Everyone says Alsace is full of picturesque Alpine villages, and that I must go there. The streets are walkable and quaint, the architecture as adorable as if Walt Disney had designed it, the food delicious, the wines delightful.

So far my travels to France in 2018 and 2019 have not included this far northeastern region. Located beside Germany and above Switzerland, Alsace is only a few hours on the bullet train away from Paris airports, and even closer from Champagne which I’ve visited twice.  

In addition to being intensely cute with wonderful wine and food, an additional draw is that Alsace is one of the “greenest” regions in France with one-third of all vineyards certified organic or in conversion, an increase of 33% compared to 2019, and 4.5% of producers are certified biodynamic, making it the second largest region of France in terms  of numbers with 11.5% certified biodynamic and 32% of the region organic.

Alsace boasts 13 different and very distinct types of soil from volcanic to limestone to clay, the most diverse terroir in France. These soils contribute different characteristics to the wine, but also means they can match the rocks to the grapes. 

With 53 appellations in the region, it can be confusing.

• AOC Alsace for affordable still wines;
• Crémant d’Alsace for affordable sparkling wine
• 51 distinct Grand Cru sites offer concentration and complexity at a higher price 

Menu

• Oysters
• Cheese board 
• Fresh pasta with uni
• Black cod with capers
• Dessert Salad with fresh berries and cheese. 
  > Chocolate Raspberry  Chevere  – MacKenzie Creamery from Ohi
  > Baby greens,
  > Fresh whipped cream (organic, add about a T powdered sugar) 
  > Fresh picked mulberries (or other fresh berries
  > Salted toasted pecans.
  > Next time we are adding a herbed shortbread cookie 

Wines
note: all 3 wines are samples 

• 2018 Kuentz-Bas Riesling
• 2017 Meyer-Fonne Kaefferkopf Riesling
• 2015 Albert Boxler Grand Cru Sommerberg Riesling

2018 Kuentz-Bas Riesling
ABV 13% 

Color: Pale lemon, very pale, 

Nose: In the right glass, there is a lot of herbaceous, I picked up dill, Sue found fennel and anise. The aroma is most apparent in a proper Riesling glass as opposed to a standard white wine glass. 

Palate: The mouthfeel is very noticeable and lovely, mid palate is full of mint, eucalyptus, ricola. This is a wonderful wine. 

Pairing: With the salami so much fennel and anise come through, and the wine becomes fruitier than it really is. Tete Moines such a great companion, while our herbed brie was a bit bland and gummy with the wine. Nice with rosemary Marcona almonds. Very nice with the oyster, it is a very zesty pairing,  Sue even felt it read like horseradish even though there wasn’t any in they oysters or the meal. The black cod and this wine is all about the richness when both are together. It cuts through a bit of the richness, but not so much as to wash it away completely. What perfect end to an incredible meal. Why don’t we finish our meals this way more often. Salad and fruit and the raspberry chocolate chevere are beyond phenomenal. We talked about how wonderful the whipped cream was with the lettuce and cheese. 

 

2017 Meyer-Fonne Kaefferkopf Riesling
ABV 13.5%
SRP $54 (imported by Kermit Lynch)

Color: Pale lemon, also quite pale

Nose: Very light petrol, grassy mountain meadow, alpine

Palate: Pine, pine tar, menthol, mineral clean feeling, mouthwatering acidity, delicious for sipping on its own. This is a memorable wine. The finish lingers so long leaving you with a clean fresh palate. A fantastic wine with the correct pairings. After having food, we recognized a blood orange quality. 

Pairing: Tete Moines cheese and this wine are fast friends. It was also nice with the herbed brie loving the herbs and cutting through the creaminess. Very nice with our Pinot Grigio salami, making us think how well it would go with brat, then we started thinking about fondue. The wine brings out the rich creamy qualities of the oyster, with a  splash of Meyer lemon, the acidity of the wine and the acidity of the lemon make the oyster experience nicely creamy. The wine is perfect with the rich complexity of the meal. The creamy uni, the rich butter lemon caper over the Black Cod is tamed so nicely by the bright acidity of the wine. This dessert was so fabulous with the wine. We do not usually like chocolate and wine. This is completely different. There is the chocolate flavor without being sweet. The dessert is creamy and rich with out being sweet.  It would also be fantastic with red wine. 

 

2015 Albert Boxler Grand Cru Sommerberg Riesling
vendanges tardives
ABV 13% alcohol
SRP $65 (500ml)
imported by Kermit Lynch

Practicing organic

Color: Daffodil, golden yellow 

Nose: Dill, pine tar, menthol, ricola

Palate: Mouthwatering acidity with sweetness, apricot, your perfect combination between sweet and tart apricot. 

Pairing: Sue wanted the rosemary pear brie tart she makes. I was thinking that a nice herbed shortbread cookie would be fantastic. The salad and chocolate raspberry cheese dessert was  with the wine. Take concept and make dessert crostini. Sue rarely eats an entire course all the way through, however was licking the plate.

The “dessert salad” and this wine? A perfect mate. It is almost like a chocolate raspberry cheese cake that is not so sweet and has a nice tang. Yummy!

There is what we have learned from tasting, but there is what we intuitively know that brought this meal together in so many ways. 

Anyone can do unsweetened berries, and lightly sweetened whipped cream  to bring this dish into perfection. 

 

• • All About the Wines of Alsace by Jennifer Martin at Vino Travels
  • Alsace Wine and Cold Poached Salmon with Sauce Verte (Green Mayonnaise) by Terri Steffes at Our Good Life
  • Alsace Wines’ Heart and Soul – Land Sustainability, Family Tradition and Food Compatibility by Pinny Tam at Chinese Food and Wine Pairings
  • Alsace Wines Shine with Summer’s Bounty Risotto by Jeff Burrows at Food Wine Click!
  • Blending Innovation and Tradition with Wines of Alsace by Jill Barth at L’Occasion
  • Butternut Squash Chickpea Curry with Wine from Alsace by David Crowley at Cooking Chat
  • Domaines Schlumberger 2018 Pinot Blanc: A Delectable Grape Mutation + Criques de Pommes de Terre by Cam Mann at Culinary Adventures with Camilla
  • Five Winemaking Women of Alsace by My Full Wine Glass
  • Once Upon a Wine in Alsace by Wining With Mel
  • Shrimp Louis Sandwiches paired with an Alsace Pinot Blanc by Wendy Klik at A Day in the Life on the Farm
  • Summer Food Pairings with Alsace Wines by Jane Niemeyer at Always Ravenous
  • Wines of Alsace Bring the Wow Every Time by What’s in that Bottle?
  • Women of Alsace – Conversations with 4 Women on their Family Wineries in Alsace by Robin Renken at Crushed Grape Chronicles
  • Zind Humbrecht Pinot Blanc with a Leek & Bacon Tart by Nicole Ruiz Hudson at Somm’s Table
  • and here on Wine Predator, Sue and I have 3 Riesling from Alsace