Alsace ranks tenth out of the eleven French winemaking regions in terms of its acreage devoted vineyards. But dont be mislead by statistics; little Alsace is a major producer of quality French wine. Its wine growing area is barely 60 miles (100 kilometers) long, and at most 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) wide tucked between the Vosges Mountains to the west and the Rhine River and Germany to the east. But this relatively tiny area is famous for its distinctive wines. Their wine bottles are also distinctive; tall and thin with labels that feature the grape variety, not the usual practice in France. Chaptalization (adding sugar to the fermenting grape mixture) is allowed for many wine categories.

About 95% of Alsace wine is white. The major white grape varieties are Gewurztraminer, Muscat, Pinot Gris, and Riesling, reviewed below. Its secondary white grape varieties include Pinot Blanc, Sylvaner, and Muscat. The major red grape variety is Pinot Noir, reviewed in a companion article in this series.

The beautiful Vosges mountains are located in eastern France near the Rhine River and Black Forest of western Germany. To a large extent they are composed of granite and red sandstone. Their highest point is the Grand Ballon (also called Ballon de Guebwiller) with an elevation of about 4600 feet (slightly more than 1424 meters). The vineyards of its eastern slopes have an elevation of up to 1300 feet (400 meters).

The Vosges mountains are great for tourists. Attractions include beautiful forests, several castles in ruins, and health resorts. If you are so inclined you can hike their usually gentle slopes and are never far from vineyards and restaurants serving delicious foods and local wines. After all, you are on the Alsace Wine Route, at least for the eastern slopes. Dont forget the winter skiing. The southern Vosges, near the village of Bussang, is home to a lovely fountain exploiting a spring that originates in the Moselle River. I hope you dont mind that this particular area is just over the border in Lorraine.

Before reviewing the Alsatian wine and imported cheeses that we were lucky enough to purchase at a local wine store and a local Italian food store, here are a few suggestions of what to eat with indigenous wines when touring this beautiful region.
Start with Schniederspaetle (Onion Ravioli).
For your second course savor Brochet dI a la creme (Pike in White Wine and Cream Sauce).
And as dessert indulge yourself with Strudel aux Pommes (Apple Strudel).

OUR WINE REVIEW POLICY All wines that we taste and review are purchased at the full retail price.

Wine Reviewed

Hattstatty Hatschbourg Riesling 2003 12.5% alcohol about $21.00

Lets start by quoting the marketing materials.

This wine won a Gold Medal at the 2006 Concours Riesling du Monde. Established in 1998, the Concours Riesling du Monde (Rieslings of the World) competition takes place every year in Strasbourg, Alsace. Rieslings from throughout the world are submitted to an international jury of oenologists and wine critics. This hugely respected competition illustrates the diversity and brilliance of fine Riesling from around the world. And now for the review.

My first meal consisted of home made barbecued chicken in a sweet and sour Thai sauce with Portabello mushrooms and red pepper. The wine was fruity, nice and complex. It was quite a good match and I knew that this would be a quality wine.

The next shot was a commercially barbecued chicken leg (of course not as tasty as my own barbecued chicken) with its skin in a paprika sauce accompanied by, Turkish salad, and Greek olives. I started by sipping the wine alone, as I was afraid that I might have lost the bottle because the wine sat in the fridge for quite some time. No problem. This Riesling wine was fine with an appely taste but in the positive sense. In response to the food the wine got even better. It was quite long and powerful and yet delicate. While I liked the Greek olives and I liked the wine, I did not enjoy the two together. The Rieslings acidity actually intensified in the presence of the moderately spicy Turkish salad. I finished my glass with overripe cherries. This time the wine went flat, especially with the sweet ones.

The final meal was an omelet with a local Provolone cheese and a side of Turkish salad. The wine was nice and crisp. I tasted a touch of lime. As dessert I had a high-quality chocolate-coated vanilla ice cream bar. The ice cream bar was fine but it did flatten the wine somewhat.

My first cheese was a nutty, fatty, and slightly sour Dutch Edam cheese. My German Edam was well beyond edible by humans, although the spores looked like they were having a real feast. Anyway, in the presence of this Dutch Edam the Riesling was round and fruity, with pleasant acidity. In the presence of an Italian Friulano cheese the wine became sour and flatter.

Final verdict. Great wine, I will buy it again and watch my pairings more closely. This should accompany very well the right gourmet meal.

Author: Levi Reiss
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When it comes to the total acreage devoted to French vineyards, Alsace ranks tenth out of the eleven winemaking regions. Dont be fooled by the numbers; Alsace is a major producer of quality French wine. Its wine growing area is only about 60 miles (100 kilometers) long, and at the most a mere 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) wide nestled between the Vosges Mountains to the east and the Rhine River and Germany to the west. But this relatively tiny area is known for distinctive wines. Their wine bottles are also distinctive; tall and thin with labels that feature the grape variety, not the usual practice in France. Chaptalization (adding sugar to the fermenting grape mixture) is allowed for many wine categories.

