Why the Alsace Wine Region?
~ Why I Personally Like Alsace for Wine ~
I relate to wine as a creation, not a drink.
A creation imagined by a human wine vigneron (or winemaker) who put in effort, sweat, tears, and time—lots of time—dedicated to his or her craft. That wine represents them as much as it represents the vine’s growing conditions and place. Alsace is fertile ground for these kinds of wine humans to flourish.
Size matters. And not how you think.
The size of the vineyard area does not allow for massive-scale industrial production, despite having one of the highest yields per hectare allowed in France by the regional AOC.
Big cooperatives exist, for sure, but they do not represent the region as emblematically as small producers do.
The cool-moderate climate, combined with dry, sunny autumn weather, is conducive to biodynamic vineyard practices. The proper natural bond between plants, animals, and humans sought by this philosophy cannot be achieved with a large number of hectares under vine. Big scale is impractical, and a balanced ecosystem in tune with Earth’s energy cannot be protected under hundreds of hectares.
The average medium-sized domaine owns a vineyard surface of approximately 15 hectares. That is enough to provide a livelihood for a family. It is small enough to follow some biodynamic practices (even if they do not seek certification) or conscious low-scale organic viticulture.
For me, smaller is better in the wine world.
Lower impact on the environment.
More care, love, and time in the vineyard. Better quality grapes on average as a result.
Smaller production. Lower volumes of wine to sell. Less incentive for consumption for the sake of consumption.
Domaines are run by the same family for generations. There is more connection with the history of the place and deeper cultural roots with the region.
No CEOs, CFOs, or shareholders to create budgets for.
The owner of the domaine runs the orchestra. They conduct the vineyard, play with the wine equipment, compose the wine songs, and sing the story of the wines to you.
You get a closeness to the wine artists like in no other place.
The owner of the domaine runs the orchestra. They conduct the vineyard, play with the wine equipment, compose the wine songs, and sing the story of the wines to you.
There is no reputation for collectible wine items like in Bordeaux or Burgundy—unaffordable wines for prestige seekers. Big-money business attracts certain individuals who carry a sense of entitlement: the “ooh la la la” people of wine.
In Alsace, wine prices overall are accessible—for simple humans.
And I do cherish simple humans.
They are more approachable.
They maintain better long-term relationships.
They allow for better connections.
And above all—they make a happier wine Juan.
