The iconic bottles that define Alsace: what they are, who makes them and what they cost.
The iconic bottles that define Alsace: what they are, who makes them and what they cost.
Trimbach's 1.67 hectare walled monopole inside Grand Cru Rosacker, family-declassified to Alsace AOC. The benchmark for dry, ageworthy Alsace Riesling.
Tasting notes: Trimbach's 1.67 hectare monopole inside Grand Cru Rosacker, declassified to Alsace AOC. Piercing dry Riesling that needs a decade to unwind into wax, citrus and Vosges granite salinity. Source: Trimbach producer page.
Trimbach's flagship cuvee, a Riesling blend of Grand Cru Geisberg and Osterberg parcels released after several years of bottle age. Smoky, structured and ageworthy.
Tasting notes: Trimbach's flagship Riesling, a Geisberg and Osterberg Grand Cru parcel blend released after years of bottle age. Smoky, structured, ageworthy. Source: Trimbach producer page.
Hugel's flagship single-parcel Schoenenbourg Riesling, declassified to Alsace AOC. Yellow plum, preserved lemon and limestone built for a 20-year cellar.
Tasting notes: A single 0.45 hectare parcel inside Schoenenbourg, declassified to Alsace AOC. Hugel's flagship dry Riesling, released as a multi-decade vintage statement. Source: Hugel producer page.
Hugel's botrytised Gewurztraminer at SGN ripeness, made only in noble-rot vintages. Saffron honey, candied rose, apricot jam; a multi-decade dessert wine.
Tasting notes: Botrytised Gewurztraminer at near-Sauternes ripeness, made only in noble-rot vintages. Saffron honey, candied rose and apricot jam. Source: Hugel producer page.
Beyer's flagship dry Riesling, sourced from old vines on Pfersigberg around Eguisheim and labelled Alsace AOC. Steely, mineral, built for a 20-year cellar.
Tasting notes: Beyer's flagship Riesling from old vines on Pfersigberg around Eguisheim, labelled Alsace AOC. Steely, dry, mineral, built for a long cellar. Source: Leon Beyer producer page.
Beyer's flagship dry Gewurztraminer from Eguisheim old plots. Rose, lychee and ginger, but bone-dry and structured; the textbook Alsace dry Gewurz.
Tasting notes: Beyer's flagship dry Gewurztraminer from Eguisheim old plots. Rose, lychee and white pepper, but bone-dry and structured. Source: Leon Beyer producer page.
Schlumberger's flagship Kitterle Riesling from steep sandstone terraces above Guebwiller. Smoky stone, lime and structured dryness; a benchmark Grand Cru Riesling.
Tasting notes: Schlumberger's flagship Kitterle Riesling from steep terraced sandstone slopes above Guebwiller. Smoky, dry, structured. Source: Schlumberger producer page.
Weinbach's flagship dry Riesling from old vines on Schlossberg granite, picked late on Saint Catherine's Day. The estate's most precise Riesling.
Tasting notes: Weinbach's flagship dry Riesling from old vines on Schlossberg granite, picked late on Saint Catherine's Day. The estate's most precise Riesling. Source: Weinbach producer page.
Weinbach's top Schlossberg parcel selection from 1940s-planted vines. Salt, smoke, citrus and racy acid; made only in exceptional vintages.
Tasting notes: Weinbach's top Schlossberg parcel selection from 1940s-planted vines, made only in vintages that allow concentration with retained acidity. Source: Weinbach producer page.
Weinbach's flagship Gewurztraminer from old vines on Furstentum limestone, named for Laurence Faller. Concentrated rose, lychee and ginger in the off-dry register.
Tasting notes: Weinbach's flagship Gewurztraminer from old vines on Furstentum limestone, named for Laurence Faller. Concentrated rose, lychee and ginger. Source: Weinbach producer page.
Weinbach's noble-rot Pinot Gris from Altenbourg, top of the SGN pyramid. Saffron honey, candied apricot and marzipan; a multi-decade dessert wine.
Tasting notes: Weinbach's top SGN selection from fully botrytised Altenbourg fruit. Saffron honey, candied apricot, marzipan. Source: Weinbach producer page.
Zind-Humbrecht's flagship Riesling from the walled Clos Saint Urbain inside volcanic Grand Cru Rangen. Smoky, mineral, structured; an Alsace flagship dry Riesling.
Tasting notes: Zind-Humbrecht's flagship Riesling from the walled Clos Saint Urbain inside volcanic Grand Cru Rangen. Smoky, intensely mineral. Source: Zind-Humbrecht producer page.
Zind-Humbrecht's volcanic Pinot Gris from the walled Clos Saint Urbain in Grand Cru Rangen. Honeyed pear, smoke and granite-mineral grip; lightly off-dry.
