24th July 2025 | Cork Talk | 4 minute read
Rolling hills, picturesque villages and vineyards upon vineyards, Alsace is a beautiful region in northeastern France known for its elegant and diverse white wine portfolio. Take a journey through a brief history of Alsace whilst discovering why this region should be at the top of your summer sips list. With a whole variety of styles and grapes, there’s one bound to be your new go-to wine.
The area of Alsace is a beautiful marriage of both French and German culture. There’s a long history between France and Germany, causing the region to be an amalgamation of the two cultures which has greatly impacted the wine and food.
Thanks to the dry and sunny summers, low amounts of rainfall and various soils, the region is set up to produce both dry and sweet wines – making Alsace one of the most diverse regions there is. The climate allows slow ripening of grapes which concentrates the sugar levels as well as ripe acidity, lending itself to the grapes we know and love from the region.
Alsace is known for the aromatic character, freshness and complexity of their white wines. Each grape variety has its own profile, ranging from floral and fruity Gewurztraminer to mineral and dry Riesling. Due to the wide variety of grapes and flavours, you could find an Alsace wine to pair with any food – Pinot Blanc was made for al-fresco dining, creamy fish, shellfish calls for a Riesling and Pinot Gris will be a fan favourite at your next BBQ as it’s the perfect white for red meat.
Whilst white wine rules this region, there are options for red wine drinkers too. The Preiss Zimmer Organic Pinot Noir 2023 is a fantastic example of the elegance and high-quality production Alsace is known for with bright strawberry flavours and a crisp mineral palate followed by a long and balanced finish.
There are 51 Grand Cru regions in Alsace which account for around 4% of production. Originally, Alsace Grand Cru wines could only be produced from four grape varieties considered to be ‘noble’ : Riesling, Muscat, Pinot Gris and Gewurztraminer.
But for the last twenty years, blends and other grape varieties, including Pinot Noir, have been authorised under certain conditions. There are distinct characteristics of Alsace Grand Crus such as a refined tension that lightens the smoothness and richness of the wine, as well as a saline and mineral palate.
Virgin Wines stocks two Alsace Grand Cru wines, Kuehn Grand Cru Kaefferkopf Riesling 2021 and Preiss Zimmer Gewurztraminer Sables et Galets 2022. The Riesling is from legendary Kuehn, founded in 1675, it’s an impressive single grape variety with notes of orange marmalade and ripe apricot and it pairs beautifully with roasted chicken. The Gewurztraminer is a personal favourite with notes of rose petal and lychee, a top choice for any aromatic wine lovers.
