In viticulture, one year follows another, but no two are alike. From one year to the next, vintages can be very different. Here is a selection of the 3 best years for Alsace wines since 2010.

Year 2010

“Small volume, beautiful freshness for a magnificent vintage”. (according to CIVA*)

2010 was a complex and difficult year, requiring meticulous work on the part of the winemakers. The weather was capricious: the year began with a long winter of extreme temperatures (-20°C were reached in Colmar in mid-December 2009), accompanied by frosts that were harmful to vine growth. After a cool spring, the month of May began with abundant rainfall, followed by hot weather that continued until July, allowing the grapes to ripen rapidly. The result was a highly heterogeneous maturity and production down 22% on 2009 (911,950 hl).

The wines of 2010 are remarkably fresh and very fruity, requiring special know-how and ageing on fine lees to achieve perfect balance. 2010 was an excellent year for Gewurztraminer, floral and less spicy than in 2009, as well as for sweet wines.

Year 2018

“The vintage that puts the smile back on your face! (according to CIVA*)

After a difficult 2017, 2018 delivered some very special weather conditions: the equivalent of a year’s rain fell in the first 7 months of the year, allowing soils to build up valuable water reserves. Then the hot, dry summer (albeit with a few hail storms) gave way to the month-long harvest, which produced exceptional quality and remarkable quantities.

The 2018 Alsace wines are highly aromatic, thanks to lower-than-average acidity. The Pinots Noirs, generous and intense, and Gris, structured and powerful, benefited from this excellent year, as did the Crémants. The Indian summer that followed the harvest produced Vendanges Tardives and Sélection de Grains Nobles wines of exceptional quality.

Domaine Gueth’s Gewurztraminer Vendanges Tardives 2018 is the perfect example.

Year 2019

“A vintage of elegance! (according to CIVA*)

Contrasting climatic conditions throughout the year produced elegant, refined vintages. A relatively mild winter prevented frosts, followed by a mild spring (damp and cold in March-April, cool in May) which slowed vine growth. A particularly dry, hot summer enabled the grapes to reach optimum ripeness, along with remarkable sanitary quality (thanks to rain just before the harvest).

The 2019 wines of the year are therefore elegant and fruity, characterized by great clarity and interesting finesse. This year’s Riesling and Sylvaner are the best reflection of this great vintage.

Domaine Arthur Metz’s 2019 Riesling Grand Cru Steinklotz is a guarantee of quality for 2019.

*CIVA: Conseil Interprofessionnel des Vins Alsace