Leslie Williams: A profile of a great wine house
A profile of a great wine house this week. FE Trimbach in Alsace dates from 1626 and has passed fairly seamlessly through the generations, despite that region’s tumultuous history ping-ponging between France and Germany. Jean Trimbach from the 13th generation visited recently — the 14th generation is already in the business and the 15th is on the way.
Alsace is arguably the most underrated and best value of all France’s fine wine regions although Irish consumers seem to see the Germanic- shaped bottle and recoil, traumatised perhaps by real or genetic memories of Liebfraumilch. Yet Trimbach and other top producers such as Hugel, Schlumberger and others make elegant restrained dry wines perfect for summer days or fine dinners.
