Its Spring. The weather is getting warmer, and Summer is just around the corner. I'm not sure if everyone categorizes wines as either a Summer wine or a Winter Wine. In my case, any time you open a bottle of wine is a good time to drink it. That being said, if you are one who thinks of wines in terms of the weather, let me introduce you to something other than Pinot Grigios or Sauvignon Blancs.
The Alsace region in France is known mostly for white wine, and tends to use the varietal name on the label. Riesling, Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer and Pinot Blanc are a few examples. These wines, however, can be rather costly. But, when these wines are blended, they offer a good starting point for enjoying Alsace wines.
Edelzwicker is a blanket term used for these wines, and they have no restrictions as to the blend or how it is vinified. The term Gentil, is also a blend, but must stick to an established charter of how these wines are blended and vinified. Only the "noble" varietals can be used, and they all need to be vinified separately before blending.
Some Alsace producers use a proprietary name for their blend, or simply label it is as an Alsace Blanc. Keutz Bas is an example of this.
The blend for this wine is made up of Sylvaner, Auxerrois and Muscat. These aren't exactly house hold names, but they do make a nice wine that is light, floral and dry.
The Meyer-Fonne Edelzwicker is composed mostly of Pinot Blanc, and the rest are a combination of the lesser known varietals. It is also floral, dry and complex.
It is freshly aromatic with floral and fruit driven notes. It has a bit more body than the others mentioned here, but finished equally dry.
All these wines are perfect for the warmer weather, but should not be relegated to the shelf until the Spring time. They are delicious all year. As far as a food pairing, please check out my recipe for Alsace Farmhouse Chicken.
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