The Wines of Alsace
Encyclopedia
The Wines of Alsace by Tom Stevenson
was published in 1993 by Faber & Faber. This 600 page book profiles 300 producers, 118 wine villages, 51 grands crus
, 84 lieux-dits, 28 clos and 4 wine-producing châteaux of Alsace
. The vintage
chart stretches from 1992 back to 585!
In “Alsace, French or German?”, Stevenson traces the historical development of Alsace back to the Protocelts who settled this part of the Rhine 3,500 years ago, and determines that not only was Alsace originally German, but it was the French who were the first to invade the region. He also researched the popular notion that the reputation of Alsace wine was deliberately lost by the Germans after the Franco-Prussian War, and discovered that prior to that war the French had expanded the region’s vineyards into unsuitable areas on the plains, and planted them with lowly varieties, “proof positive” according to Stevenson that “it was Gallic madness, not German vindictiveness”.
Although published in 1993, Stevenson’s portraits of the growers are still considered valid today, due to his ability to capture the essence of the people and their wines.
ISBN 0-571-14953-7
Tom Stevenson
Tom Stevenson is a British author who has been writing about wine for more than 30 years. Described by his colleagues as one of today’s most prolific wine authors, Stevenson is regarded as the world’s leading authority on Champagne...
was published in 1993 by Faber & Faber. This 600 page book profiles 300 producers, 118 wine villages, 51 grands crus
Alsace Grand Cru AOC
Alsace Grand Cru is an Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée for wines made in specific parcels of the Alsace wine region of France. The Grand Cru AOC was recognized in 1975 by the INAO with subsequent expansion in 1983, 1992 and 2007....
, 84 lieux-dits, 28 clos and 4 wine-producing châteaux of Alsace
Alsace wine
Alsace wine or Alsatian wine is produced in the Alsace region in France and is primarily white. These wines, which for historical reasons have a strong Germanic influence, are produced under three different Appellations d'Origine Contrôlées : Alsace AOC for white, rosé and red wines, Alsace Grand...
. The vintage
Vintage
Vintage, in wine-making, is the process of picking grapes and creating the finished product . A vintage wine is one made from grapes that were all, or primarily, grown and harvested in a single specified year. In certain wines, it can denote quality, as in Port wine, where Port houses make and...
chart stretches from 1992 back to 585!
In “Alsace, French or German?”, Stevenson traces the historical development of Alsace back to the Protocelts who settled this part of the Rhine 3,500 years ago, and determines that not only was Alsace originally German, but it was the French who were the first to invade the region. He also researched the popular notion that the reputation of Alsace wine was deliberately lost by the Germans after the Franco-Prussian War, and discovered that prior to that war the French had expanded the region’s vineyards into unsuitable areas on the plains, and planted them with lowly varieties, “proof positive” according to Stevenson that “it was Gallic madness, not German vindictiveness”.
Although published in 1993, Stevenson’s portraits of the growers are still considered valid today, due to his ability to capture the essence of the people and their wines.
ISBN 0-571-14953-7