The wine-growing region is located in the north-east of France on the border with Germany formed by the Rhine. The departments of Bas-Rhin and Haut-Rhin formed a separate French administrative region of Alsace (Région Alsace) from 1973 to 2015. As part of the regional mergers, the Grand Est (Greater East) region was founded in 2016 with Strasbourg as its capital, comprising Alsace, Lorraine and Champagne-Ardenne.
Viticulture was already practised by the Celts (Gauls) before the Romans appeared here in the 2nd century. After a decline in the 5th century due to the Germanic invasion, it flourished again under the influence of the Roman Catholic monastic orders. In the 9th century, around 160 wine-growing villages are already documented.
![]()
The Wine lexicon helps me to keep up to date and refresh my knowledge. Thank you for this Lexicon that will never end in terms of topicality! That's what makes it so exciting to come back often.
Thorsten Rahn
Restaurantleiter, Sommelier, Weindozent und Autor; Dresden