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The French Winophiles Dig Into Alsace with #AlsaceRocks

This month the French Winophiles are collaborating with the kind folks at Alsace Wines in their summer promotion, Alsace Rocks! This post is one in a series of four wine pairing challenges for Alsace wines with American dishes.

Roasting on the grill at a moderate temperature gives time for a sip of wine

The potatoes and veggies sat over direct heat while the country ribs roasted over indirect heat

Clearly I need to work on my artful swish of sauce. However, it was tangy, lively and added much to the flavors on the plate

Pairing #1: Alsace Riesling Loves Pork
We visited Alsace in late fall 2016, and we had a great time. Beautiful fall weather (!), great hiking, friendly people. We tasted many regional dishes, and I was struck by how much pork figures in to the local cuisine. Ham, ham hock, ham knuckles, about 50 different kinds of sausages, bacon, pork belly. You name it, it was on the menu. We also experienced first hand the perfect pairing with all this porcine goodness: (dry) Alsace Riesling.  As is often the case in French wine regions, any given town, no matter how small, has a number of wineries. You can choose from a wide variety of wines all within a literal stones’ throw from your restaurant. How cool is that?

Our first pairing stayed true to French cuisine and Alsace Riesling + pork. The dish is topped with a classic sauce courtesy of Julia Child.  However, we did give it an American twist.  It’s summer in Minnesota, so we cook at the grill as much as possible. Our Pork Country Ribs with Julia Childs’ Sauce Nénette recipe is at the bottom of this post.

Charles Baur
From the winery: “Charles Baur is located in Eguisheim, in the heart of Alsace, 3 miles away from Colmar. The estate has been in the family since the early 18th century. Arnaud, the son of Armand and Brigitte Baur, joined the family business in 2009, after obtaining a degree in agricultural engineering, with a specialization in winegrowing and oenology. Today, the domaine covers 42 acres of vines, on the finest slopes of Eguisheim and its immediate vicinity. The vineyard also has several plots located in the Grand Crus Brand, Eichberg and Pfersigberg.”

Jeff’s note: Charles Baur is a Vigneron Indépendant winery, an organization you should definitely be aware of. The Vigneron Independant wineries represent small to medium size growers with a great ethic both toward their vines and toward their customers.  Read a little more here, and look for the symbol, usually on the foil capsule on the wine.

Charles Baur Riesling Cuvee Charles AOC 2015 (sample, $23 SRP)
Eye: Clear, pale lemon
Nose: Clean, medium- intensity. A touch of petrol / rubber hose on the nose but just a touch. Fresh lemons and lemon rind.
Mouth: Dry, medium+ intensity. Tart lemons, with medium+ acidity, medium- body, medium alcohol. Youthful. Tart with a lingering refreshing finish. Very enjoyable Alsace Riesling, just what I would hope for.