(1888PressRelease)
April 16, 2008 - The Chamber of Commerce of Alsace will have a stand at the London International Wine and Spirits Fair (LIWSF) to be held in London between 20 and 22 May 2008, accompanied by six wine producers from Alsace (in eastern France). Visitors are invited to attend a wine-tasting event on the Alsace wines’ stand (H60/6) at 4.30pm on 20 May, which will enable them to sample a wide range of fine terroir wines, in the company of oenologist Thierry Fritsch and the producers themselves.
The wines of Alsace (a region of eastern France that borders Germany) are famous across the world for their quality, their individuality and the distinctive slim bottles used by Alsace wine growers. They range from light and dry to opulent and rich, and the London Wine Show will give visitors the perfect opportunity to discover more about the region and its vineyards. All the producers on the Alsace stand at the London Wine Show are independent, family-run businesses, which place a premium on respect for the environment and on avoiding the use of chemicals (including pesticides and fertilisers), as they rely on traditional and more ‘natural’ techniques developed over centuries of production in the region.
Seven varieties of grapes (cépages) are grown in the region — Sylvaner, Pinot Blanc, Riesling, Muscat d’Alsace, Tokay Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir and Gewurztraminer. Unlike most other French wines, Alsace wines tend to be varietals, which means that they derive their name from the grape variety they are made from, rather than being blends named after a given terroir (i.e. the physical and environmental characteristics of the vineyard, especially the soil of the area concerned). Winemakers in Alsace still take great care to marry grape varieties with local soil types to produce the ideal match.
The renowned Alsace Wine Route runs for more than 170 kilometres along the Vosges mountain range, taking in areas of great beauty along the way. It is easy to follow and visitors can explore the many vineyards that line the scenic route as well as the traditional ‘winstubs’ and wine-storage cellars (where wine-tasting is on offer).
For those who are unable to visit Alsace itself, going to the Wine Show in London will give them the opportunity to discover one of France’s most distinctive regions, through its amazing range of authentic and traditionally produced wines.
Domaine Bott Frères offers traditional yet modern winemaking
Domaine Bott Frères has been making wine since 1835 – today three generations work together at the family business. The vineyards are mainly located in Ribeauvillé, Hunawihr and Rodern. The soil composition varies from limey-clay and calcareous-sandstone to clayey-granite, with each terroir giving a different specificity to the wines. The vineyards are controlled by pruning the canes short in the winter and by green harvesting in the summer, which optimises the grape quality. The company combines traditional fermentation in 100-year-old oak casks with the latest technology in order to create high-quality wines. Bott Frères makes the following Grand Crus: Osterberg, Kirchberg de Ribeauvillé and Gloeckelberg. Around 3O% of its wines are exported.
For further information, please go to www.bott-freres.fr
Kientz Estate produces three-star wines – having started in 1696
The Kientz family has been growing wine in Blienschwiller since 1696. Its winery has a wide variety of soils – clayey and silty for its generic wines and granitic for its Grand Cru Winzenberg. Kientz received a special mention and three stars in the 2008 Hachette Guide for its Gewurztraminer 2005. André Kientz, who has run the estate since 1985, is committed to preserving the traditional expertise of the business, such as manual harvesting of the grapes and limited treatment of the vines with chemicals. He produces dry white wines with very little residual sweetness, with an emphasis on the aromatic characteristic of each grape variety.
For further information, please go to: www.alsacekientz.com
Robert Klingenfus wines are made with respect for nature
The Klingefus family-run vineyard in Molsheim exports 50% of its wines; the rest are sold within France. The estate’s core values are the respect for nature and a healthy and sustainable form of agriculture. Robert Klingenfus follows strict production standards, with balanced soil amendment, control of vine nutrients and yields, hand harvest of sensitive vines, maturing in wood casks and delayed bottling – all of which is done in order to ensure the consistent quality of the wines.
Domaine Philippe Schaeffer produces 100,000 bottles a year
This 12-hectare vineyard in Epfig produces nearly 100,000 bottles a year and grows the eight grape varieties found in Alsace, including the rare Klevener de Heiligenstein vine. This estate, which was founded in 1750, produces its wine using sustainable agricultural methods. The vineyard makes four different ranges of white, rose and red wines – Traditional (dry or fruity), Fronholz (character and minerality), Vendanges Tardives and Selection de Grains Nobles (liqueur-like with high expression), and the sparkling Crémant d’Alsace (finesse and personality).
For further information, please go to: www.saveurs-et-terroirs.com
Bernard Schwach wines are prize winners
Bernard Schwach created the Domaine du Moulin de Dusenbach – an independent estate located in the very heart of the Alsace wine area in Ribeauvillé. More than 28 hectares belong to the estate, which stretches from north to south among the most famous villages of the Alsace wine road. All the different varieties of Alsace wines are produced on the estate, from reserve to late-harvest and noble-rot wines, plus Crémant. Grand Crus such as Sporen and Schoenenbourg in Riquewihr, Schlossberg in Kientsheim, and Kaefferkopf in Ammerschwihr, are also made at the Domaine du Moulin. The estate has won many awards, among them a Silver Medal for the Grand Cru Sporen 2004 at the World Riesling contest, Silver Medal at the World Sparkling Wines in 2007, and a Silver Medal for the Muscat Reserve 2006 at the World Muscat 2007 contest.
For further information, please go to: www.domaine-schwach-bernard.com
Louis Sipp is going organic
Louis Sipp has 40 hectares of vineyards on the best hillsides of Ribeauvillé, in the heart of Alsace. It produces a complete range of Alsace wines – varietals, single-vineyard selections (Steinacker, Hagel, Rotenberg, Trottacker and Grossberg), Alsace Grands Crus Kirchberg de Ribeauvillé and Osterberg, Vendanges Tardives and Sélections de Grains Nobles. The Grands Crus from the Kirchberg de Ribeauvillé and Osterberg are the finest wines in this range. In order to ensure even better typicality and depth of the wines, the vineyard is currently under conversion to organic farming. The wines are exported worldwide to more than 25 countries. Louis Sipp is looking for partners to expand its international distribution network.
For further information, please go to: www.sipp.com
The London International Wine and Spirits Fair 2008
This year is the 28th anniversary of the London International Wine and Spirits Fair (LIWSF). The trade show is taking place from 20 to 22 May 2008. The Alsace region will be present at Stand H60/6.
The LIWSF has become the most important annual exhibition in the world's wine and spirits calendar. Visitors use the trade show to source new, exciting wines; to increase their knowledge of wine-making; and to discuss their business needs with producers as well as suppliers.
For the 3,500 international visitors coming to the event, the LIWSF is a powerful business tool and an exceptional industry-wide forum. Importers from every corner of the globe travel to London to look for new suppliers among the 1,200 exhibitors.
For further information, please go to: www.londonwinefair.com
About the Chamber of Commerce of Strasbourg
The Chamber of Commerce of Strasbourg (CCI Strasbourg) represents and promotes the interests of companies based in the Alsace region of Eastern France.
For further information, please go to: www.strasbourg.cci.fr
