A TRIP DOWN THE ALSACE WINE ROUTE
San Francisco Wine Trading Company (SFWTC) offers you a trip down the Alsace wine route (La Route des Vins) on Saturday, January 31, 2015.
The Alsace wine region stretches in a long thin strip that hugs the foothills on the eastern side of the Vosges mountains. This geographic location provides a semi continental climate, with hot dry summers and extended sunny autumns. The vineyards nestle on slopes at an altitude of 200-400 meters, allowing maximum exposure to the sun. The perfect combination of climate and placement, for slow and extended ripening of grapes.
Alsace is France’s major white wine producing region. It is very much variety focused, with the four noble varieties, Riesling, Pinot Gris, Gewürztraminer and Muscat being followed by Sylvaner and Pinot Blanc. Red wine from the Pinot Noir grape, accounts for less than 10% of Alsace wine production.
The situation of the vineyards on the rolling foothills provides a mosaic of soil types and microclimates. This lends itself perfectly to the expression of “terroir” and how the different grape varieties best fit into the very varied and particular conditions. Wine producers can easily produce 10 to 20 different wines each year, which lends itself to the challenge of understanding what a producer has to offer.
Most of the producers are operating on an artisanal scale, which really points to attention to detail and a constant focus on perfection. There is also a strong drive towards organic wine production, with 17 of the top 20 Alsace producers being organic or biodynamic certified.
Now, back to the weekend tasting. Six wines are on offer from 4 producers. Detailed tasting notes are always provided by SFWTC and some additional details are listed below. Producers are listed from North to South on the Alsace Wine Route.
Domaine Pfister – Riesling Tradition 2012
Melanie Pfister took over the wine production from her father in 2008. This Riesling comes from selected small parcels in the Silberberg vineyard near Dahlenheim. The soil type provides a nice balance between volume and acidity – a well-balanced wine. Will easily keep for 3-5 years, which will allow more minerality to develop.
Mark Kreydenweiss – Riesling “Andlau” 2013
This wine is referenced as the “village Riesling”. Andlau village has three Grand Cru vineyards and this wine is produced from parcels adjacent to the Wiebelsberg Grand Cru. Bottled in September 2014 and good to drink now through to 5 years.
Mark Kreydenweiss – Pinot Gris “Lerchenberg” 2013
Only 350 cases of this wine produced a year, from parcels bordering on the Moenchberg Grand Cru. A dry Pinot Gris bottled in September 2014 and good to drink now through to 5 years. Mark Kreydenweiss’s son Antoine (13th generation) is the wine maker in Andlau.
The video is a work of art – subtitles in English. Kreydenweiss is a reference in Alsace.
Hubert Meyer – Gewürztraminer 2012
This wine takes us to the complex spices in Alsace wines. Good to drink now or will keep up to 6-8 years.
Hubert Meyer – Pinot Noir 2011
Off in another direction – berry fruits, delicate balance. Good to drink now and will keep through to 2018.
Meyer-Fonné – Pinot Blanc “Vielles Vignes” 2013
A classic traditional wine from this domaine. Taken from parcels with 40 year old vines. The vineyards of Meyer-Fonne are close to Colmar in the Haut-Rhin department.
San Francisco Wine Trading Company
250 Taraval Street (@Funston Avenue)
Saturday, January 31, 2015
2pm-5:30pm
Event cost: $10
