Vantage Point

Where in the world is this wine region?

If you guessed Alsace, you are correct. Alsace is known for its extraordinary white wines and Riesling makes up much of the winemaking percentage – 21.7 percent to be exact.

While visiting a friend at Domaine Rieflé in Pfaffenheim, Alsace, I was lucky enough to experience the landscape firsthand while in a propeller plane. Being afraid of heights, all I could think at the time was how the photo taken of me posing next to the plane might be my last alive. However, once I got up in the air, I was taken aback by the region’s beautiful landscape and forgot how high up I was. I couldn’t hear a thing with that propeller turning, which really made me focus on my sense of sight. I could see for miles – town after town, vineyard after vineyard. What an amazing experience. ANUPA SIMON

French Lessons

Teaching Terroir: Domaine Ehrhart-Pfohl 2011 Riesling

Proud Canadians are trained to love our fresh and fruity Rieslings from the moment of our very first sip. Cool, crisp and offering apple and peach flavours in a glass… what’s not to love? But there are other flavours that Riesling can offer that are just as compelling.

At first sniff, Domaine Ehrhart-Pfohl 2011 Riesling (Alsace, $13.95, 282186) is clean and offers some fascinating floral notes. Having been fermented in stainless steel like all your other favourite fresh wines, this wine from Alsace captures the local terroir, which makes the wine intriguing but is still true to the grape.

Alongside the floral aromas are lemon, apple and mineral notes. The palate is consistent with the aromas, adding lime and melon to the mix, while the finish is crisp, clean and zesty.

Whether looking at a fresh New World Riesling or an aged and layered Old World Riesling, we feel that every bottle has a time and a place that will suit your summer soundtrack.