémant d’Alsace. Vendanges Tardives and Sélection de Grains Nobles stand for sweet wines made from over-ripe or carefully selected, noble-rot-affected berries.
History and designation of origin
After the Roman conquest, viticulture in Alsace was expanded systematically. In the Middle Ages and particularly in the late Middle Ages, as well as during the Renaissance, it experienced a major boom; wines were traded along the Ill and the Rhine. AOC Alsace has been recognised since 1962, AOC Alsace Grand Cru since 1975 and AOC Crémant d’Alsace since 1976. Alsace comprises 51 recognised Grand Cru appellations. Since 1984, Vendanges Tardives and Sélection de Grains Nobles have been permitted as regulated designations, and since 2011 additional communal and lieu-dit names as well.
