THE WINES OF LUXEMBOURG

Luxembourg is essentially a white wine producer. The Elbling grape, grown of the banks of the Moselle, has been yielding a dry acidic wine since Roman times.

However, this grape has been gradually replaced by the Auxerrois, the Pinot blanc, the Pinot gris, the Riesling, the Rivaner, the Rülander and the Traminer. The Pinot gris is currently the most popular. It gives the most mellow, aromatic wine and can be drunk whilst still young.

Vineyards cover approximately 1 345 hectares of the Moselle valley. Some 850 wine growers are grouped into 5 cooperative 'caves', which overall produce 70 % of the wine, the rest being made up by another 20 independent wine growers. Wines from Luxembourg are always sold under the name of the grape. The label, which bears the AOC ('Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée), also gives the vintage, producer and location of the vine.

Wine produced in the cantons (districts) of Remich (Schengen, Wintrange, Remich) and Grevenmacher (Wormeldange, Ahn, Machtum, Grevenmacher) is the most reputed and has the right to be called "Moselle Luxembourgeoise".

Sparkling wines and a large number of Crémants are also produced in the Grand Duchy, as well as some rosés based on Pinot noir.