Zind-Humbrecht Pinot Gris Clos Windsbuhl 2008 375ml

Winery: Zind-humbrecht

Varietal: Pinot Gris

The Pinot Grigio or Pinot Gris grape varietal is now one of the most widely grown vines in the world, due to the surge in popularity of Pinot Grigio wines over the past twenty years or so. These grayish-blue fruits, which hang in their distinctively conical bunches, are responsible for a very broad range of wines famous for their variety of color tones and flavors Pinot Grigio varietal grapes are highly influenced by terroir, climate and particularly the skill and expertise of the vintners who process them. As such, there are full bodied, amber colored wines made from this grape, and there are equally delicious yet far leaner, paler, lighter bodied and crisp white wines made from the same species in other parts of the world.

Region: Alsace

For lovers of fine white and rosé wines, there are few regions in the world quite as good as France's Alsace. The region itself is a particularly fascinating one, as it has long been fought over by France and Germany, resulting in a culture and wine industry which is something of a blend of the two countries. Wines in Alsace are almost all white, although there are more wineries now producing the pale red or pinkish Pinot Noir wines which the region is also renowned for. Riesling, Gewurztraminer and Muscat are also grown in huge quantities across the Alsace, and most of the region's wines are made from these varietals. Overall, Alsace is a highly productive region of France, with over a hundred million liters of wine being produced annually from the nine permitted grape varietals the region grows.

Country: France

French winemakers are subjected to several laws and regulations regarding the wines they produce, and how they can be labeled and sold. Such procedures are designed to increase the overall quality of the country's produce, and also to ensure that wines made in each particular region or appellation are of a character and type which is representative of the area. Thankfully for consumers of wine world-wide, the French have a particularly high reputation to uphold, and seem to do so flawlessly. Every year, wineries from all over France produce millions upon millions of bottles of fine wine, making the most of their native grape varieties and the excellent terrain which covers most of the country. From the expensive and exquisite red wines of Bordeaux and Burgundy, to the white wines and cremants of central France, the French are dedicated to providing the world with wines of the highest quality and most distinctive character.