MAIN Wine Europe France Alsace

Ah, the romance, the beauty - the wine!

Welcome to white wine country.

Alsace is a French region with an international culture and world class vintages. The main draw for wine lovers is the Alsace wine route or Route des Vins which runs for 170 kilometers along the foothills of the Vosges.

This breathtakingly beautiful tour features vineyards, forests, ruins of medieval castles, Strasbourg and other cities surrounded by old ramparts, flowered lanes, Roman churches and, of course, plenty of cafes and restaurants serving the finest wines of Alsace.

Vines growing in the warm, dry climate of the hillsides of Alsace produce seven types of wines: Riesling, Pinot Blanc, Tokay Pinot Gris, Muscat, Sylvaner, and Gewürztraminer. There is also Pinot Noir, an usual variety that is more a blush than a red.

Along with the premium sparkling white Reisling is the major draw of Alsace, a dry and strongly aromatic variety that is a world away from the semi-dry or sweet varieties you're used to. Slightly sweeter? Try the the Pinot Gris and Gewürztraminer.

For a special occasion, toast with Alsace's own Crémant d’Alsace -- an excellent sparkling wine produced using the same methods as in Champagne. 

More information about Alsace wines and wineries around the Web:

Alsace Wine Route - Check out a clickable map, information, and related resources..

Visit Alsace - Here's the main tourism site which offers a virtual tour of the Alsace region encompassing he foods, history and culture of the region.