Alsace Grand Cru (always followed by the name of one of the 51 vineyards that have been delimited within this Appellation).
Defined in 1975, these 51 delimited named vineyards represent 4% of total production.
While read more...Alsace wines are traditionally known by their familiar grape names : Sylvaner, Pinot Blanc, Riesling, Muscat d'Alsace, Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer and Pinot Noir, the Appellation Alsace Grand Cru gives an added dimension, "terroir", the unique influence of the vineyard itself on the wine.
Fifty-one sites have been delimited according to strict criteria of geology and micro-climate, to make up the mosaic of Alsace Grand cru vineyards.
These exceptional vineyards vary in size from 3 to 80 hectares, each having its own specific character and personality, according to its geology, aspect and slope. With an annual average of more than 45 000 hl, Alsace Grand Cru wines represent only 4 % of total Alsace wine production.
Appreciating Alsace Grand Cru wines
In order to taste Alsace Grand Cru wines under optimum conditions, it is best to follow a few simple hints on storage and serving : Although Alsace Grand Cru wines are agreeable to enjoy when they are young, they will gain from being kept for much longer (5 to 10 years, or even more in the finest vintages), preferably in a dark, well ventilated cellar with a constant temperature (10°-15°C / 50°-60°F). The bottles should be stored on their sides so that the wine is in permanent contact with the cork.
Alsace Grand Cru wines should be served cold but not chilled (at about 8°C / 45°F), in a slender, long-stemmed clear crystal glass.
These are gastronomic wines par excellence, and an Alsace Grand Cru wine can accompany every course on the menu.
Muscat d'Alsace is an ideal apéritif, Riesling Grand Cru is the perfect partner for all seafood, fish and shellfish, Pinot Gris is perfect with white meats, game and foie gras, while Gewurztraminer is unrivalled with exotic and Asian food, cheese and dessert.
Background to Alsace Grand Cru wines
Experts appointed by the INAO (Institut National des Appellations d’Origine des vins et eaux de vie) have delimited a total of 51 individual production sites, which are protected by means of very strict regulations.
To be entitled to AOC (Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée) Alsace Grand Cru status, as defined by the decree of 24 January 2001, a wine must come from grapes picked by hand in one of the strictly defined sites within the limits of the Alsace wine region of production.
A winegrower wishing to produce AOC Alsace Grand Cru wine must declare before 1 March each year, exactly which vineyards and grape varieties are destined for such wines.
Beyond fixing the rules of production, the decree of 24 January 2001 reinforces the role of each winegrowers union in the management of each Grand Cru site (plantation policy, specific starting date for the vintage, possibility of imposing a higher minimum ripeness level for each site and grape variety, fixing the annual PLC for each site…).
Only four grape varieties are authorised for AOC Alsace Grand Cru : Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris and Muscat d’Alsace.
However, the decree of 21 March 2005 authorises the use of the Sylvaner variety for AOC Alsace Grand Cru Zotzenberg and in the blended wines of AOC Altenberg de Bergheim.
The decree of 12 January 2007 also authorises blended wines for AOC Alsace Grand Cru Kaefferkopf.
To be entitled to AOC Alsace Grand Cru status, wines must exceed the minimum natural potential alcohol level defined by decree for each grape variety and for each site :
AOC Alsace Grand Cru Riesling and Muscat 11°
AOC Alsace Grand Cru Gewurztraminer and Pinot Gris 12,5°
AOC Alsace Grand Cru Zotzenberg Sylvaner 11°
AOC Alsace Grand Cru Altenberg de Bergheim Pinot Gris and Gewurztraminer 14°
AOC Alsace Grand Cru Altenberg de Bergheim Riesling, 12°
AOC Alsace Grand Cru Altenberg de Bergheim blend 14°
AOC Alsace Grand Cru Kaefferkopf Pinot Gris and Gewurztraminer 12,5°
AOC Alsace Grand Cru Kaefferkopf Riesling 11°
AOC Alsace Grand Cru Kaefferkopf blend 12°
Every vine planted since 1 September 2000 must be cultivated according to new regulations concerning the density of plantation, distance between rows, and height of vegetation. Vineyards must be planted with a minimum density of 4500 vines per hectare. Grapes must be picked by hand.