About 95% of Alsace wine is white. The major white grape varieties are Gewurztraminer, Muscat, Pinot Gris, and Riesling. Secondary white grape varieties include Pinot Blanc, reviewed below, Sylvaner, and Muscat. The major red grape variety is Pinot Noir, reviewed in a companion article in this series.

Colmar is an Alsatian town pretty well in the middle of the Alsatian wine villages. Go there if you dont like rain; given its proximity to the Vosges Mountains, Colmar is the driest town in all of France. This city of about sixty-five thousand was founded in the Ninth Century. In spite of the fact that Colmar was largely destroyed in both World Wars, its old town (Vieille Ville) remains worthy of a visit. Some say that its more interesting than Strasbourg. You really should visit both and decide for yourself. Among Colmars sights are the St-Martin church constructed from the Thirteenth to the Sixteenth Centuries, the Ancienne Douane (Old Customs House), and the Maison aux Arcades (Arcades House).

Ribeauvill is the home of Trimbach wines and has been since 1626. In spite of its size, under five thousand, it has a bit of everything: ancient town walls, picturesque medieval houses, Gothic churches, a town hall with antiques, and a spring. Nearby are the ruins of three castles. And the first Sunday in September, Ribeauvill hosts a major Minstrel Show.

Before reviewing the Alsatian wine and imported cheeses that we were lucky enough to purchase at a local wine store and a local Italian food store, here are a few suggestions of what to eat with indigenous wines when touring this beautiful region.
Start with Foie Gras (Goose or Duck Liver).
For your second course savor Baeckeoffe (Meat and Potato Casserole).
And as dessert indulge yourself with Gteau Chasseur (Almond Cake with Raspberries and Meringue).

OUR WINE REVIEW POLICY All wines that we taste and review are purchased at the full retail price.

Wine Reviewed

Trimbach Pinot Blanc 2004 12.5% alcohol about $13.50

Lets start by quoting the marketing materials.

Tasting Note Straw colour; apple, pear fruit aromas with light biscuit and citrus tones; medium- to full-bodied with ripe peachy flavours and a clean, zesty finish.

Serving Suggestion Smoked salmon, shellfish or asparagus in hollandaise sauce. Alsatian Pinot Gris is becoming increasingly fashionable, and this example illustrates why. Honeyed fruit aromas, such as peach and pear, plus a texture of smoke and mineral seduce in this just off-dry white that’s, round, soft and quite rich. The producer recommends this as a good substitute for red wine with meat dishes such as cold cuts, roast beef or game. They also suggest pairing it with smoked chicken, fish or lobster. And now for the review.

My first meal consisted of a commercially prepared chicken breast with the skin on (more calories, more flavor), potato salad, and a spicy salad based on tomatoes, red pepper and garlic. The wine was refreshingly acidic and somewhat fruity. I finished with fresh pineapple. This combination was quite good; the pineapples fruit flavors and the wines fruit flavors melded well, and seemed to intensify each other.

I then paired the Pinot Blanc with a reheated home-cooked chicken leg in a tomato-based sauce with beets and more of the above potato salad. The wine scored as in the first round, but was more assertively fruity including the taste of pears. I am not used to a Pinot Blanc wine being so present, and I like this change.

My last meal consisted of a cheeseless broccoli, mushroom, and zucchini quiche and mashed potatoes. The wine was powerful and quite fruity, but short.

The first cheese was a French goats milk cheese that really seemed more like a Camembert. At the first sips the cheese sort of cut off the wine. Later the results were somewhat better; the wine was fruity and moderately acidic. Then I went for a Swiss Gruyere with a lightly sharp, nutty flavor. This combination was even better; the Pinot Blanc came out nice and fruity.

I usually dont go with a non-imported cheese when tasting wines. However, I am making an exception for a Canadian Asiago cheese that our local supermarket almost never carries. This cheese is perhaps the best that I have tasted in a long time; in my opinion it clearly surpasses its Italian Asiago cousin. When a cheese is that good, I am quite anxious to try it with wine. The result wasnt disappointing; this gem intensified the wines fruit and acidity.

Final verdict. There is no doubt in my mind, this wine is a winner. And its price is quite reasonable.

Author: Levi Reiss
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Metropolitan France is bordered by the United Kingdom, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Andorra, Italy and Spain. The country extends from the Mediterranean Sea to the North Sea and from the Rhine River to the Atlantic Ocean.

The main territory of France is located in Western Europe. Territories of North America, the Caribbean, South America, the western and southern Indian Ocean, the northern and southern Pacific Ocean, and Antarctica also constitute France.

