Alsace wines back in the limelight at London Wine Fair 2006

The Chamber of Commerce of Strasbourg will be present at the London International Wine and Spirits Fair to be held in London between 16 and 18 May 2006, accompanied by 12 wine producers from Alsace (in Eastern France). Visitors are invited to attend a wine-tasting event on the Alsace wines’ stand at 2pm on 16 May, which will enable them to sample a wide range of fine terroir wines, in the company of oenologist Thierry Fritsch and the producers themselves.

[ClickPress, Wed May 03 2006] The wines of Alsace (the Eastern French region that borders Germany) are famous across the world for their quality, their individuality and the distinctive slim bottles used by Alsace wine growers.

Seven varieties of grapes (cépages) are grown in the region — Sylvaner, Pinot Blanc, Riesling, Muscat d’Alsace, Tokay Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir and Gewurztraminer. Unlike most other French wines, Alsace wines tend to be varietals, which means that they derive their name from the grape variety they are made from, rather than being blends named after a given terroir (i.e. the physical and environmental characteristics of the vineyard, especially the soil of the area concerned). Winemakers in Alsace still take great care to marry grape varieties with local soil types to produce the ideal match.

There are three Appellations d’Origine Contrôlées in the region (AOCs, i.e. a certification that the product is made in a certain region and meets strict production criteria) — AOC Alsace, AOC Alsace Grand Cru and AOC Crémant d’Alsace (‘crémant’ being a sparkling wine). The wines of Alsace are ideal when enjoyed with food, as they complement perfectly a wide variety of dishes. However, Alsace wines can also be enjoyed for themselves, as an aperitif for instance, and the remarkable range of flavours as well as the bouquet that they have to offer will come as a most pleasant surprise to British consumers who may — for some of them at any rate — be used to blander and mass-produced types of white wine.

Indeed, quality, traditional Alsace wines have sometimes been unfairly overlooked in the UK in favour of more heavily marketed New World wines. The wines of Alsace range from light and dry to opulent and rich, and the Wine Show will give visitors the perfect opportunity to discover more about the region and its vineyards. All the producers on the Alsace stand at the London Wine Show are independent, family-run businesses, which place a premium on the respect for the environment, avoiding the use of chemicals (including pesticides and fertilisers) in favour of traditional and more ‘natural’ techniques developed over centuries of production in the region.

The renowned Alsace Wine Route runs for more than 170 kilometres along the Vosges mountain range, taking in areas of great beauty along the way. It is easy to follow and visitors can explore the many vineyards that line the scenic route as well as the traditional ‘winstubs’ and wine-storage cellars (where wine-tasting is on offer). For those who are unable to visit Alsace itself, going to the Wine Show in London will give them the opportunity to discover one of France’s most distinctive regions, through its amazing range of authentic and traditionally produced wines.

Domaine René Fleith-Eschard is unsurpassed in noble rot

Based in Ingersheim for 11 generations, this family-run 9.2-hectare vineyard produces roughly 60,000 bottles of wine a year. The vineyard is particularly celebrated for its Gewurztraminer and Riesling, not to mention its Grand Cru Furstentum Tokay Pinot Gris. The family also produces rich Sélection de Grains Nobles wines, concentrated by the development of the so-called ‘noble rot’. The family places great emphasis on quality as well as the expression of the different terroirs. This means that yields are deliberately reduced, and neither chemical fertilisers nor chemical pesticides are used.

Domaine Jean-Claude Gueth is a successful family affair

The Gueth vineyard is in the village of Gueberschwihr, where Jean-Claude and Bernadette Gueth, along with their daughter Muriel, manage a site of 7.5 hectares. The vineyard produces wines from all seven of Alsace’s grape varieties, and its reputation is based on its Gewurztraminer and Pinot Blanc. The women of the family play an important part in the business, not only running the office but also the vineyards and the wine cellar.
For further information, please go to: http://www.vin-alsace-gueth.com

Domaine Jean-Marie Haag – quality and novelty expressing the richness of the terroir

Thirteen miles to the south of the city of Colmar, outside the village of Soultzmatt, lies the Haag family vineyard — a family that has been in wine-making for three generations. Husband-and-wife team Jean-Marie and Myriam Haag have worked together since 1982, producing a rich and diverse collection of 20 different vintages, each a unique expression of its terroir. Almost a third of the grapes grown at the site are Gewurztraminer, which go towards making the Grand Cru Zinnkoepfle, along with Pinot Gris and Riesling. Jean-Marie Haag is currently experimenting with biodynamics and Myriam has just created her first 2005 vintage wine — an elegant and striking assemblage of flavours and aromas that deserves to be discovered.

