Alsace Starter Pack
Alsace Starter Pack
by Jane Augustine by Jane Augustine
6-Bottle Sampler 6-Bottle Sampler
Alsace Starter Pack
Alsace Starter Pack
Normally $251.00 SPECIAL SAMPLER PRICE $199.00 (a 20% discount) |
This item does not take further discounts
The first stop on a recent trip exploring northern France with colleagues was Alsace. Arriving one Sunday back in May, Aura and Félix Meyer of Domaine Meyer-Fonné invited us to join them for dinner at a traditional winstub in a nearby village. We didn’t know then that our first Alsatian meal, prepared and served by a husband-and-wife team in a mountain cabin with kitschy Germanic decor, would prove to be the most traditional and culturally enriching of the trip.
We toasted the evening with a lively Crémant d’Alsace while awaiting appetizers of asparagus velouté and terrines of foie gras with Riesling gelée. I’ve always felt that the finest Crémants d’Alsace, with their medley of racy and aromatic grape varieties, offer more character and exuberance than any other French crémant, and in this instance, my mind was made up. Turning to the menu, each item we studied tested our language skills, such as the delectable fleischschnacka, a fresh pasta filled with tender pot-au-feu meat, rolled and cut into what resembled cinnamon buns (the name literally translates to “meat snails” for its swirled presentation). Seasoned with nutmeg and other sweet spices, it paired naturally with an exhilarating 16-year-old Gewurtraminer from Meyer’s cellar, which we savored throughout the meal along with their young and flowery Pinot Gris.
Upon the grand arrival of a jaw-dropping choucroute garnie, we audibly ooh’d and ahh’d over thick cuts of pork belly, sausage, and steamed potatoes served atop a bed of sauerkraut. Dipped in some tart yellow mustard and washed down with a glass of chilled Pinot Noir, each bite made me wish I ate like this more often! Pinot Noir from the region is more intensely spiced than those from Burgundy, boasting a kirsch quality and bright, plummy fruit. To conclude our feast, a serving of Münster cheese, ripened to perfection and decorated in cumin seeds, landed at our table. Reflecting on our meal, it seemed to me the Alsatians had figured out the art of pairing their local wines with any variety of dishes, in a way that made each bottling feel versatile.
By the end of the night, our palates had been primed for upcoming vineyard visits and tastings in the cellars of Kuentz-Bas, Ostertag, and Boxler. Conjuring memories of the local cuisine while tasting the wines provided all the context we needed to fall in love with the region and its unique gastronomical traditions, which are unlike anywhere else in France. Short of a visit to Alsace where our generous growers await, eager to offer a glimpse into their corner of the world, there are endless ways to bring the wines into focus. While I wouldn’t fault anyone for not whipping up a mid-week fleischschnacka, getting started with something as simple as a tarte flambée, doughy bretzels with mustard, or roast pork with a side of spaëtzle would make for a fun and easy foray into any of the wines we’ve selected. And of course, there are no shortage of dynamic cuisines from around the world that offer inspired pairings for an Alsace starter pack.
N.V. Brut Crémant d’Alsace • Kuentz-Bas $28.00
2022 Pinot Noir • Kuentz-Bas $28.00
2022 Gewurztraminer • Albert Boxler $39.00
2021 Riesling “Fronholz” • Domaine Ostertag $66.00
2022 Pinot Noir • Albert Boxler $60.00
2019 Pinot Gris “Réserve” • Meyer-Fonné $30.00
It seemed to me the Alsatians had figured out the art of pairing their local wines with any combination of dishes, in a way that made every bottling feel versatile.
Normally $251.00 SPECIAL SAMPLER PRICE $199.00 (a 20% discount) |