Wine of the Week: 2008 Chien Edelzwicker

2008 Chien Edelzwicker

I once did a story on tarte flambée in Alsace and spent several happy days feasting on the thin-crusted tart topped with crème fraîche, onions and lardons and washed down with Edelzwicker, a typical white wine made from a blend of local grapes.

I recently discovered that a Lompoc winery is making its own version of Edelzwicker, and it’s every bit as bright and bracing as the ones from Alsace. Don and Lindsay Schroeder’s 2008 Edelzwicker is a blend of Pinot Blanc and Riesling with a small proportion of Gewürztraminer. Fruity and nicely balanced, it has a welcome thread of acidity and medium body, making it weightier than the original.

It’s a great quaffing wine. Drink it with tarte flambée, pizza with mushrooms and Fontina, peel ‘n’ eat shrimp, steamed mussels and clams. It’s also terrific with Thai food.

--S. Irene Virbila

Region: Santa Barbara County

Price: About $24

Style: Dry and fruity

What it goes with: Tarte flambée, mushroom pizza, shellfish, Thai food

Where to find it: Wally’s Wine & Spirits in West Los Angeles, (310) 475-0606, https://www.wallywine.com; Mission Wines in South Pasadena, (626) 403-9463, https://www.missionwines.com. Also available directly from the winery at (805) 294-7501; https://www.chienwines.com