Domaine Paul Kubler – producing wine since 1620

The Kubler family has been producing wine since 1620. In 1947, Camille Kubler began to develop the Soultzmatt site and his grandson Philippe is now in charge, having trained at Cloudy Bay in New Zealand and obtained a Diploma in Oenology from the University of Bordeaux. The vines are 30 years old on average, and vine density ranges from 5,000 to 6,000 vines per hectare. The family uses traditional techniques, such as the use of oak casks to ferment the grapes over a period of eight to ten months. Domaine Paul Kubler specialises in dry white wines, especially the Grand Cru Zinnkoepfle, made from Riesling or Gewurztraminer .
For further information, please go to: http://www.lesvins.com/entree/Viticulteurs/Kubler_Paul.html

Domaine Gérard Neumeyer’s vineyard features Grand Cru Bruderthal

The vineyard, in the Molsheim area, covers 16 hectares, and includes part of one of Alsace’s most renowned Grand Crus — the Grand Cru Bruderthal, made from either Riesling, Gewurztraminer or Tokay Pinot Gris. The wines produced by Gérard and his wife Gabrielle are served in many Michelin-starred restaurants and have also won numerous awards in their own right. All the grapes are harvested by hand and the Neumeyer family uses traditional vinification techniques. They take particular care to match the grape varieties to the soil type, while placing special emphasis on the respect for the environment throughout the cultivation process.
For further information, please go to: http://www.domaine-neumeyer-gerard.com/

Domaine Philippe Schaeffer, going strong after over 250 years in business

The Schaeffer family have been winegrowers since 1750. Set in the largest of the Alsatian wine villages, the estate currently produces up to 96,000 bottles a year — more particularly the renowned Klevener de Heiligenstein (made from a rare grape), the Crus Fronholz, and the Hertenstein. In order to guarantee optimal quality, eight types of grape are planted on twelve hectares of land, a prime concern being the respect for the environment and for the soils concerned. Whether dry or fruity, and be they white, rosé or red wines, Crémants d’Alsace, Vendanges Tardives and Sélections de Grains Nobles are elaborated according to stringent winemaking rules that combine traditional know-how with a desire to innovate.
For further information, please go to: http://www.saveurs-et-terroirs.com

Domaine Henri Schoenheitz creates wines full of passion

This 13-hectare family estate is located in Wihr-au-Val, on the steep slopes of the Munster Valley. Renown and famous since the Middle Ages, the vineyard was badly damaged by successive wars that affected the border region of Alsace, to the point where it was nearly destroyed. Dominique and Henri have continued the reconstruction begun by Henri Schoenheitz Senior in the 1970s. Their hard work and passion for wine-making have successfully restored the reputation of the Wihr-au-Val vineyard, earning them the title of Best Vintner in 1995. Henri and his wife create high-quality wines from granite soils, sticking to proven production methods that respect the environment. Their wines bear the hallmarks of the honesty, purity, elegance and character that go into their production — especially as far as the Riesling and the Gewurztraminer wines are concerned.

Domaine Jean Huttard trims its wines to perfection

Domaine Jean Huttard prides itself on producing wines that are adapted to each and every situation and that can be appropriate for every consumer — whether an occasional wine drinker or a seasoned lover of fine wines. Thanks to the variety of wines offered by Domaine Jean Huttard, the heart and the palate of the wine drinker will find delight in their consumption. Jean Huttard’s credo is that the wine and the environment are closely interdependent, just as the ecosystem of a region and its ancient traditions can be. The quality of a producer’s output does not depend solely on the soil, but also on many other factors, especially a consistent and expert trimming of the vines. With a ratio of 50 to 60 litres of wine produced per are (a hectare being 10,000 square metres and an are representing 100 square metres), Domaine Jean Huttard provides optimal conditions in order to obtain excellent wines.

