Alsace grand cru Ollwiller

Styles

Principal grape varieties

Terroir

• The soils derive from conglomerates and marls, presenting a sandy-clay to clay texture, more sandy on colluvial deposits.
• The vines grow on conglomerates and gravelly marls dating from the late Upper Eocene and early Oligocene. (via Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0)
• The mesoclimate is particularly dry thanks to the shelter provided by the Freunstein and the Vieil-Armand, with an annual rainfall of 450 mm.
• The Vosges massif protects the vineyard from the cool, humid north-westerly winds, allowing vines to be established on well-exposed, steeply sloping hillsides.
• The prevailing westerly winds lose their moisture on the western slopes of the Vosges and reach Alsace as a foehn — dry and warm. (via Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0)

• The Alsace grand cru Ollwiller appellation d'origine contrôlée was recognised in 1983, reflecting the long-standing practice among Alsatian winegrowers of highlighting individual named sites.
• The vineyard is trained using a tall trellis system to maximise the leaf canopy, with a minimum planting density of 4,500 vines per hectare and hand-harvesting of the grapes.

• The white wines are excellent candidates for ageing, showing a pronounced freshness underpinned by a dominant tartaric acidity associated with good grape maturity.
• The dry, mineral wines as well as the aromatic, fruit-forward, full-bodied, and rich wines display a sustained depth of colour ranging through to 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.
• Wines bearing the designations Vendanges Tardives or Sélection de Grains Nobles are sweet wines of exceptional longevity, remarkable concentration, and great aromatic persistence.

• The clay character of the soil and the low rainfall favour wines with a supple, complex structure, generous body, and marked acidity, expressing their full potential after a few years of ageing.
• Excellent late-season climatic conditions encourage concentration on the vine and the development of noble rot, enabling the production of wines from overripe harvests.

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