Ready to cool off with some refreshing white wines in tall slender bottles? This Month we are focusing our attention of wines from Germany and Alsace, France. While on opposite sides of a political boundary, these two neighboring regions bear many similarities.
The Alsace region of northeastern France has historically belonged to Germany several times. This isolated area is separated from the rest of France by the Vosges Mountains, and the unique culture and language of Alsace bear Germanic influence. The Rhine River separates Alsace from Germany, where steep vineyards on riverside hills grow some of the most singular white wines in the world. The cool climate in these two regions makes them especially well-suited for the production of white wines.
Regions
Germany
Germany’s wine growing regions are situates in the southwestern corner of the country, on the borders with Alsace. Many of Germany’s best vineyards are on the steepest slopes overlooking rivers. Not able to utilize machinery, the high cost of cultivation is justified by the quality of wines they can produce. Most German vine labels carry the name of the region in which the wine was produced Named after rivers, these regions include Rheinhessen, Pfalz, Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, and the Rheingau.
Grapes Grown in Germany: Riesling, Riesling, and more Riesling! Several other white varietals as well as Pinot Noir are cultivated in Germany, but thankfully they stick to what they do best. Riesling is Germany's claim to fame in the wine world. And as long as you're not afraid of a little sugar, the finest examples in the world come from here. German Rieslings are flowery, honeyed, steely, and minerally. They possess a crackling vibrant quality. It is the German tradition to produce Rieslings in varying levels of off-dryness.
The labels full of unfamiliar words can be intimidating, but familiarizing yourself with these ripeness levels will prove very helpful:
Kabinett - a good-quality Riesling that will be off-dry
Spatlese - late harvest, more concentrated, and sweeter
Auslese - very late harvest, well concentrated, and much sweeter
Beerenauslese - very, very late harvest, we're in official dessert wine territory now
Trokenbeerenauslese- mind-blowing nectar, abbreviated “TBA” for good reason
Alsace
Long cool growing season and an average rainfall that is one of the lowest in France. Narrow vineyard strip runs north-south along the contours of the Vasges mountains. Variety of soil types
Grapes Grown in Alsace
90 percent of wines from Alsace are white.
Gewurztraminer rich weight, usually dry to off dry, low acidity, spicy, floral, flavors of lychee
Riesling almost invariably bone dry, floral, crisp acidity, pure fruit, minerally
Pinot Gris combines some of the spicy flavors of Gewurztraminer with the firm backbone and acidity found in Riesling peach, apricot, smoke. The same grape that Italy calls Pinot Grigio, though very different in style. When grown here in Alsace.
Muscat Alsatian Muscat is always dry with a fresh, floral aroma, young, crisp, fruity
Residual Sugar
The sweetness in some of these whites was not added to the wine. The sugar in the wine is the sugar that was originally in the grape juice. In the fermentation process, yeast convert sugar into alcohol. In a dry (the opposite of sweet) wine, all of the sugar molecules are fermented into alcohol. But if the fermentation process is stopped along the way, you get a wine with a bit of residual sugar (and a lower alcohol level). Yum.
Food Pairing
These wine is astoundingly versatile. Despite being light and delicate, they really stands up to assertive foods such as onions, sausage (frequently found in Alsatian cuisine). What’s more, these whites are subtle enough not to overpower the delicate flavors of sushi. And they always make a great aperitif.
Still exotic and expressive, this Gewurztraminer is not overbearing. Aromas of rose petals, flavors of lychee and peaches, with just a small bit of sweetness on the palate.
A perennial favorite, Monchhoff has just changed to the 2006 vintage. This off-dry Riesling exhibits floral aromas followed by flavors of pears. Displays terrific balance.
This late harvest Riesling is richly sweet, but still maintains a delicate lacey texture with its acidity and mineral character. How do they say “ooh-la-la” in German?
If you'd like to explore the wines of Germany & Alsace
in depth, come to one of our Tasting Events (click here)
