The Wines of Alsace

This is a buyer's guide with an introduction to the history, vintages, wine growing and making methods, followed by a breakdown by grape variety of the wines from the region. The producers are listed, the wines are rated on a 3-star system and graded according to price. Each section of the grape varieties lists the individual producers. It also rates the wines on a 3-star system and grades them for price in one of five different price brackets. Many of the wines are attractively illustrated using their own labels. Every variety of Alsace wine is covered, from the well-known ones such as Riesling and Gewurztraminer to the less common such as Kaferkopf or Chasselas. There is also a section devoted to the various kinds of eaux-de-vie and liquers from the region. For those new to wine, the "appelation controlee" system is explained, as is the commercial structure of the Alsace wine industry. Guidance is given on how to read an Alsace wine lable and there is an explanation of the special growing conditions which gives the wines of Alsace their individual taste.