Alsace grand cru Geisberg

Styles

Principal grape varieties

Accessory grape varieties

Terroir

• The soils rest on a substrate of dolomite and dolomitic marls of the Muschelkalk (Middle Triassic), overlain by variegated sandy marls with gypsum at the summit.
• The vines are planted on steep slopes with a full south-facing aspect, underscored by the presence of numerous dry-stone walls.
• The cool nocturnal winds known as Tahlwendala, descending from the valley, bring cool summer temperatures that promote slow, gradual ripening of the harvest.
• The Vosges massif shields the vineyard from cool, humid north-westerly winds, creating a favourable mesoclimate on the sub-Vosges hillsides.

• The appellation is reserved for Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Pinot gris, and the Muscats (Muscat à petits grains blancs, Muscat à petits grains roses, and Muscat ottonel), all white grape varieties.
• The grapes are harvested by hand, and wines bearing the Vendanges Tardives and Sélection de Grains Nobles designations, produced from overripe grapes, must undergo a minimum of 18 months of ageing.

• Vendanges Tardives wines often display highly exotic and candied-fruit aromas with a fresh finish, while Sélection de Grains Nobles wines are more concentrated, frequently showing fruit-paste aromas. (via Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0)

• The soil characteristics associated with the valley-exit location favour salinity and a firm acid structure in the wines, yielding balanced, distinguished, and lingering wines.

Facts drawn from the cahier's terroir-link section (Lien au terroir) by automatic interpretation — see the source.

Sources

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