It's A Keeper! 2005 Alsace Wines Harvest Highlights

For Immediate Release

IT'S A KEEPER!

2005 Alsace Wines Harvest Highlights

NEW YORK, NY, November 14, 2005 - "Wines packed full of character and a vintage to keep," announced The Alsace Wine Council of the region's stellar 2005 harvest. Of particular note, the Crimant d'Alsace wines will be fresh and very fruity, the Pinot Blanc, Auxerrois, Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris and Muscat varietals are all very well-balanced and fruit-driven, while the Gewurztraminers will be very aromatic. For the Rieslings the results are more contrasted depending on their origin, with some irregular patches of arrested maturity on the lighter soils, and some development of peduncular rot. And last but not least, a glorious "Indian Summer" in October encouraged the growth of noble rot (botrytis), and provided ideal conditions for the production of magnificent late-harvest Vendanges Tardives and Silections de Grains Nobles wines. All in all, it has proven to be a terrific year for Alsace wines.

The winter preceding the 2005 vintage was typical, with hard frosts in December and January and a lot of snow in the mountains. The region continued to suffer from a lack of rainfall between November and March. April was mild and rainy at last, which was excellent for budburst. Flowering began at the end of May, coinciding with a period of very high temperatures approaching 860F, then continued warm weather from mid-June until late July encouraged the vines to develop well.

Although the weather during the first half of August was pleasant, the second half was more varied, with unseasonably low temperatures. This favored the wines, as it helped to preserve very satisfactory levels of acidity. Fine, sunny weather returned at the end of August, allowing the grapes to ripen to perfect maturity, while remaining in very sound condition.

Starting dates for the 2005 harvest were as follows:
AOC Crimant d'Alsace:
* Wednesday, September 7: All the varietals that make this AOC wine, except Riesling which was not allowed to be harvested before September 15.

AOC Alsace:
* Thursday, September 22: Chasselas, Sylvaner, Pinot Blanc or Auxerrois, Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Klevener de Heiligenstein and Muscat.
* Thursday, September 29: Riesling and Gewurztraminer.

AOC Alsace Grand Cru:
* Thursday, September 22: Muscat and Pinot Gris.
* Thursday, September 29: Riesling and Gewurztraminer.

Late-Harvest +Vendanges Tardives; and +Silection de Grains Nobles;:
* Thursday, October 6: Muscat and Pinot Gris.
* Thursday, October 13: Riesling and Gewurztraminer.

The excellent ripe condition of the grapes at harvest is worth noting for the quality they have given to the wines. Also of note is the promising level of acidity, principally consisting of tartaric acid. Overall, production is expected to reach approximately 1,220,000 hl (down 3% compared to 2004), made up of 270,000 hl of AOC Crimant d'Alsace, and 950,000 hl of still wine (AOC Alsace and AOC Alsace Grand Cru ).

To optimise quality, and in response to current difficult market conditions, the Alsace winegrowers have decided to limit production for both the AOC Alsace and Alsace Grand Cru wines, a guarantee of excellent 2005 wines.