Top 8 Wines from Alsace – picked by the IWSC experts, in partnership with CIVA

A relatively small, but incredibly diverse viticultural region, Alsace is home to an impressive portfolio of grapes and wine styles. From the delicate Pinot Blanc and Auxerrois to the opulent Gewurztraminer and Muscat; from Riesling, Sylvaner and Pinot Gris that can offer everything from elegant restraint to profundity and power to the perfumy Pinot Noir.

To assist the Comité Interprofessionnel des Vins d’Alsace (CIVA) in its selection of wines to be showcased at the upcoming Prowein 2024, the IWSC was asked to bring together a panel of industry experts with specialist knowledge of the region.

The panel included wine writer Natasha Hughes MW, Eric Zwiebel MS, an Alsace native who’s currently the director of Wine at the Samling Hotel and Corney & Barrow wine buyer Rebecca Palmer. 

Together the trio tasted 75 wines in order to come up with a shortlist of 8 of the best from the region, all of which will be showcased at ProWein 2024. Read on to discover our judges’ top picks and their tasting notes.

AOC Crémant d’Alsace

Domaine Viticole de la Ville de Colmar, Crémant d’Alsace, Cuvée 1895, NV. 6g/l dosage, 12% abv

This 100% Chardonnay fizz is rounded and nutty with generous levels of ripe stone and citrus fruit, which is nicely counterpointed by subtle autolytic notes derived from the three years it spends ageing on lees in bottle. Nicely balanced and very easy to drink.

Frey-Sohler, Crémant d’Alsace, NV. 7.96 g/l dosage, 12% abv

The 20 months this wine spent ageing on its lees have endowed it with a fine mousse and some lively acidity, while the Riesling grape lends it intense notes of honeyed greengage plums and spiced pear. 

Riesling from Alsace

Willm, Riesling, Alsace Grand Cru Kirchberg de Barr, 2022. 4.75 g/l RS, 13.35% abv

Marl-limestone soil. Riper, with more overt stone and tropical fruit than you might typically expect from Riesling, but incredibly approachable, even in its youth.

Domaine Jean-Marc Bernhard, Riesling,  Alsace Grand Cru Wineck-Schlossberg, 2021. 4 g/l RS, 13%abv

Granite soil. A racy, linear wine with cleansing acidity and very pure notes of lime and green apple tinged with orange zest and white blossom. Good depth and length.

Dopff au Moulin, Riesling, Alsace Grand Cru Schoenenbourg, 2018. 6.5 g/l RS, 13.8% abv

Marl soil. A mature wine with a balance of primary citrus notes and developed notes of honey and smoky kerosene. Good long finish.

Pinot Noir from Alsace

Domaine Jean-Marc Bernhard, Pinot Noir Lieu-dit Vogelgarten, 2022. 13% abv

This is an utterly charming Pinot, with beguiling flavours of bright red cherries and strawberries and a distinctive floral note. Light supporting tannins and a refreshing burst of acidity lend structure to the delicate palate.

La Cave du Vieil Armand, Pinot Noir, 2022. 13% abv 

Although the palate is a little dominated by sweet spicy oak, there’s plenty of fruit density there to allow for this to integrate over time. The tannins are fine-grained, with just the right amount of grip. Worth cellaring.

Gewurztraminer from Alsace

Hugel et Fils/Famille Hugel, Gewurztraminer, Vendanges Tardives, 2014. 94 g/l RS, 10.5% abv

Decadently rich, but showing precise balance of sweetness and bright acidity. A long finish, with plenty of ripe tropical fruit, tinged with a mature truffled character.

Representing the winemakers producing and selling AOC Alsace wines, the Comité Interprofessionnel des Vins d’Alsace (CIVA) looks forward to welcoming international visitors to Stand E100-G99 in Hall 10 at ProWein 2024.