Last month I spent a few hours tasting through the 2008s (plus a few other vintages) with Laurence Faller at Domaine Weinbach. This was a marvelous experience, and Laurence was extraordinarily tolerant of my incessant questioning (and the length of my stay!). She shared many thoughts on the 2008 vintage, especially vis-à-vis the 2007 vintage. [...]

In the Grand Cru of Goldert, Alsace has its own “golden slope.” If Burgundy’s Côte d’Or is famous for extraordinary Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, Goldert is famous for its Gewurztraminer, Muscat, and Pinot Gris, though all four ‘noble’ varieties (and some Pinot Noir) are planted in Goldert. Brief Summary of a Long History Goldert has [...]

The Cradle of Alsace Wine Some of the great exponents of Alsace wine operate out of this fabulous wine village, but it remains a mystery to most, even among those who have traveled in Alsace. I’m sorry that it is overlooked, because it is an explorer’s dream, and since it isn’t overrun with tourists, the [...]

I went to Zind-Humbrecht in Turckheim last month and met with cellar master Olaf Richter, as Olivier Humbrecht was out of town. Olaf is an affable, ingratiating man who has worked a circuitous path outside of the wine world en route from the Pfalz (across the Rhine) to this extraordinary domaine, where he has soaked [...]

The signature dish of Alsatian cuisine, Choucroute is a sensational vehicle for one of the most important culinary contributions the region has to offer–Charcuterie. Charcuterie is elevated to an art form in Alsace, where meat, mostly pork, is preserved in a variety of ways: as smoked parts of the pig (usually the belly); as sausages [...]

If you’re planning a trip to Alsace soon, this may offer a lovely frame of reference. Approaching Kaysersberg by car on the Route du Vin, with a whirlwind tour of some sights around the village.