Alsace Masterclass

The first in our series of occasional “deep dive” masterclass events into famous wine regions starts with that most un-French of French wine regions – Alsace.

Due to its history, Alsace is a fusion of French and German food and wine cultures, creating uniquely Alsatian wines

The wines of Alsace benefit from its unique climate.  The warm, dry autumns create the ideal conditions for late-ripening varieties such as Riesling and Gewurztraminer and to allow Pinot Gris (which goes by the name Pinot Grigio in Italy) to display its hidden charms.

Alongside these three classic Alsace varieties, the region also produces fantastic value for money sparkling wine in the shape of Cremant d’Alsace and increasingly good Pinot Noir.

Wines here are often off-dry or medium-dry, but they also produce superb dessert wines as well.

I was fortunate enough to visit Alsace last year and stayed in the beautiful town of Ribeauville.  To the west, the foothills of the Vosges Mountains and to the North, East and West vineyards everywhere.

It is a beautiful place and the wines were absolutely superb.  On this event you will have the opportunity to “virtually” visit the region and experience a little of what we did on our brief visit.

In this special masterclass we will sample seven wines, starting with a Cremant d’Alsace and then onto the classic grape varieties of Alsace – Riesling, Gewurztraminer and Pinot Gris.  Going up a gear, we will also sample a wine from one of the prestigious Grand Cru vineyards and then a sweet Vendage Tardive wine.  Finally, a Pinot Noir will bring the evening to a close.

Accompanied by some classic Munster cheese from the Alsace region, this will be a fantastic evening for anyone that enjoys classic wines.