Alsace, the picturesque wine region to the north-east of France, lies between the Vosges mountains on its west and the Rhine River on to the east. The mountains not only provide protection from wind and rain but have contributed to the vast variety of soil types found within this region.
One of the major influences of Alsace as the wine region it is today is its long and colorful history. In the last few hundred years it has alternated between German and French rule no less than four times. This has meant Alsace is largely exempt from France's strict laws regarding wine production and, in terms of production, has been strongly influenced by German wine making techniques and varietals.
Alsace has three designations, Alsace AOC and Alsace Grand Cru AOC for still white wines and Cremant d'Alsace AOC for sparkling wines. Most wine produced in this region fits into one of these three designations. This means producing anything other than an AOP (formerly AOC) classified wine means it can only be labelled as a Vin de Table du France, the lowest classification for French wine.
Alsace Grand Cru AOC wines may only be produced from Riesling, Gewürtzraminer, Pinot Gris and Muscat. Crémant d'Alsace AOC wines are produced mostly from Pinot Blanc grapes, however producers may also blend Riesling, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir. Wines labelled Rosé Crément d'Alsace AOC must be made singularly from Pinot Noir. Alsace AOC, in additional to the aforementioned varietals, excluding Chardonnay, may also use Sylvaner, Klevener de Heiligenstein and Chasselas in blended wines.
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