A trip to France’s rustic Alsace region meanssipping some of the greatest dry white wines in the world. As Jane Lopes, sommelier at New York City’s Eleven Madison Park, will tell you, the only way to improve on this is to take a road trip over the border into the rolling hills of Germany’s Rhine Valley.
Alsace
“The Alsace region is producing exciting and unpredictable wines right now. In the same day, you can drink super-lean, low-alcohol wines atTrimbachand then break open some ofBarmès-Buecher生物动力葡萄酒,这是完全不同的vintage to vintage.”
Pfalz
“Over the German border,Bassermann-Jordanshould be famous for its powerful whites, but Americans don’t know it. At a tiny restaurant calledEselsburg, I got the ‘expensive’ carafe of white … for 4 euro. It was so bright, perfect for schnitzel.”
Nahe
“Even atDönnhoff Winery, one of Germany’s best producers, the riesling is super affordable. Spend the extra cash at nearbyBäderhaus, a no-clothing-allowed spa with a modern pool area flanked by back-in- time stone-and-wood steam rooms.”
Rheingau
“The wines atSpreitzerwere so delicious, I filled my only suitcase with them. Try the vibrant, nervySpätlese Halbtrocken. While there, don’t miss theSeilbahn Rudesheimgondola that runs up a hillside by the Rhine. The view made my heart stop.”
