Tag Archives: wines

Germany, Wines

Wine Notes: Hessische Bergstrasse

 

What I Learned

The Hessische Bergstrasse is one of the smallest wine regions in Germany, with less than 450 hectares of land under vine. Facing onto the Rhine River valley, with the Odenwald mountains and forest at its back, the weather here is milder than in most other places in Germany. The name of the region comes from the “mountain road” (Berg Strasse) that the Romans built along the foothills. Roman roads often had relay stations, small forts and taverns to serve officials and soldiers as well as travelling merchants. And where Romans resided, they often planted vines for wine. So, the first evidence of viticulture dates to 2,000 years ago.

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France, Wines

Wine Notes: Collioure

 

What I Learned

The Appellation d’Origine Controlee (AOC) Collioure centers around the town of Collioure. (Within this area, vintners also harvest grapes for the AOC Banyuls, a Vin Doux Naturel (VDN) fortified like port, but that is another topic.)

AOC Collioure focuses traditionally on red wines, Grenache Noir predominates, but Syrah, Mourvedre, Cinsault and Carignan are also grown. But hot weather, and a diet laced with seafood, often calls for a lighter wine, vice a hearty red. Accordingly, this AOC allows production of rose wines. Interestingly, in a rose cuvee, vintners may add up to 30% Grenache Gris.

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Germany, Wines

Wine Notes: Markgraeflerland II

 

What I Learned

The Markgraeflerland district is along the southern-most section of the Rhine as it borders France, in the region of Baden, in the state of Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany. As many other wine regions in the Rhine River valley, the Romans cultivated and harvested grapes here, and with the start of the Carolingian era, viticulture and viniculture took hold again.

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Germany, Wines

Wine Notes: Markgraeflerland I

 

What I Learned

The Markgraeflerland wine district is along the southern-most section of the Rhine as it borders France and Switzerland, in the wine region of Baden, in the state of Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany. It is the southern-most wine producing district in Germany. It begins in Weil am Rhein, just outside the Swiss city of Basel, and continues almost to Freiburg. The vineyards lie on the foothills between the river valley floor, and the Black Forest mountains to the east. About 3000 hectares, and 90 cooperatives, cellars and wine estates are dedicated to the production of this district’s wine, carried out the in villages and small towns that dot this area.

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Italy, Wines

Wine Notes: Valle d’Aosta

 

What I Learned:

Valle d’Aosta (Aosta Valley) is in the northwest corner of Italy, where Italy, France and Franco-phone Switzerland meet. It is an autonomous region with a heavy French influence. This influence, and of course earlier Roman settlement in the region, means that wine and wine production figure heavily in local culture. Being not only in the north, but also at a rather high elevation, wine-making is a challenge. But it is one that local winemakers have accepted, especially those vintners close to the French border, whose vineyards lie at altitudes greater than 1000 meters above sea level. (In fact, these vineyards lying below the highest mountain in the Alps, Mount Blanc (itself over 4800 meters above sea level), include some of the highest vineyards in Europe.) While there are other contenders for the highest vineyard elsewhere in Europe, there can be no doubt that Aosta Valley winemakers work in seriously mountainous terroir.

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Germany, Wines

Wine Notes: Ortenau, Durbach

 

What I Learned

The Ortenau is a district in Germany’s Baden wine region. This district lies on an undulating landscape, in bucolic countryside, punctuated by picturesque wine villages. Durbach is one of these villages, renowned for its excellent vineyards, and justly famed for the quality of its wines. Ridgelines here are less lines, than semi-circles, creating several small natural bowls with steep sides. Most of the growths have ideal exposure to the sun. Additionally, these bowls protect the grape-bearing slopes from too much wind. The climate here is exceptionally mild and sunny in summer. In short, this is one of the best areas for growing grapes in Baden.

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France, Wines

Wine Notes: South Alsace Grands Crus

 

What I Learned

Alsace’s wine producing region identifies certain vineyard areas as Grand Cru.  The Haut-Rhin (Upper Rhine department) area is particularly favored with some great terroirs. Spread roughly north to south, many of the most well-known crus are in the northern and central parts of this department. However, around the area of Guebwiller, there are several, and this post focuses on three.

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Germany, Wines

Wine Notes: Northern Suedliche Weinstrasse

 

What I Learned

Red sandstone is one of the most striking features of the Suedliche Weinstrasse wine district. It shows up in the scenic rock formations, in the stonework of the local castles (of which there are many), and in the vineyards. This sedimentary rock gains its color from the iron oxide present in the original deposits. As a soil base for vines, it is rather good at retaining the sun’s heat. On the debit side, it is rather poor in nutrients.

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Switzerland, Wines

Wine Notes: Swiss Aargau Wines

 

What I Learned

The Aargau Wine Region in Switzerland essentially follows the Aare River as it meanders toward the Rhine. Soft, rounded hills where limestone predominates, and a relatively mild climate help create the environment here that favors vine cultivation. The region is sub-divided into 7 distinct vineyard areas, mostly ranging on the south-facing hills in valleys branching off the Aare.

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