Alsace stands apart from every other French wine region. Tucked between the Vosges mountains and the Rhine river on France’s eastern border with Germany, it produces almost exclusively white wines — and labels them by grape variety rather than by appellation, a practice unique in France.
The key grapes are Riesling (steely, mineral, and age-worthy), Gewurztraminer (aromatic and richly textured), Pinot Gris (full-bodied and spicy), and Muscat (light and grapey). At the top of the hierarchy sit the 51 Grand Cru vineyards, each with its own distinct terroir, and the lusciously sweet Vendange Tardive and Sélection de Grains Nobles wines.
We find Alsace wines consistently undervalued. A Grand Cru Riesling from a top producer can rival the best white wines in the world, yet sells for a fraction of what comparable quality costs in Burgundy. The region’s Germanic-influenced villages, flower-lined half-timbered houses, and excellent winstub restaurants make it one of the most charming wine touring destinations in France.