On the Road with the Grape Guy
Alsace Rocks Toronto 2024
03 Apr 2025- Details
- Category: On the Road with the Grape Guy
(October 2024) … Alsace - The Facts ... 
Alsace is located in the Northeastern corner of France, tucked up next to Germany and above Switzerland. The Vosges Mountains protect Alsace helping to make it the second driest region in France: 20 inches of rain per year, with 1800 hours of sunshine.
89% of wines are white made with 7 main grapes: Riesling (23%), Gewurztraminer (22%), Pinot Gris (18%), Pinot Noir & Pinot Blanc (11% each), Sylvaner (7%), Muscat d'Alsace (3%).
With 34,424 acres of vines stretched out over 75 miles. 36% of vineyards are certified organic and they had the first estate to go biodynamic in France, 1969. today, 8% of cultivation areas are certified biodynamic.
There are 13 different soil types in Alsace: volcanic to limestone - they claim to have the "greatest diversity of wine growing soils in France".
They produced 132 million bottles in 2023; of which a full one-third was Cremant. Sparkling (Cremant) is all traditional method, and they use the following grapes in its production: Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Riesling, Auxerrois, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay (which is used exclusively for Cremant) - while Cremant Rose are made from 100% Pinot Noir.
As for the wines tried ... a dozen were tasted, mostly from the 4 main white varieties. These were the wines that "rocked", in my opinion.
________________________________
Domaine Josmeyer 2023 "Mise du Printemps" - AOC Alsace 
- Pinot Blanc -
Nice floral notes that make this a pretty wine that's sippable with a lovely mineral seam across the tongue. (*** ½+)
Domaine Ostertag 2022 AOC Alsace
- Pinot Blanc 45% / Auxerrois 30% / Pinot Gris 25% -
Super easy sip that bring together a nice blend of relatively boring grape vaieties and makes something worthwhile. (*** ½)
Domaine Armand Gilg 2022 Grand Cru Zotzenberg - AOC Alsace
- Riesling -
Light, fresh, and sippable with good acidity; nice talc-like notes backed by fruits of apple and peach. (****)
Vignoble du Reveur 2022 "La Vigne en Rose" - AOC Alsace
- Gewurztraminer 65% / Riesling 35% -
There's a fatness due to the Gewurtz plus a subtle spice and floral; Riesling helps bring this back to earth. (*** ½)
Jean-Louis Schoepfer 2022 AOC Alsace
- Pinot Gris -
Gentle, easy and subtle. Nice mouthfeel, with the flavour of white fruit skins, namely peach and apple. (*** ½)
Domaine Kreydenweiss 2019 Grand Cru Moenchberg - AOC Alsace 
- Pinot Gris -
Colour is orange-ish-pink, has a nice weight with red apple and tangerine notes. (*** ½+)
