Great Value Wines: 7 Alsatian Rieslings for Under $35

Alsace is one of France’s best white wine-producing regions but can often be an intimidating place to understand. Its many grand crus, noble grapes and labeling system are enough to cause some consumers to shy away from the region’s wines altogether. But Alsace isn’t as complex as it appears, and the high level of quality and ageability of its wines makes them a must for any savvy collector. Alsatian riesling, for one, can be of tremendous caliber and value.

The reason Alsation wines are compared to or confused with German wines is because for many years, Alsace was part of Germany. It has belonged to France since the end of World War I, but its Germanic roots are plain to see from its single-varietal wine bottlings to the grapes that grow there.

Importantly, Germany and Alsace are separated by the Vosges mountains, which protect Alsace from a lot of the wetter weather Germany is famous for (although Germany, too, is in the midst of another hot and dry growing season). In fact, Alsace is one of the sunniest winemaking regions in all of France because of this natural barrier, and in the summer it is slightly warmer than Burgundy. So, despite its proximity to Germany and relatively northernly location, Alsace has its own microclimate, and its inherent regional characteristics stem from the unique growing conditions.

Riesling grows exceptionally well here because of the moderate climate, plentiful hillside and mountainside sites, and consistent sunlight. This allows producers to really dial in the ripeness they want. The growing season is long, and grapes can be picked for both dry or sweet fermentation, although dry wines are becoming more popular.

Also, if you’re worried about getting a sweet riesling by accident, as of 2021 there is a new requirement for sweetness levels to be listed on the labels, as follows: dry (sec), medium dry (demi-sec), mellow (moelleux) and sweet (doux).

The wines listed below – all dry – provide a proper introduction into the world of Alsatian riesling for $35 or less. 2019 was a particularly stellar vintage, but Alsace has been lucky with a string of high-quality vintages recently. The producers listed below include some of Alsace’s most famous names, like Trimbach and Hugel, who make some of the region’s best wines each year. Starting at just $14.99, this collection shows off all the incredible quality and value that Alsace has to offer.

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Trimbach Riesling Alsace Réserve 2020 – JS94
Wine.com: $34.99

Charles Baur Riesling Alsace Grand Cru Eichberg 2019 – JS93
KLWines.com: $22.99

Domaine Kirrenbourg Riesling Alsace Grand Cru Schlossberg K 2018 – JS93
TotalWine.com: $29.99

Lucien Albrecht Riesling Alsace Réserve 2018 – JS92
Wine.com: $19.99

Sipp Mack Riesling Alsace Grand Cru Rosacker 2015 – JS92
Zachys.com: $34.99

Trimbach Riesling Alsace 2019 – JS92
Sokolin.com: $17.99

Famille Hugel Alsace Gentil 2018 – JS90
TotalWine.com: $14.99