In the northeast of France, along the eastern foothills of the Vosges, there are rows of undulating, vine-covered hills, quaint villages with narrow streets and charming flower-decked houses clustered around the local church steeple.
This is
Alsace, the famous white wine region that welcomes visitors throughout the
year.
In December
2012, we arrived with first snow at Colmar, met a number of passionate
winegrowers
and celebrated the season in festive markets and villages.
Wine experts tips
Nelson
Chow. Hong Kong cuisines match well with Alsace wines because of the features
of different Chinese regional cuisines incorporated. Spicy aroma of Sichuan
dishes can be enhanced by Alsace wines. Aged Alsace Grand Cru wines pair particularly
well with Shanghai cuisine for its heavy sauce.
Jordan Choy. There are a lot of welcoming domains in Alsace. I found Hugel et Fils in Riquewihr the most interesting because the estate is centrally located in the town which is rare. The Guinness recorded one of their ancient oak casks dating back to 1715. The town Riquewihr is also enchanting and worth a visit.
Places & Domaines visited
Domaine JB Adam
Since 1614,
the ADAM family wrote the history of Alsace wines in Ammerschwihr, each bottle reflects
400 years of expertise and 14 generations of improvements. This passion,
dedication, and love for wine, is transmitted to us by Jean-Baptiste and his
daughter during a private tasting in their charming cellar.
Secret: In
1883, the Adam father offered each of his 5 kids an Oak barrel that are still
in use and producing the best cuvees…
Our selection
• Crémant
d’Alsace, Emotion: perfect assemblage of Chardonnay & Pinot Noir.
The Emotion
range represents the best of the best bubbles.
• Pinot
Gris, Letzenberg 2010: harvested by hand and offering the best of the terroir,
the Letzenberg soil offers aromatic and delicate Pinot Gris with a perfect
balance of sweetness.
Contact
Mr Jean-Baptiste Adam
5, rue de l'Aigle , 68770 AMMERSCHWIHR
Tel: +33
(0)3 8978 2321 / Email: jbadam@jb-adam.fr
english.jb-adam.com
Available at
SYBA
(China) Ltd.
Riquewihr Village
Being
regarded as “the Gem of the Alsace Vineyards”, this magnificent town has
combined
antique architecture with its world-famous wines. It is an “open-air museum”,
housing some well-preserved old buildings and monuments.
Admirably
decorated with flowers in spring and summer, the town takes on the colors of
Christmas during the Advent period, in a unique atmosphere that combines the
magic of Christmas with the Alsatian traditions. Shops are decorated with
festive ornaments and Christmas Market is opened for locals and tourists.
For more information
Office de Tourisme du Pays de Ribeauville et Riquewihr
2 rue de la 1ere Armée, Riquewihr
Tel: +33
(0) 3 89 73 23 23
The Grape of the week
Crémant d’Alsace
AOC Crémant
d’Alsace represents 22% of the production.
Fresh and
elegant, Crémant d’Alsace is developed by secondary fermentation, predominately
made from Pinot Blanc, and also from Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Riesling or Chardonnay.
White fruit
aromas (pear, apple), sometimes with hints of dry fruit, white blossoms and
brioche.
An elegant,
gently sparkling wine with fruity freshness
Serve at 5°C-7°CFrom aperitif to dessert, its delicate effervescence will slowly awaken your senses and magnificently complement your entire meal.
Food & wine matching
Ingredients
90g flour;
1 coffee-spoon of curry ; small egg whites; 80g butter ; Sesame and
poppyseed ; Provence herbs; Sea salt
Directions
Melt the
butter and beat the egg white until firm/stiff. Mix the flour with the butter,
then add in the egg white, a pinch of salt and the curry. Cover the dough with
a film and let rest in fridge for 2 hours. Preheat the oven to 170°C and cover
the baking tray with a sheet of baking paper.
Take 1
coffee-spoon of dough and flatten into a thin disk. Do the same for the rest of
the dough. Sprinkle sesame seeds on one third of the discs of dough, poppy seed
on another third and provencal herbs on the rest. Bake for about 6 minutes,
until golden brown. Sprinkle with sea salt after finishing baking.
Travel tips
AIR FRANCE
Michel Roth signs
innovative and authentic dishes on the Air France Business Class menu.
As from 1st February
2013 and for a period of 8 months, on all long-haul flights departing from
Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Air France’s Business Class customers will be able to
enjoy exceptional dishes signed by Michel Roth.
After Joel Robuchon and Guy Martin, Michel Roth will become the new
ambassador of the French cuisine. He
will present six unique main dishes, the result of traditional and inventive
cuisine. His dishes will be renewed
twice a month for the pleasure of frequent travellers.
Originally from
Lorraine, Michel Roth worked at the best restaurants in France, finally
stopping at the Ritz, where he earned his second Michelin star as head chef of
the restaurant “L’Espadon”. In 1991, he
won the “Bocus d’Or” Award and the title of “Meilleur Ouvrier de France”.
His cuisine, a
mixture of authenticity, simplicity and humanity, has its roots in local French
produce, where the authentic taste of French cuisine is respected. This rigor and creativity that Michel Roth
has shared and passed on to the Servair Chefs, who make dishes for Air France
passengers, have a single goal: “to give pleasure and make others happy!”
This winter, Air France is offering 10 weekly flights, including seven
evening and three day departures, from Hong Kong to Europe and beyond via its
hub in Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport.
For latest offers
& reservations, contact Air France at (852) 2501 9433 or visit
airfrance.com.hk
Distance
From Hong
Kong to Strasbourg: 9330 km
From
Strasbourg North to South: 170 km
Airport
Strasbourg Eistheim to Strasbourg City Center: 18 km
Time Difference from Hong Kong
Summer time
-6H00 / Winter time -7H00
Local contacts
CIVA
Le Conseil Interprofessionnel des Vins d’Alsace
12 avenue de la Foire-Aux-Vins
BP 11217 - 68012 Colmar Cedex France
Tél. : (+33) 03 89 20 16 20
Alsace Tourism Board