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.”
2004 Pinot Gris Grand Cru, Altenberg de Bergheim ($50). A dry wine, “hugely rich but not heavy.”
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
2009 Riesling Reserve ($24). A “classic Riesling,” laced with aromas of “lemon, green apples, and minerals.”
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
The Retrievals, series two: 'essential listening'
The Week Recommends The second instalment of this hard-hitting podcast delves into the 'appallingly common injustice' of women having C-sections without pain relief
-
Cool off at the best saltwater pools in the UK
The Week Recommends From 1930s Art Deco lidos to 'magical' tidal pools, these sheltered spots offer a safer alternative to sea swimming
-
Kinmen Islands: Taiwan's frontline with China
In Depth Just a few miles off the mainland, the Kinmen Islands could be attacked first if China invades Taiwan