Alsace grand cru Marckrain

Styles

Principal grape varieties

Terroir

• The vines rest on an Oligocene coastal conglomerate, with a marly-calcareous soil rich in red clay, associated with sand and a high proportion of pebbles.
• The Vosges massif shields the vineyard from cool, humid north-westerly winds, allowing vines to be established on well-exposed, steeply sloping hillsides.
• This grand cru lies at the tip of a long promontory defined by the valleys of Kaysersberg and Riquewihr, on a gently sloping site subject to a significant diurnal temperature range.
• This deep soil encourages the development of noble rot.
• The appellation is characterised by soils belonging to a single geo-pedological unit, associated with a particularly favourable mesoclimate.

• The appellation d'origine contrôlée Alsace grand cru Marckrain was recognised in 1992, reflecting a long-standing tradition among Alsatian winegrowers of highlighting individual named sites.
• Only six white grape varieties are permitted for this appellation: Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Pinot gris, Muscat à petits grains blancs, Muscat à petits grains roses, and Muscat ottonel.
• The vineyard is trained on a tall trellis system to maximise the leaf surface area, with a minimum planting density of 4,500 vines per hectare and mandatory hand-harvesting.
• Wines bearing the Vendanges Tardives and Sélection de Grains Nobles designations, produced from overripe and delicate hand-harvested grapes, must undergo a minimum of 18 months' ageing.

• The white wines are age-worthy wines characterised by a pronounced freshness underpinned by a dominant tartaric acidity, linked to good grape ripeness.
• Both the dry, mineral wines and the aromatic, fruity, full-bodied, and rich wines display a sustained depth of colour ranging up to deep golden yellow.
• Vendanges Tardives wines often show highly exotic aromas and candied fruit with a fresh finish, while Sélection de Grains Nobles wines are more concentrated and powerful, with fruit-paste aromas.
• Vendanges Tardives and Sélection de Grains Nobles wines are sweet wines of exceptional longevity, remarkable concentration, and great aromatic persistence.

• The deep, limestone-influenced soils yield powerful, fruity wines with spice notes, and the pronounced yet ripe acidity contributes to their balance and ability to age well over time.
• The excellent late-season climatic conditions favour concentration on the vine and the development of noble rot, enabling the production of wines from overripe harvested grapes.

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