W

Alsace

Lying on the border of France and Germany between the Vosges Mountains and the Rhine River, Alsace is unique among French wine regions. Ninety percent of all its wines are white, and they are labeled by variety rather than appellation. The region's production is evenly split between aromatic dry Riesling full of citrus and peach notes, spicy Gewürztraminer with characteristic rose and lychee flavors, full-bodied Pinot Gris with a hint of honey and intense Muscat that tastes of orange blossom. Most of these are labeled AOC Alsace, but there is also a small amount of Grand Cru wine from 51 specially designated vineyards. In this region, you will also find Crémant de Alsace, a wallet-friendly sparkling wine usually made from Pinot Blanc. AOC (Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée) is the most prestigious of the quality tiers within France’s wine classification system. AOC-designated wines must follow multiple different rules on a broad range of topics. Wines are regulated on the appellation, varietal inclusion, production methods, alcohol levels, vineyard planting density and age of the vineyard.