Alsace
Alsace is a small, narrow
region in northeastern France, between the Vosges Mountains, and the
Rhine River. The mountains provide a rain shadow, making the vineyards
of Alsace one of the driest places in France. Alsace also has a colder
winter than other wine regions of France, yet has a sunnier summer,
with an average of 1,800 hours of sunshine per year.
Most of the vineyards are
located in the foothills of the Vosges Mountains. Many different soils
are found in the area, including limestone, clay, chalk, sand, gravel,
and loess. The mixture of stones, rocks and soil provide excellent drainage
for the grape vines, which encourages the growth of deep root systems.
The same grapes are used
in Alsace as in Germany, but unlike the Germans, who leave a significant
amount of sugar in their wines, the Alsatians ferment their wines to
complete dryness. The best wines of the region are the Rieslings, followed
closely by Gewurztraminer. Alsace is also known for it's much sought
after "Vendage Tardive", wines that are made from very ripe
grapes, with considerable sweetness remaining after fermentation.