France is decorated with a large variety of landscapes; ranging from coastal plains in the north and west to the mountain ranges in the south like the Pyrenees and the Alps. If you are a nature lover, then you get to see spectacular scenery that you will be a treasure for lifetime.

If you go to France, then you should go to see The Alps. The Alps contains the highest point of Europe which is the Mont Blanc at 4810 m. It will surely be a unique experience!

The official language of France is French. English is not commonly used in France. There are other regional languages spoken in the country like Basque, Breton, Catalan, Corsican, Dutch, Alsatian, Occitan and Ol.

It will be good if you have a bit of information about France before you visit the country. France is the European Unions leading agricultural producer. If you visit northern France, then you will see large wheat farms. Western France concentrates on dairy products, pork, poultry and apple production. Beef production is located in central France and southern France produces fruits, vegetables and wine ranges. In France, you will find uniformity in diversity.

France is the fourth-largest western industrialized economy in the world. The country has substantial agricultural resources, a large industrial base and a highly skilled work force.

Tourism is a significant contributor to the French economy as tourists throng to see the splendours this beautiful country has to offer.

Paris, the capital of France is one of the most populous, beautiful and famous cities in the world. It is home to numerous historical buildings and monuments too! So, if you are interested in ancient art and architecture, then you should surely visit Paris.

The Palace of Versailles and the great chteaux of the Loire valley are popular tourist destinations which you can visit.

France was traditionally a predominantly Roman Catholic country with anticlerical leanings, but since the 1970s, it has grown to become a secular country with freedom of religion as a constitutional right.

France is also the only European power to have its own national space centre. The country is the most energy independent Western country due to its heavy investment in nuclear power. What makes France the leading agricultural producer in Western Europe is the availability of large tracts of fertile land, the application of modern technology and EU subsidies.

Visiting France will be a special experience as the picturesque country abounds in natural beauty as well as the luxuries of modern day life.

Author: Mark Minding
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By the time Jesus turned water to wine, viticulture in France had been established for many centuries. It was the Greeks who started it all with their colonization of Marseille, and later the Romans were all too willing to pick up the baton and run with it. In the Middle Ages, Monks were the guardians of the wine-makers skills. They not only made wine for their own use, but also sold it to a grateful public, who considered wine from the monasteries to be of the finest quality. Today, French wine producers are protected and policed by the ‘Institut National des Apellations d’Origine’, who make sure that a wine meets with the strict guidelines imposed.

Wine producers throughout the country are naturally proud of their world renowned product, and rightly so, with each region having its distinctive taste and style.

Alasace, in Eastern France shares the Rhine River with Germany, and is predominantly an area concerned with the production of white wine. Many grape varieties used in this region are also employed by the Germans.

Bordeaux on the other hand is a producer of red wine, although it does boast some of the world’s most famous sweet whites, such as Chateau d’Yquem and Barsac. The well known red wine producer, Chateau Lafite lies in this area. Situated on the Atlantic coast, Bordeaux has a long tradition of wine exportation, which I suspect will continue for many years hence.

In Burgundy, red and white wines share equal billing, with Cote d’Or being the most famous and possibly one of the most expensive too. The three main varietal wines in Burgundy are Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Aligote. Beaujolais, although in the Burgundy area is quite often considered as a separate region. Here, red wine is king, Beaujolais Nouveau is the only wine that can be consumed in the year of its production. White wines are made in Chablis, which also comes under the jurisdiction of Burgundy.

Champagne in the east of France has the coldest climate of all the major wine regions. Although a small quantity of ‘still’ wine is made, the region is of course famous for its sparkling wines.

Corsica produces a local wine that very rarely leaves the shores of the Mediterranean island. It has nine of its own wine regions and a vin de pays designation system in place.

The lesser known Jura is a mountainous region near Switzerland where Vin Jaune and Vin de Paille are produced. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grape varieties are used here.

Languedoc Roussillon has the largest growing area in France and is responsible for the large amount of cheap wine produced in the country. As mentioned earlier, more wine is produced in this region than the whole of the United States of America.

The Loire Valley produces mainly white wines along the stretch of the Loire river in central and western France. It is divided into the four sub-regions of Sauvignon Blanc, Touraine, Anjou-Saumar and Pays Nantais. Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc originate from Touraine, whilst Sancerre is from the Upper Loire (Sauvignon Blanc).

Provence lies in a temperate zone on the South-east coast and is the home of Bandol, where the now famous wine festival is held every December.

The Rhone Valley is primarily a producer of red wine with the north and south areas differing in style.

Lying between lakes and mountains, The Savoie or Savoy region makes white wines in an alpine region close to Switzerland.

The South West of France is home to such names as Bergerac, Cotes de Gascogne and Armagnac.

The regions mentioned above are the major wine producers of France, however there are many more smaller areas that lie outside of these, especially in the north of the country.

Author: Alan Liptrot
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