Five Wines from Alsace, France

Lucien Albrecht is one of the oldest winegrowers in the Alsace region of France. The family's history with wine dates to the early 15^th century. Located along the famous wine road south of Strasbourg, France, the domain has numerous holdings in the villages along the route around Orschwihr, Alsace, France.

The following five wines provide an introduction to the sophistication and variety of Alsatian wines from the vineyards south of Strasbourg, France.

Lucien Albrecht Cement d'Alsace Brut Rose NV. A light fun bubbly that is priced for around $20 bottle, as a non-vintage, champagne method wine, it is available every year and should be consistent from year to year. This is a perfect inexpensive wine choice for a holiday aperitif. It is a delightful light peachy pink with a subtle fruits, dry finish, perfect toasting for any occasion.

Clos Himmelreich Riesling, Lucian Albrecht, Alsace France. Very floral with great depth but not sweet in the usual sense. This Riesling is a great food wine, grown in the Le Clos Himmelreich, an enclosed area of 2 hectares area surrounded by a wall located in Orschwihr village) The clos is terraced into a hillside with a steep gradient enclosed by stone walls. This Riesling is a fine white wine meant to be served with food, such as white light fish or scallops. It is light gold, lively, very floral with great depth but not sweet. A current vintage retails for around $86.

The Albrecht Pfingstberg vineyard soil provides a chalky and micaceous sandstone soil, and thus yielding intense complex wines under the right conditions.

Grand Cru, Pfingstberg Riesling Lucian Albrecht, Alsace France. This old vine Riesling will complement your fine pork, fish and scallop dishes. Beautifully light gold in the glass, it has a clean light elegance with a floral bouquet. This wine in a current vintage will retail for around $30.

Grand Cru Pfingstberg Pinot Gris, Lucian Albrecht, Alsace France. A beautiful golden wine with smokey, mushroom nose and flavors. This is a much more complex wine than the Pinot Gris you may be used to drinking as an appertif. A wonderful wine for a great meal of rich fish or chicken or try it with a coconut -based curry. This wine in a current vintage will retail for around $35.

Two more unusual choices are Albrecht's Vendanges Tardives.

Vendanges Tardives Riesling, Lucian Albrecht, Alsace France. The Riesling grapes are left to November and December to create this rich complex wine. This unique dessert wine with a ripe fruity nose and a smooth rich complex palate is perfect with fall fruit desserts. This wine in a current vintage retails for about $48, for a 375 ml. bottle.

The other Albrecht Tardives is a Pinot Gris. Vendanges Tardives Pinot Gris, Lucien Albrecht, is also harvested in November and December. This beautiful wine is golden and complex and a perfect after dinner treat. This wine in a current vintage will retail for around $48 for a 375 ml. bottle.