Alsace: War-torn wine

While many of the grapes in Alsace are German, Alsatian wineries do not use German methods of winemaking.

The turbulent history of Alsace, France, “has had a great influence” on the region’s wines, said Fred Tasker in The Miami Herald. Many of its grapes are German—“gewürztraminer and such”—but the region takes few cues from the nation that twice absorbed it during the past 150 years. While German methods result in wines that are light-bodied and “a bit sweet,” Alsatian wineries pick the grapes later, “ferment them drier,” and end up with “bigger” wines. Three Gustave Lorentz wines exemplify the results:

2007 Pinot Gris, ‘Schofweg Vineyard’ ($29). “Complex, with flavors of green apples, melons, and ginger.”

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.

Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.

Sign up
Latest Videos FromThe Week