Alsace is one of the fine-dining destinations of France, with Michelin-starred restaurants aplenty, stunning scenery and chocolate-box villages to explore. From a wine point of view, however, this eastern-French region is still something of a hidden gem, capable of world-class aromatic wines that compare with the best in the world.
Alsace’s trump card is white wine – it accounts for around nine of every 10 bottles made – and the very best, bottled in the traditional tall flute bottles of the region, have been put through their paces in this year’s IWSC.
Gewurztraminer showed well this year, with two Gold medals and six Silvers. The judges recognised its food-friendliness – Gewurz is a classic pairing with spicy food – and were impressed by the variety’s trademark notes of lychee, rose petals and tropical fruit. Alsace’s star variety, Riesling, didn’t disappoint, with an array of medals showcasing the grape’s classy blend of zesty acidity and taut steeliness.
This year, a Gewürztraminer from Château de Riquewihr was awarded a Gold medal, scoring 95/100 and impressing judges with its ‘rich, oily texture and lovely long finish.’ Sparkling made an appearance in the top selection too, with a Crémant d’Alsace from Dopff Au Moulin scoring 94/100 and wowing with a ‘mineral-toasted palate and a clean, lengthy finish.’
Each wine in the Alsace category in this year’s IWSC was grouped by type, then tasted blind by an expert panel including Master of Wine John Hoskins, Master Sommelier Eric Zwiebel, and
Alsace doesn’t get anything like the attention of Bordeaux and Burgundy, so if you’ve yet to discover the charms of this beautiful French region, make sure you try some (or all) of the delicious Alsace wines below. We’re proud to present our selection of the best Alsace wines from the IWSC 2022.
HOW DO WE JUDGE THESE WINES?
We run a tightly structured, rigorous wine tasting process. That means that each wine sample is pre-poured into numbered glasses and assessed blindly by the judges. Most importantly, our IWSC wine judges are experts in their field, who work across all sectors of the wine industry. For evidence, see our full list of judges.
HOW DO WE SCORE THESE WINES?
Only the best wines sampled receive a Gold or Silver award. For example, to win Gold, wines have to score between 95 and 100 points. Meanwhile, Silver wines range from 90 to 94 points. Click here to read more on our scoring system.
MORE FROM CLUB OENOLOGIQUE
Club O is an exclusive community and the go-to platform for wine and spirit lovers. Our flagship Club Oenologique magazine offers even more insights for enthusiasts and collectors. Based in London, our editorial team tells informative, inspirational stories from the world of wine and spirits, gastronomy and travel, as well as covering recommendations and the latest trends in drink. You can take a look at our Explained series, for instance, where we’re tackling grape varieties, regions and styles of wine and spirits. Alternatively, visit our Ask the Sommelier section, where experts answer your wine-related questions.
Eight of the best Alsace wines from the IWSC 2022
Château de Riquewihr, Gewurztraminer Grand Cru Sporen 2019
Cave de Ribeauvillé, Riesling Grand Cru Osterberg 2019
Cave de Ribeauvillé, Riesling Grand Cru Kirchberg de Ribeauville 2019
Dopff Au Moulin, Soléra 12-16 Brut Nature NV
Domaine Kirrenbourg, Pinot Gris Grand Cru Schlossberg 2017
Domaine Fernand Engel, Pinot Gris Grand Cru Vendanges Tardives 2018
Pfaff, Pinot Gris Grand Cru Steinert 2019
Pfaff, Sélection D Gewurztraminer 2017
