23Jun
I'm not a wine expert, but: over my many trips to Alsace, I have become what you could call a "knowledgeable appreciator" of Alsatian wine. That's why I make frequent reference to these regional wines in my novel, "The Shopkeeper of Alsace," although truth be told, I have no idea if Sarah and her family cared about wine. The book is fiction, after all...although heavily based on Sarah's true story.
(Hooray for a cool glass of Pinot Gris by the river in Strasbourg)
In the book, I write that Sarah's favorite wine is Pinot Gris, which (surprise!) is also my favorite. But honestly, it's hard to choose among the 7 varieties of Alsatian grapes: Sylvaner, Pinot Blanc, Riesling, Muscat d'Alsace, Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer, and Pinot Noir. They all have their own characters and their own pleasures.
(A very old cask at Bott Frères winery displays a variety of Alsatian wines)
During our most recent trip to Alsace in May, we fell in love with another type of local wine, whose popularity is growing rapidly: The Cremant of Alsace. It's basically the Alsatian version of Prosecco or Champagne, although I prefer it to either of these. Of course, everyone's taste is different; that's what makes life interesting. Still, give Alsatian Cremant a try, and tell me what you think.
(Crement and sorbet on a hot afternoon in Strasbourg, the capital of Alsace. Perfect!)
We spent two days of our trip traveling the Alsatian Wine Road, the heart of which is Colmar; yes, THAT Colmar, the beautiful little city at the heart of "The Shopkeeper of Alsace."
(Me and "Shopkeeper" relishing the moment)
Our visit included a private tour of the Bott-Frères winery in the gorgeous village of Ribeauville.
Bott-Frères has been run by the same family for seven generations! With that amount of expertise, it's no surprise that we found their wines extraordinary. Plus, the winery itself has almost two hundred years of history. Maybe I'll have to somehow work it into my next novel....
(The winery was established in 1835, when Alsace was part of France. This particular certificate is dated 1912, when Alsace was part of Germany, after the Franco-Prussian War. There are many references to this back-and-forth history in "Shopkeeper.")
Returning home to NH in June, I didn't have to give up my Alsatian wine, because the wonderful Emma Stetson of Wine on Main in downtown Concord hosted a wine-and-author-talk night on June 17th.
I was interviewed by the talented Joceyln Winn, founder and owner of The Writing Gallery, while Emma explained the wines and poured. The event was sold out, people lingered long afterwards to chat, and I cannot thank Emma and Joceyln enough for making this gathering such a success.
("Shopkeeper finds a home at Wine on Main...thanks again, Emma!)
And so, book-and-wine lovers, here's my invitation to you this summer: One warm evening, pour yourself a cool glass of Alsatian wine. Open up "Shopkeeper" to page 74 or 84, where my characters are sampling wine. Find a lovely place to sit...sip...and relax. Then let me know which wine you chose. Perhaps a "reader's choice" will emerge, which I'll have to make the favorite of my next novel's heroine!
Until then, happy summer!
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