In July the Tour de France finished its stage in the Duchy of Luxembourg. OK, so it’s not in France as such, but it shares its southern border with France. One of the “bibles” for French wine enthusiasts is the “Guide Hachette des Vins de France”, and at the back of this annual guide is a small section of Swiss wines (not a surprise) but also a section on Luxembourg wines, classified as Moselle Luxembourgeoise. Now as Luxembourg is well north of Alsace and even of Reims, this is a bit of a surprise, until you realise that the main river running along the SE edge of the state is the Moselle (or Mosel in Germany), and it is on the steep east and south-facing slopes of this winding river that the grapes are grown.
The comparison with Alsace is quite appropriate as similar grape varieties and styles are produced, including Gewurztraminer, Riesling, Muscat, Pinot Blanc for the whites – and a little Pinot Noir for the reds. Often there are more local grapes in the blend such as Muller-Thurgau (or Rivaner) and Ebling! So essentially crisp dry fruity wines are the main attraction here.There is also a sparkling Cremant-de-luxembourg which should be interesting as Chardonnay does not feature in the blend.
Luxembourg is a pretty and interesting place to visit, and the especially if you can include a few vineyard visits in your trip.
For more info on Luxembourg – see www.luxembourg.co.uk/
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