Domaine Laurent Vogt, where respect for the environment chimes with outstanding quality

This 11-hectare estate is located in Wolxheim, a small village near Strasbourg. Riesling wine produced locally is particularly famous, as the area of Wolxheim offers an especially good terroir for this noble grape variety. The whole range of Alsace wines is available in the selection offered by the Vogt family; however, particular wines stand out, such as the Vogts’ Riesling Grand Cru Altenberg de Wolxheim and their Crémant Chardonnay. Most of the Vogt estate’s wines have been awarded prizes, and are mentioned in the Hachette Wine Guide and in the specialist press. Thomas Vogt (whose family has worked the estate for three generations) grows his wines according to environmentally friendly principles of viticulture, giving preference to prevention rather than cure. Thomas exercises great care in the way that he runs the family’s vineyard and that his wines are produced, so that his customers may enjoy complete satisfaction.

Domaine Sick-Dreyer — a precursor in quality wines since the 17th century

The Sick-Dreyer estate has a long and prestigious history, since wine production started there in the 17th century. Located 8 km North of Colmar, at the heart of the wine-producing region of Alsace, the Domaine owns 13 hectares of vines, mainly located in Ammerschwihr. The wines of Domain Sick-Dreyer are solely grown and bottled at the winery itself, in conformity with strict and proven production methods. The estate produces wines from all varieties of Alsace grapes, and one of its wines — the Kaefferkopf — enjoys the oldest quality-certification label (or appellation) in the whole of Alsace.

Domaine du Moulin: 20 hectares at the heart of the Alsace Wine Route

Born into a family where the wine-growing tradition is handed down from generation to generation, Bernard Schwach created the Domaine du Moulin du Dusenbach, an independently owned estate that is located in the very heart of the Alsace wine-growing region, at Ribeauvillé. Over 20 hectares belong to the estate, which stretches from north to south and takes in among the most famous villages of the Alsace Wine Route. Thus, the Domaine du Moulin is a kaleidoscope of soils and terroirs, thanks to the very complex geology of Alsace — Riquewihr, Ribeauvillé, Ammerschwihr, Bergheim, Hunawihr, Kientzheim, Kaysersberg, and Zellenberg. Unsurprisingly, all the various Alsace wines are produced on the estate, from ‘reserve’ and ‘late harvest’ to ‘noble-rot’ wines, and also Crémant. Grand Crus such as Sporen and Schoenenbourg (in Riquewihr), Schlossberg (in Kientzheim), and Kaefferkopf (in Ammerschwihr) are naturally included in the Domaine du Moulin. While combining traditional techniques with present-day know-how, Bernard Schwach concentrates on quality and the expression of his different terroirs to produce outstanding dry white wines. Many awards have been won by his wines — among them the Silver Medal at the last international Riesling contest, for the Grand Cru Sporen 2004.

Domaine des Chartreux — internationally acquired expertise to better promote excellence

Domaine des Chartreux extends across an essentially chalky-clay terroir with plots of land situated in the districts of Rosheim and Bischoffsheim. The Domaine’s priority, explains Christophe Maetz, is to preserve the vine's natural balance, together with the spirit and inspiration lying at the heart of the wine’s production. The vines of the Domaine des Chartreux are all situated on hillsides to benefit from favourable climatic conditions. The wines produced would not be possible without Christophe Maetz’s passion for wine-making, and his production benefits from his dual expertise as an engineer and a winemaker.
His many years of experience in the wine industry — in France, but also in China and in the USA — are invaluable assets for Domaine des Chartreux. The wines grown on the estate are of an exceptional quality and have been described as “voluptuous”. Christophe Maetz sees the Domaine’s wine as “a work of art”, elaborated in line with clear values of distinction, excellence, and quality, in the respect for the terroir's integrity as well as for consumers.

The London International Wine and Spirits Fair 2006

This year is the 26th anniversary of the London International Wine and Spirits Fair (LIWSF). The trade show is taking place from 16 to 18 May 2006. The Alsace region will be present at Stand H30/1.
The LIWSF has become the most important annual exhibition in the world's wine and spirits calendar. Visitors use the trade show to source new, exciting wines; to increase their knowledge of wine-making; and to discuss their business needs with producers as well as suppliers.

For the 3,500 international visitors coming to the event, the LIWSF is a powerful business tool and an exceptional industry-wide forum. Importers from every corner of the globe travel to London to look for new suppliers among the 1,250 exhibitors.

For further information, please go to: http://www.londonwinefair.com

About the Chamber of Commerce of Strasbourg

The Chamber of Commerce of Strasbourg (CCI Strasbourg) represents and promotes the interests of companies based in the Alsace region of Eastern France.
For further information, please go to: http://www.strasbourg.cci.fr

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