Alsace is one of France’s best white wine-producing regions but can often be an intimidating place to understand. Its many grand crus, noble grapes and labeling system are enough to cause some consumers to shy away from the region’s wines altogether. But Alsace isn’t as complex as it appears, and the high level of quality and ageability of its wines makes them a must for any savvy collector. Alsatian riesling, for one, can be of tremendous caliber and value.
The reason Alsation wines are compared to or confused with German wines is because for many years, Alsace was part of Germany. It has belonged to France since the end of World War I, but its Germanic roots are plain to see from its single-varietal wine bottlings to the grapes that grow there.
Importantly, Germany and Alsace are separated by the Vosges mountains, which protect Alsace from a lot of the wetter weather Germany is famous for (although Germany, too, is in the midst of another hot and dry growing season). In fact, Alsace is one of the sunniest winemaking regions in all of France because of this natural barrier, and in the summer it is slightly warmer than Burgundy. So, despite its proximity to Germany and relatively northernly location, Alsace has its own microclimate, and its inherent regional characteristics stem from the unique growing conditions.
