Alsace AOCPinot GrisEUR 12-17 retail
Muller-Koeberle of Saint-Hippolyte makes a soft, gently off-dry Pinot Gris in the Tradition range. Ripe pear and smoke with light residual sugar, classic Alsace value that holds up to richer fare under twenty euros.
Tip: Off-dry Pinot Gris is the all-purpose Alsace food wine; pair Muller-Koeberle's Tradition with roast pork, charcuterie or munster cheese.
Alsace AOCGewurztraminerEUR 11-15 retail
The cooperative's Gewurztraminer Tradition delivers the variety's lychee, rose-petal and warm-spice signature at supermarket money. Off-dry, low-acid and aromatic, an accessible way to taste Alsace's signature aromatic grape under fifteen euros.
Tip: Gewurztraminer is the natural foil to munster cheese and Sichuan or Indian food; serve cool to keep the residual sugar from feeling heavy.
Alsace AOCPinot Blanc, AuxerroisEUR 14-19 retail
Felix Meyer's small Katzenthal estate is a respected wine-route grower and the village Pinot Blanc is a generous, fleshy take on the variety. Stone fruit, salty finish, a step above supermarket Pinot Blanc.
Tip: Felix Meyer's Kaefferkopf and Wineck-Schlossberg Grand Crus are the bottles to chase, but the basic Pinot Blanc is the gateway under twenty euros.
Alsace AOCPinot NoirEUR 15-20 retail
Vincent Stoeffler of Barr makes a serious, lightly-oaked Pinot Noir Tradition at a friendly price. Red cherry, light grip, a clean cool-climate red, evidence that Alsace's Pinot Noir is now worth taking seriously at every tier.
Tip: Serve a touch cool to lift the red-cherry fruit; the same domaine's Kirchberg de Barr Grand Cru Pinot Noir is the next step up if you fall for the style.
Alsace AOCSylvanerEUR 10-14 retail
Ribeauville's Henry Fuchs makes a dry, crisp Sylvaner in the family's old-school style, a wine that has all but disappeared from many domaines' lineups. Green apple and a saline bite under fifteen euros.
Tip: Sylvaner is the old soul of Alsace; this bottle is the case for not letting the variety drift out of fashion, pair with onion tart or shellfish.
Alsace AOCPinot Blanc, AuxerroisEUR 11-15 retail
Bergholtz's Loberger family makes a soft, generous Pinot Blanc that lands as a quiet wine-route bargain. Pear and saline finish, the kind of wine that disappears at table with no fuss for well under fifteen euros.
Tip: Bergholtz sits in the southern Haut-Rhin near Soultzmatt; Loberger's range is far easier to taste at the cellar than the village's bigger neighbours.