Climate: Diverse. A Northern continental
climate with warm summers and the Vosges create a rain shadow where
vines are planted on the slopes to ensure they ripen and produce
generous yields.
Soil: Significantly varied with
fertile soil on the plains, limestone on the hills and sandstone
on the slopes of the Vosges.
Alsace Wines: Edelzwicker, Gewurztraminer,
Muscat, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir and Riesling (***other
lesser known wines are available).
Production: 33,000 acres (13,500
ha); 157 million bottles.
About 90% of Alsace's grape varities are white. The
region has a history of belonging to Germany, east of Alsace and France
to the west. The Alsace's language, cuisine and wines are part Germanic
and part Gallic. Alsace is the only appellation controlee to print
the name of the grape variety on the label that takes prededence over
the vineyard or winemaker and is unique among other French wine regions.
The variety listed on the bottles here are often Edelzwicker (blend
of varieties), Gewurztraminer, Muscat, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Pinot
Noir, Riesling and a handful of other types.
The bottles are green and tapered like Germany's
Mosel region.
