2019 Kuentz-Bas Riesling Tradition Alsace 750 ml

If you went into a serious restaurant into the 1980s, you’d have found two pillars of their white wine selection: Burgundy…and Alsace. Yet despite being Burgundy’s historic rival for profundity, Alsace hasn’t been caught up in the pricing surge that’s put top producers out of reach for weeknight drinking.

But the wine industry’s pros have kept the faith: We’d guess that roughly 80% of the US’s Alsatian Riesling is consumed by people who make or sell wine for a living. That’s because we love to drink great bottles from a world-class region for weeknight prices—and for that, it’s tough to top Alsace. 

Kuentz-Bas’ 2019 Tradition is a classic example of the steely, bone-dry wines that Alsace is known for, from a historic producer whose wines grace the lists at storied restaurant wine programs like Blackberry Farm and Thomas Keller’s Bouchon. Kuentz-Bas has parlayed their outstanding biodynamically farmed vineyards into a bottle that crackles with mineral intensity, bursts with citrus and succulent orchard fruit, and finishes with electric acidity. 

Vigneron Jean-Baptiste Adam took over Kuentz-Bas in 2004, modernizing the winery by taking it back to its roots. He focuses on elevating the terroir through biodynamic vineyard practices while keeping Kuentz-Bas’ signature openness and accessibility. Adam’s family has been making wine in France for 14 generations—more than 400 years—and the origins of Kuentz-Bas date back to 1795.

While we proudly stock Grand Cru bottlings from Kuentz-Bas, this is the wine we reach for most often. From a cheese plate highlighted by gooey Robiola or a Capriole goat cheese to fresh fish with a tomato salad, this is a wine whose freshness and energy will elevate any meal.