In addition, new regulations concerning pruning now apply to all vineyards, concerning the distance between the horizontal wires and the number of buds authorised per vine depending on variety. All vineyards must be pruned to a maximum of from 8 to 10 buds per m2 according to the grape variety.
The maximum authorised yield is 55hl/ha, plus from 0 to 20% of PLC, but the maximum yield of 66hl/ha must never be exceeded.
It is compulsory for the label of all AOC Grand Cru wines to mention, besides its AOC Alsace Grand Cru status, the named vineyard (terroir) and the vintage year. In general it will also state the name of the grape variety, except for blended wines (Kaefferkopf and Altenberg de Bergheim).
• Decree of 24 January 2001 concerning AOC « Alsace Grand Cru ».
• Decree of 21 March 2005 concerning AOC « Alsace Grand Cru ».
• Decree of 12 January 2007 concerning AOC « Alsace Grand Cru ».
The Grands Crus of Alsace / Named vineyard (village) / Principal geological soil type(s)
51 Named vineyards defined
Altenberg de Bergbieten Marl-limestone-gypsum
Altenberg de Bergheim Marl-limestone
Altenberg de Wolxheim Marl-limestone
Brand (Turckheim) Granite
Bruderthal (Molsheim) Marl-limestone
Eichberg (Eguisheim) Marl-limestone
Engelberg (Dahlenheim and Scharrachbergheim) Marl-limestone
Florimont (Ingersheim and Katzenthal) Marl-limestone
Frankstein (Dambach-la-ville) Granite
Froehn (Zellenberg) Clay-marl
Furstentum (Kientzheim and Sigolsheim) Limestone
Geisberg (Ribeauvillé) Marl-limestone-sandstone
Gloeckelberg (Rodern and Saint-Hippolyte) Marl-limestone
Goldert (Gueberschwihr) Marl-limestone
Hatschbourg (Hattstatt and Voegtlinshoffen) Marl-limestone & loess
Hengst (Wintzenheim) Marl-limestone-sandstone
Kaefferkopf (Ammerschwihr) Granite and limestone-sandstone
Kanzlerberg (Bergheim) Argilo-marneux-gypseux
Kastelberg (Andlau) Shale
Kessler (Guebwiller) Sablo-argileux
Kirchberg de Barr Marno-calcaire
Kirchberg de Ribeauvillé Marl-limestone-sandstone
Kitterlé (Guebwiller) Sandstone-volcanic
Mambourg (Sigolsheim) Marl-limestone
Mandelberg (Mittelwihr et Beblenheim) Marl-limestone
Marckrain (Bennwihr et Sigolsheim) Marl-limestone
Moenchberg (Andlau et Eichhoffen) Marl-limestone with scree
Muenchberg (Nothalten) Stony-sandstone-volcanic
Ollwiller (Wuenheim) Sandy-Clay
Osterberg (Ribeauvillé) Marl
Pfersigberg (Eguisheim and Wettolsheim) Limestone-sandstone
Pfingstberg (Orschwihr) Marl-limestone-sandstone
Praelatenberg (Kintzheim) Granito-gneiss
Rangen (Thann and Vieux-Thann) Volcanic
Rosacker (Hunawihr) Dolomitic limestone
Saering (Guebwiller) Marl-limestone-sandstone
Schlossberg (Kientzheim) Granitic
Schoenenbourg (Riquewihr and Zellenberg Marno-sableux-gypsum
Sommerberg (Niedermorschwihr and Katzenthal Granitic
Sonnenglanz (Beblenheim) Marl-limestone
Spiegel (Bergholtz and Guebwiller) Marl-sandstone
Sporen (Riquewihr) Stony-clay-marl
Steinert (Pfaffenheim and Westhalten) Limestone
Steingrubler (Wettolsheim) Marl-limestone-sandstone
Steinklotz (Marlenheim) Limestone
Vorbourg (Rouffach and Westhalten) Limestone-sandstone
Wiebelsberg (Andlau) Sandy-sandstone
Wineck-Schlossberg (Katzenthal and Ammerschwihr) Granitic
Winzenberg (Blienschwiller) Granitic
Zinnkoepflé (Soultzmatt and Westhalten) Limestone-sandstone
Zotzenberg (Mittelbergheim) Marl-limestone (hide)
oanababy
Gregory Dal Piaz
Perry Mok
winescribbler
Fenster
vinko brkovic
Philip
