My first trip to Alsace was a journey of discovery. Rather than taking the autoroute straight through the Vosges Mountains via a tunnel, I opted for the treacherous winding road to the crest and back down, through a deserted, possibly haunted forest, with near-zero visibility thanks to the fog that rivaled even San Francisco’s ugliest June morning.
     After my rental Fiat Panda huffed and puffed up the mountain, nearly running out of gas and leaving me for dead in these icy, desolate woods, I finally attained the summit. As I coasted my way down the hill, everything changed. The fog cleared, exposing a lush green hillside covered with vineyards. The sun showed its face, birds began chirping, and I swear a choir began chanting an ode to summertime in the background. I had arrived in Alsace.
     If wine can have the power of transportation, here is your ticket to Alsace. Open a bottle of Albert Boxler’s Crémant and immerse yourself in the region’s abundant natural beauty and quaint, charming villages. This sparkling wine, from a fervent ambassador of long-standing local tradition, is produced in the méthode champenoise before being aged for two years to reveal a pristine representation of both terroir and generations of savoir-faire. The fine bead, elegant bouquet, and stimulating minerality are your pass to a sure moment of liberation and relief from all of life’s foggy, uphill roads. If you’re like me, you’ll certainly want to go back.