One of the most distinguished and long-standing wine brands in Alsace, France is Lucien Albrecht. This winery produces wine styles such as Cremant d’Alsace Brut Rosé, Cremant d’Alsace Blanc de Blanc, and a variety of white wines. These wines are very important to the region, and as one of the top producers, it’s important for the winery to showcase phenomenal grape varietals that grow well in the region including, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Riesling, and Gewurztraminer.

” The Lucien Albrecht vineyards are mainly situated in Orschwihr, a wine-growing village in southern Alsace. From 728, Orschwihr is known under the name of Otalesvilare. From the 13th to 16th centuries, the village and its surroundings are controlled by the nobility: the bishops of Strasbourg, Basel, and Hapsburg in particular. Even in this era, there are very strong ties to the vineyards and land is a precious asset to be cherished and glorified.”lucien-albrecht.com

I had the pleasure when Jerome was in town to taste through an incredible lineup of his wines. Jerome is the Winemaker for Lucien Albrecht and is just fascinating. He led us through a wonderful tasting of the Crémant D’ Alsace Brut and the Rosé, as well as the 2016 Pinot Blanc Cuvée Balthazar, Riesling Reserve, Pinot Gris Cuvée Romanus, and the Gewurztraminer Reserve. All were stunning when paired with brunch bites such as Avocado Toast, Smoked Salmon Pizza, and Mushroom Pizza.

The Crémant’s are stunning with nice acidity, fruit notes, and balance. The mousse is elegant, and I have a hard time choosing between the brut and rosé. The Brut is brilliant golden in color with lively notes of citrus and flowers. The Rosé, however, is playful and dry with so much character and complexity to offer, making it perfect for an aperitif as well as a full meal food and wine pairing.

The white wines from Lucien Albrecht are bright and different, each resembling the beauty of Alsace, France, and all that it has to offer. I had the pleasure of visiting Alsace, the region after graduating Sommelier School back in 2011, however, I did not make it out to Lucien Albrecht… but it is on my bucket list to visit the region again! The winery practices sustainability which is something I absolutely love. When a winery takes the environment and makes it a priority, the vines and wines thrive. Here you will only find high quality, carefully crafted wines at amazing prices. There is a wine in the portfolio for every budget, and all are extremely food friendly and people friendly (I know, my twin sister is very picky with her wine, but this winery she loves all the wines)! My favorite of the still white lineup was the 2016 Pinot Blanc, 2016 Riesling Reserve, as well as the 2012 Alsace Grand-Cru Riesling! Jerome snuck in the bottle of 2012, which is a gorgeous expression and shows you how Alsatian Riesling can age as well.

Overall I think you will be delighted by the wines from Lucien Albrecht winery. You’re not only sipping history, tradition, and quality, you’re sipping Alsace!