Alsace
The Alsace is a unique region where 50% of the wines made are still in cooperatives. The wines tend to be fuller and richer than those of their Rhine neighbours in Germany; this comes from the practice of fermenting the wines in wooden barrels as opposed to steel. The great wines of the Alsace come from the 25 Grand Crus. Most of the wines produced are dry, yet there are still a number of wonderfully sweet wines labelled as Vendanges Tardives or, for exceptional items, Selection des Grains Nobles. The main varieties are much the same as Germany with Riesling the king, alongside Pinot Gris & Gewürztraminer.