Alsace grand cru Froehn

Styles

Principal grape varieties

Terroir

• The Froehn terroir enjoys a 180° exposure, from south-west to east, at the foot of the small medieval village of Zellenberg.
• Located in a full fault zone, the subsoil is predominantly calcareous, composed of marls, calcareous sandstone, and carbonated sandstone.
• The soils of the grand cru, belonging to a single geo-pedological unit, are rich and deep and do not suffer from drought.
• The Vosges massif protects the vineyard from cool, humid north-westerly winds, allowing it to find its ideal growing conditions.
• The grand cru is well ventilated and experiences significant temperature variations in spring and autumn, within a highly favourable mesoclimate.

• The controlled appellation of origin Alsace grand cru Froehn was recognised in 1992, reflecting a long-standing tradition of communicating the geographical origin of wines by lieu-dit.
• The vineyard is trained on a high trellis system to achieve an optimal leaf surface area, with a minimum planting density of 4,500 vines per hectare and hand harvesting.
• Wines bearing the Vendanges Tardives and Sélection de Grains Nobles designations are made from overripe and fragile grapes harvested by hand, with a minimum ageing period of 18 months.
• Since the law of 5 July 1972, wines must be bottled in the Bas-Rhin and Haut-Rhin departments, traditionally in the flute-shaped bottle of the "Vin du Rhin" type described in the 1955 decree.

• The white wines are characterised by a pronounced freshness underpinned by a dominant tartaric acidity linked to good grape maturity.
• The dry, mineral wines often display golden-yellow colours with green highlights, with charming fruit and a long, complex acidity that provokes strong salivation.
• Wines bearing the Vendanges Tardives designation often show highly exotic and candied-fruit aromas with a fresh finish, while those classified as Sélection de Grains Nobles present fruit-paste aromas.
• Vendanges Tardives and Sélection de Grains Nobles wines are sweet wines of very long ageing potential, with remarkable concentration and great aromatic persistence, with a colour intensity ranging up to amber yellow.

• The predominantly calcareous character and the depth of the soils yield aromatic, fruity, rich, and complex wines with an acidity followed by a significant minerality that increases with age.
• The Liassic marls over ferruginous calcareous sandstone impart breadth and generosity in the wines' youth, and minerality with age.

Facts drawn from the specification's terroir-link section by automatic interpretation — see the source.

All appellations in France

Sources

• Product specification (BO Agri, PDF), JORF 29 juin 2016,
• Official INAO text (show_texte)
• INAO product entry
• Official trade body site — CIVA