Alsace Riesling

Riesling is found in very few – if any – regions of France other than Alsace. Yet here on the country’s eastern flank, it thrives, producing wines that rival those from across the border in Germany in their complexity, ageability and renown. Alsace’s relatively cool climate and steep schist, shale and slate slopes offer the perfect environment for this darling of the fine wine scene, with the historic grand cru sites worthy of the same level of acclaim as those of Burgundy in the eyes of the variety’s devotees. The dominant dry wines can be steely and austere when young, often developing weight and fruit character with age.