“People discover wine in many different ways; touring a wine region, attending a trade tasting, at a restaurant or retailer.  My recent nirvana moment was discovered while frequenting one of my favorite wine bars, Terroir, where I was offered a 2001 Auxerrois from Rolly Gassmann of Alsace.

 ”I was skeptical at first not because of the wine maker – Rolly Gassmann is one of the stars of Alsace – but because of the vintage, and because the varietal is a sleeper grape that most people don’t pay attention to.  I was immediately converted by this white though.  It had a rich, unctuous texture and aromas of violet and dried rose petal.  It was not only complex and still going strong after 8 years, but showed the potential to mature well into the next decade.

“The moral of this story is that it is often worth taking a bit of a risk on wines from a lesser known region or varietal, especially one made by the hands of a 5-star producer.”

  Rolly Gassmann’s 2001 Auxerrois retails for about $27 a bottle, and can be found using Wine-Searcher.  Michael Green has worked in the wine trade for over 20 years, and most recently began hosting WINE DOWN in New York City.

One such varietal is Auxerrois, a somewhat rare grape historically used to augment blends in Alsace. Adelsheim Vineyard has discovered the key to maximizing the potential of this grape. It thrives in the Ribbon Springs Vineyard, which offers a cool climate and ample moisture.

Adelsheim has earned a stellar reputation for quality in the Willamette Valley. Their Auxerrois is a terrific wine to begin a meal with, offering a variety of refreshing flavors that pair first-courses popular in the warmer months. If you are only familiar with Oregon Chardonnay and Pinot Gris, it is time to get to know this varietal, available for $20.

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