Nothing tastes like French wine. Nothing has the reputation or the allure of opulence offered by serving French wine to your favorite guests. There is no French wine more special that those from the Alsace region.
Here are five wines to serve your guests during the holidays and every special occasion. And they’re not expensive.
Trimbach Reserve Pinot Gris 2005
This white wine has the smooth taste of peaches, musk melons and strangely enough, smoked meat. It makes this wine truly unique and the taste is a delicious experience not to be forgotten. It is available online at Snood.com for $15.95.
The Trimbach winery was established by the family in 1626 and for over 400 years applied their expertise to making wines of renown. They are located in the Alsace region of France and are based in Ribeauvillé.
Jean Baptiste Adam Riesling 2007
Green apples, peaches, pears and citrus makes this wine one of my favorites with dessert. Paired with a good bread and fine cheese, it makes any evening special. This fine drink can be ordered from JustGrapes.net for $13.19 a bottle.
Jean Baptiste Adam is one of the most respected wineries in the Alsace area since it’s founding in 1614. The winery carries the name of the founder and is still owned by the Adam family.
Francois Baur Crémant d’Alsace Brut Reserve 2005
Some sparkling wines like champagne have a reputation for headaches or stomach upset but not this one. The taste is a smooth, gentle reminder of pears and white peaches. I’d toast with this wine any day. It can be purchased for $24.99 from Bottleshop.com.
The Francois Baur winery only uses ancient oak barrels to ferment the wines after selecting only the finest grapes. It’s a tradition they’ve employed for many years, and hopefully for many years to come.
Hugel et Fils Gewurztraminer Hugel 2005
Unlike any other wine, I am drawn to the unique green color of this unusual wine. Like the color of a light pistachio nut. The taste however isn’t nutty. It smells like a mixture of roses, citrus and Asian spices but tastes like a mixture of tropical fruits. Serving this wine with perhaps Asian or Mediterranean food gives the meal a Casablanca-style feel. Order this from TheWineBuyer.com for $19.99.
The Hugel & Fils winery was established in 1639 in the Alsace region of France. Not only were they influential in establishing quality controls for their own wines, but were instrumental in establishing quality control laws for French wines in the 70’s.
Alsace Willm Gewurztraminer 2008
There are evenings that are made for drinking a fine white wine without having any with a meal. This wine was made for sipping under the stars or on the beach. With a spicy taste and smell of roses and tropical fruit, any evening would be exceptional. The price of $18.95 from WineExpress is a small price to pay for extravagance.
The Willm winery was founded in 1896 and is one of the premier exporters of Alsace wines to Europe and North America. The founder was not only a wine grower but a restaurant owner as well.
Whichever of these wines you choose, your evening or meal will be one you will remember for years to come. That’s the reputation of French wines.
