| If you are looking for fine French wine and food, | | | | dessert indulge yourself with Strudel aux Pommes |
| consider the Alsace region of northeastern France. | | | | (Apple Strudel). |
| You may find a bargain, and I hope that you'll | | | | OUR WINE REVIEW POLICY All wines that we |
| have fun on this fact-filled wine education tour in | | | | taste and review are purchased at the full retail |
| which we review a local white Riesling wine tasted | | | | price. |
| with several meals and paired with imported | | | | Wine Reviewed Hattstatty Hatschbourg Riesling |
| cheeses. | | | | 2003 12.5% alcohol about $21.00 |
| Alsace ranks tenth out of the eleven French | | | | Let's start by quoting the marketing materials. |
| winemaking regions in terms of its acreage | | | | This wine won a Gold Medal at the 2006 |
| devoted vineyards. But don't let the statistics | | | | Concours Riesling du Monde. Established in 1998, |
| mislead you; little Alsace is a major producer of | | | | the Concours Riesling du Monde (Rieslings of the |
| quality French wine. Its wine growing area is | | | | World) competition takes place every year in |
| barely 60 miles (100 kilometers) long, and at most | | | | Strasbourg, Alsace. Rieslings from throughout the |
| 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) wide tucked between the | | | | world are submitted to an international jury of |
| Vosges Mountains to the west and the Rhine | | | | oenologists and wine critics. This hugely respected |
| River and Germany to the east. But this relatively | | | | competition illustrates the diversity and brilliance of |
| tiny area is famous for its distinctive wines. | | | | fine Riesling from around the world. And now for |
| Alsatian wine bottles are also distinctive; tall and | | | | the review. |
| thin with labels that feature the grape variety, not | | | | My first meal consisted of chicken barbecued in a |
| the usual practice in France. Chaptalization (adding | | | | home made sweet and sour Thai sauce with |
| sugar to the fermenting grape mixture) is allowed | | | | Portabello mushrooms and red pepper. The wine |
| for many wine categories. | | | | was fruity, nice and complex. It was quite a good |
| About 95% of Alsace wine is white. The major | | | | match and I knew that this would be a quality |
| white grape varieties are Gewurztraminer, Muscat, | | | | wine. |
| Pinot Gris, and Riesling, reviewed below. Its | | | | The next shot was a commercially barbecued |
| secondary white grape varieties include Pinot | | | | chicken leg (not nearly as tasty as my own |
| Blanc, Sylvaner, and Muscat. The major red grape | | | | barbecued chicken) with its skin in a paprika sauce |
| variety is Pinot Noir, which we review in a | | | | accompanied by Turkish salad, and Greek olives. I |
| companion article in this series. | | | | started by sipping the wine alone, as I was afraid |
| The beautiful Vosges mountains are located in | | | | that I might have lost the bottle because the |
| eastern France near the Rhine River and Black | | | | wine sat in the fridge for quite some time. No |
| Forest of western Germany. They are largely | | | | problem. This Riesling wine was fine with an |
| composed of granite and red sandstone. Their | | | | appely taste but in the positive sense. The food |
| highest point is the Grand Ballon (also known as | | | | pairing made the wine even better. It was quite |
| Ballon de Guebwiller) whose elevation is about | | | | long and powerful and yet delicate. While I liked |
| 4600 feet (slightly more than 1424 meters). The | | | | the Greek olives and I liked the wine, I did not |
| vineyards of its eastern slopes have an elevation | | | | enjoy the two together. The Riesling's acidity |
| of up to 1300 feet (400 meters). | | | | became more intense when pair with a |
| The Vosges mountains are ideal for tourists. | | | | moderately spicy Turkish salad. I finished the glass |
| Attractions include beautiful forests, several | | | | with some overripe cherries. This time the wine |
| castles in ruins, and health resorts. If you are so | | | | went flat, especially with the sweet ones. |
| inclined you can hike their usually gentle slopes and | | | | The final meal was an omelet with a local |
| are never far from vineyards and restaurants | | | | Provolone cheese and a side of Turkish salad. The |
| serving delicious foods and local wines. After all, | | | | wine was nice and crisp. I tasted a touch of lime. |
| you are on the Alsace Wine Route, at least for | | | | As dessert I had a high-quality chocolate-coated |
| the eastern slopes. Don't forget the winter skiing. | | | | vanilla ice cream bar. The ice cream bar was fine |
| The southern Vosges, near the village of Bussang, | | | | but it did flatten the wine somewhat. |
| boasts a beautiful fountain exploiting a spring that | | | | My first cheese was a nutty, fatty, and slightly |
| originates in the Moselle River. I hope you don't | | | | sour Dutch Edam cheese. My Edam cheese was |
| mind that this particular area is just over the | | | | well beyond edible by humans, although the |
| border in Lorraine. | | | | spores looked like they were having a real feast. |
| Before reviewing the Alsatian wine and imported | | | | Anyway, in the presence of this Dutch Edam the |
| cheeses that we were lucky enough to purchase | | | | Riesling was round and fruity, with pleasant acidity. |
| at a local wine store and a local Italian food store, | | | | In the presence of an Italian Friulano cheese the |
| here are a few suggestions of what to eat with | | | | wine became sour and flatter. |
| indigenous wines when touring this beautiful region. | | | | Final verdict. Great wine, I will buy it again and |
| Start with Schniederspaetle (Onion Ravioli). For | | | | watch my pairings more closely. This wine should |
| your second course savor Brochet d'I a la creme | | | | be served with the right gourmet meal. |
| (Pike in White Wine and Cream Sauce). And for | | | | |