France - Alsace

Question 1

What is the average vineyard holding? What does this result in?

Answer 1

Low, under 3.5 ha, as a result many growers sell to co-ops or larger wineries.

Question 2

How much, as a percentage, of sales do co-operatives account for?

Answer 2

40%, from co-operatives with a reputation for high quality.

Question 3

Where is Alsace’s reputation strongest?

Answer 3

In France, especially as wines suited for gastronomy.

Question 4

What is the division of domestic/export? Where are the biggest export markets?

Answer 4

75% domestic.
The rest of the EU, especially Belgium, Germany, and Netherlands, followed by North America.

Question 5

How does Alsacian wine have to be packaged? What are the pros and cons?

Answer 5

Has to be sold in the typical tall, thin ‘flute’ bottles. No bag-in-box is allowed.
Pros: gives Alsace a clear brand identity.
Cons: can lead to confusion with German wines.

Question 6

What are some producers from Alsace notable for?

Answer 6

The amount of domaines that produce many, or even all available still styles: dry, off dry, VT and SGN, from four or more varieties with up to four quality levels, meaning that 25-30 bottling for medium to larger domaines is normal. Significant producers of this include Hugel, Trimbach and Zind-Humbrecht.

Question 7

What amount of bottlings is it common for co-operatives to produce? What does this result in?

Answer 7

Large amounts. Eg Cave de Turckheim offers 50 bottlings from 7 varieties.
This means wines are sold on a general image about Alsace wine and the producer, rather than individual labels.