Summer is coming and white wines are what you should be drinking on boats, and at picnics.  One of my favorite regions during this time of year is Alsace.  Whether Gewurtzraminer, Rieslings, Pinot Gris or Muscats these are some of the most interesting wines in the world.  Great food pairing wines that work well with the heat and the cuisine of the summer.
Some of my favorite producers are
Zind Humbrecht
Domaine Weinbach
Trimbach
Marcel Deiss
Marc Tempe
Domaine Bott-Geyl
They all make fine wines in varying styles from various grapes that express the tremendous diversity of Alsace.
Here are some of the important details of this great wine producing region of Eastern France.
 

ALSACE, France 
Region Info:
- Alsace is on the French border with Germany, and prior to WWII was part of Germany. This disputed region became part of France in the late 1940’s as a part of the Peace Treaty that ended the war.
- Alsace is the only AOC region of France which labels its wines by grape variety rather than by region. This is a holdover from the German influence over winemaking in the region.
- Most of the production in Alsace is focused on dry white wines, yet they do produce two high-quality sweet wines called Vendange Tardive (late harvest) and Selecion de Grains Nobles (wines produced from grapes infected with Botrytis).
- While Alsace has no AOC subregions, there are 50 Grand Cru vineyards within Alsace which will be included on a label. These vineyards are designated Grand Cru because they have historically produced the best wines of Alsace.
 
Terroir:
The region of Alsace is located 300 miles due east from the city of Paris. The region is a long, narrow strip which runs along the eastern foothills of the Vosges Mountains. Alsace is the northernmost wine region in France next to Champagne, and as such, it has a generally cool climate. This being said, the region does enjoy a lot of sunshine throughout the growing season which aids in ripening grapes.
 
Wine Laws:
- Alsace follows the strict AOC laws of France and is included in the top quality classification of French wine.
- Unlike all of the other AOC regions of France, the wines of Alsace are labeled by grape variety, not region.
- If a grape is listed on a label, then 100% of the grapes used to make the wine must be the listed grape. 
 
 
 
Important Grapes:
As with other French regions, only certain grapes are allowed to be used in the production of a wine which carries an Appellation Alsace Controlee designation. While many of the grapes grown in Alsace are also popular in Germany, most Alsatian wine is made in a dry style rather than with some residual sugar. Though the region is dominated by white wines, there is a small amount of Pinot Noir grown there – making up the only red wine produced. 
RIESLING
The most prestigious and important grape grown in Alsace. Rieslings from Alsace are typically made in a dry style, but also are the main grape used in the sweet wines from Alsace: Vendange Tardive and Selecion de Grains Nobles. Alsatian Riesling tends to be very concentrated and complex with a balancing acidity. 
GEWURZTRAMINER
An important grape in Alsace which makes extremely aromatic dry wines and unique dessert wines.
 
PINOT GRIS (sometimes called TOKAY)
The Pinot Gris of Alsace bares very little resemblance to the other examples of this variety grown elsewhere, especially Italian Pinot Grigio. In Alsace, this grape produces fuller-bodied whites full of power and concentration 
PINOT BLANC
Important grape in Alsace which is widely grown but tends to produce rather bland wines from most producers.  
MUSCAT
While Muscat produces sweet wines in most of the world, in Alsace it is almost always made in a dry and fruity style.