Gourmet Alsace > Savour Alsace wines > The Alsace grape varieties
The Alsace grape varieties
• The Sylvaner : Remarkably fresh, light and discreetly fruity. An agreeable, thirst-quenching, sometimes lively wine, it goes well with seafood, cold meats, quiche and salads.
• The Pinot Blanc : Soft and delicate, combining freshness and subtlety, it is the most generalpurpose wine of Alsace. It is well suited to many dishes, especially seafood, poultry and mild cheeses.
• The Muscat : It differs from southern Muscats because it is vinified dry. Inimitably fruity, very aromatic, it retains the flavour of the fresh grape. It makes a superbly mouthwatering apéritif, and is a fine partner for asparagus.
• The Riesling : Dry, distinguished, delicately fruity, with a very elegant bouquet and sometimes mineral or floral notes, Riesling is considered one of the finest white wine grapes in the world. A gastronomic wine «par excellence», it is perfect with fish, shellfish, white meat and choucroute, and will also age well.
• The Pinot Gris : Opulently rich and characteristically flavourful, it is nicely structured, rounded and has a long finish. It displays complex woodland aromas, sometimes slightly smoky, and goes well with white meats and game, but also with foie gras.
• The Gewurztraminer : Well known for its exceptionally aromatic character, it has a rich bouquet of fruit, flowers and spices, with a powerful and rounded structure. It makes a perfect apéritif, and a partner for all exotic cuisine (Asian, Mexican, Indian, Moroccan…), with strong cheeses (like Munster) and with dessert.
• The Pinot Noir : The only rosé or red wine of Alsace, with a typically fruity, cherry-like bouquet, it makes a perfect match for charcuterie and red meats.
