Alsace

Alsace is the one lucky region in France allowed to grow Riesling and bottle it as AOC wine. It is France's driest wine growing region due to the Vosges mountain range which keeps the clouds and rain on the Lorraine side.

Alsace has three appellations: AOC Alsace, AOC Alsace Grand Cru and AOC Crémant d'Alsace. In addition Alsace has two late-harvest catgories: Vendange Tardive and Sélection de Grains Nobles (SNG). Alsace used to be the only wine region in France mentioning the grape on the label. A wine labeled Riesling must be made of 100% Riesling.

About 90% of the wine produced in Alsace is white. The grape varieties grown in Alsace are: Riesling, Gewurztraminer (without the umlaut), Pinot Gris, Muscat, Sylvaner, Pinot Blanc, Chardonnay, Auxerrois, Pinot Noir, Chasselas. The four varieties in bold are cold the "noble varieties" in Alsace, which means that only those four can be bottled as Grand Cru wines.

Alsatian Riesling tends to be a bit weightier than those from Germany, but not all of it is dry. In fact, Alsace makes serious Riesling in the sweeter style as well.

AOC Alsace

Alsace was granted AOC status in 1962. Most wines from Alsace are varietals, but blends also exist. Gentil is made of at least 50% of one of the four noble varieties plus Sylvaner, Chasselas and/or Pinot Blanc. A wine made from any 2 or more grape varieties may be called Edelzwicker or given any other brand name.

In 2008 the maximum yield in Alsace was set to 80 hl/ha for white wines, but the Plafond Limite de Classement (PLC) allows for an even larger harvest per hectare, if PLC is granted by the INAO (Institut National des Appellations d'Origine). However, the average yield of quality-minded producers often is barely half of what is officially allowed.

The minimum ripeness level for Riesling grapes in Alsace (expressed in degrees of potential alcohol) is 10°

All AOC wines are subject to a tasting by the INAO before they can be released. They are sold in the "flute" bottle and must be bottled by law in the region where they were produced. The AOC Alsace accounts for about 75% of the region's wine.

AOC Alsace Grand Cru

The INAO has identified 51 vineyards in Alsace as Grand Cru sites, based on geology and micro-climate. The regulations for producing a AOC Grand Cru wine are more restrictive than those for regular AOC wines:

• higher minimum ripeness levels of the grapes
• lower yields of max. 55 hl/ha (plus PLC)
• grapes must be picked by hand

Winegrowers must announce by March 1 if they plan to produce a Grand Cru wine from a Grand Cru site. Only about 4% of the Alsatian wine is Grand Cru.

Vendange Tardive and Sélection de Grains Nobles

Late harvest wines can only be made of the four noble grape varieties. Chaptalization is not allowed and grapes must be picked by hand.