Tasting notes: Zind-Humbrecht's Clos Saint Urbain Rangen Pinot Gris. Honeyed pear, smoke and granite-mineral grip. Source: Zind-Humbrecht producer page.
Zind-Humbrecht's monopole walled Riesling vineyard below Grand Cru Hengst, on calcareous-marl. Dry, stony, structured; a benchmark Alsace AOC Riesling.
Tasting notes: Zind-Humbrecht's monopole walled Riesling vineyard below Grand Cru Hengst, on calcareous-marl. Pure dry Riesling. Source: Zind-Humbrecht producer page.
Zind-Humbrecht's Clos Windsbuhl monopole Riesling, high above Hunawihr on Muschelkalk limestone. Slow-developing, cool-climate, structured for the cellar.
Tasting notes: Zind-Humbrecht's Clos Windsbuhl monopole Riesling, high above Hunawihr on Muschelkalk limestone. Cool-climate, structured for the cellar. Source: Zind-Humbrecht producer page.
Zind-Humbrecht's Brand Grand Cru Riesling from steep granite above Turckheim. Yellow apple and preserved lemon with racy granite mineral lift.
Tasting notes: Zind-Humbrecht's Brand Grand Cru Riesling from steep granite above Turckheim. Yellow apple and preserved lemon with racy granite mineral lift. Source: Zind-Humbrecht producer page.
Marcel Deiss's complanted Mambourg Grand Cru: noble grapes co-fermented on south-facing limestone. The estate's case for terroir over varietal.
Tasting notes: Marcel Deiss's flagship complanted Grand Cru, noble grapes co-fermented on Mambourg limestone. Honey and exotic spice with saline finish. Source: Marcel Deiss producer page.
Deiss's complanted Altenberg de Bergheim Grand Cru, Riesling-dominant field-blend on calcareous slopes. Profound, ageworthy and the case for terroir over varietal.
Tasting notes: Deiss's complanted Altenberg de Bergheim, Riesling-dominant field blend on calcareous slopes. Profound, ageworthy. Source: Marcel Deiss producer page.
Boxler's E parcel Sommerberg Riesling from a 70-year-old vine block on steep south-facing granite. Sharp, mineral and slow-developing; an artisan benchmark.
Tasting notes: Boxler's E parcel selection on Sommerberg, a 70-year-old vine block on steep south-facing granite. Sharp, mineral. Source: Boxler producer page.
Andre Ostertag's flagship Riesling from volcanic-sandstone Muenchberg Grand Cru above Nothalten. Sharp, smoky and structured; a Bas-Rhin masterpiece.
Tasting notes: Andre Ostertag's Riesling from volcanic-sandstone Muenchberg Grand Cru. Sharp, smoky, structured. Source: Ostertag producer page.
Schoffit's flagship Riesling from the walled Clos Saint Theobald inside volcanic Grand Cru Rangen. Smoky, intensely mineral, multi-decade ageworthy.
Tasting notes: Schoffit's flagship Riesling from the walled Clos Saint Theobald inside volcanic Grand Cru Rangen. Smoky, intensely mineral. Source: Schoffit producer page.
Albert Mann's top Pinot Noir from old vines on Grand Cru Hengst, biodynamic. Burgundian register cherry and forest floor with soft tannin and high acid.
Tasting notes: Albert Mann's top Pinot Noir from old vines on Grand Cru Hengst, biodynamic. Burgundian register cherry and forest floor. Source: Albert Mann producer page.
Marc Kreydenweiss's biodynamic flagship Riesling from Kastelberg Steige-schist above Andlau. Smoky, dry, structured; a 1989 biodynamic pioneer.
Tasting notes: Marc Kreydenweiss's Kastelberg Riesling from Steige schist above Andlau. Biodynamic since 1989; smoky, dry, structured. Source: Kreydenweiss producer page.
Barmes-Buecher's biodynamic vintage-dated extra-brut Cremant d Alsace. Long-aged on lees, often zero-dosage; one of the region's serious sparkling cuvees.
Tasting notes: Barmes-Buecher's vintage-dated extra-brut Cremant. Long-aged on lees, biodynamic, often zero-dosage. Source: Barmes-Buecher producer page.
Peak wine-travel season in Alsace is spring through autumn, with harvest the standout window.
classified-growth and grand-cru estates require booking days to weeks ahead; smaller family domaines often take walk-ins midweek.
most estates open 10:00 to 17:00 by appointment, often closed Sunday and Monday.
tipping is not expected at tastings; buying a bottle from the cellar door is the customary thank-you.
If you only open one bottle, open Clos Sainte-Hune by trimbach. It is the wine most associated with Alsace.