“ You will not have Alsace and Lorraine ” sang very loudly the French soldiers in 1871 before being forced to cede them to the German Empire until 1918. Fortunately for us, these beautiful regions of France are back in France and you can enjoy their superb regional culinary specialties as well as their authentic wines .
Alsace, a historic vineyard
If this region has in history been much disputed by its neighboring countries, it is because in addition to being magnificent, it has many assets, particularly agricultural.
Life is good in Alsace , the seasons are marked by cold winters, hot summers, dry autumns and springs marked by the beauty of geraniums. While walking in Alsace , it is impossible to miss the mythical villages with their half-timbered houses, their cobbled streets that run along the rivers and the bouquets of colorful flowers placed on the windowsills.
Like a mother protecting her child, the hectares of vines gently encircle these quaint villages. Well surrounded, the Alsatians in good living know how to give back to the land what it gives them. Between the brotherhoods , the wine fairs and the elections of Queens of the Wines of Alsace , the vine and its clusters are thanked throughout the year.
Yes, in this wine region of France, wine is closer to a religion than a drink, and between us, we understand them. From the upper Rhine of Mulhouse to the lower Rhine of Strasbourg , the Alsatian vineyard has arguments to make. Over more than 120 km, the Alsace wine route offers a real taste journey for wine lovers. Red wines, white wines, rosé wines and even sparkling wines , the Alsatians know how to do everything and above all know how to do it well. The diversity of grape varieties present in the vineyard allows winegrowers to offer more than 600 different appellations, and not just any. All Alsatian wines are appellations contrôlées , grand crus or crémants . Yes, how can we talk about this region without mentioning its famous Crémant d'Alsace !
A varied terroir , hillsides exposed to the sun, grape varieties filled with delicacies and winegrowers bursting with talent, this is the secret of Alsace wines .
Pinot particularly likes the East of France, it is the king grape variety of Burgundy but it is also very popular in Alsace . The proof is, Pinot noir is the only recognized black grape variety , used for red wines from Alsace . His friends Pinot blanc and Pinot gris also join the ranks of grape varieties grown in the vineyards of Alsace . Muscat, Sylvaner , Riesling and Gewurztraminer complete the list. Did you notice something? Yes, the majority are white grape varieties , because in Alsace , white wine is a diamond! From dry to sweet and from the selection of noble grains to late harvest , the range of white wines from Alsace is as wide as their wine is good. So if you don't know what to do for your next vacation, we recommend a short week in Alsace to taste a good Gentil (yes, that's the name of a wine, funny isn't it?).
Organic and Alsace, a winning duo
In order to preserve their beautiful land, Alsatian winegrowers put their heart into their work and turn to reasoned and responsible viticulture .
In 2021, more than 14% of the Alsace vineyard will be converted to organic and it continues to climb. Nature lovers and sensitive to the making of a well-made wine, Alsatian winegrowers are happy to provide healthier solutions to feed their vines .
In organic viticulture , winegrowers leave aside the use of chemical phytosanitary products and favor natural solutions to fertilize the soil such as herbal teas , horn dung or even companionship . There are many natural solutions and even if they are sometimes more expensive or more difficult to implement in the short term, they promote the well-being of the land in the long term.
Grapes , too, are happiest when fed natural solutions rather than sprayed with pesticides . Can you imagine being fed chemicals? yuck.
Some winegrowers also push the approach further by following the philosophy of biodynamics . It is the lunar calendar that punctuates the days of the winemaker and the vines are maintained with care respecting the seasons .
The work of Alsatian winegrowers goes further than organic viticulture . Yes, since 2012, organic winemaking has also been part of the specifications of the organic label. So to have a good fruity Alsace wine , no tricks but real aromas that reflect the good taste of the terroir and the Alsatian grape varieties .
Have you been convinced to go and take part in a tasting of the white wines of Alsace ? If so, we meet on the wine route to talk about our experiences! Do not hesitate to share your best memories with us on our social networks or on our address hello@oeforgood.com .
Our other wine regions of France also have their own uniqueness, so at Oé, we offer you the opportunity to taste our good organic Vaucluse wines , organic Bordeaux wines , organic Languedoc wines , organic Mediterranean wines and organic Côtes du Rhône wines .
