Alsace grand cru Rosacker

Styles

Principal grape varieties

Terroir

• The vineyard sits against the Vosges massif, which shields the hillsides from the humid, cool north-westerly winds, favouring viticulture on the well-exposed slopes.
• The appellation is planted on east- to south-west-facing slopes of pronounced gradient, on the sub-Vosges foothills.
• The soils of the appellation belong to a single geo-pedological unit associated with a highly favourable mesoclimate.
• The proximity of the Vosges massif gives this grand cru a dry yet cool and partially shaded mesoclimate, allowing the grapes to ripen slowly, evenly, and in good health.
• The soil is a deep, shell-rich limestone of the Muschelkalk type, low in potassium, which preserves a high level of tartaric acid.

• The appellation d'origine contrôlée Alsace grand cru Rosacker was recognised in 1983, reflecting the long-standing recognition of the distinctive character of Alsace's individual named sites.
• The vineyard is trained on a tall trellis system to achieve an optimal leaf canopy, with a minimum planting density of 4,500 vines per hectare and mandatory hand-harvesting.
• Wines bearing the designations Vendanges Tardives and Sélection de Grains Nobles are made from overripe, delicate grapes harvested by hand, with a minimum ageing period of 18 months.

• These are age-worthy white wines characterised by a pronounced freshness underpinned by a dominant tartaric acidity linked to good grape maturity.
• The mineral dry wines and the aromatic, fruit-forward, full-bodied, 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, both ranging up to amber yellow.

• The depth of the soil combined with the later-ripening climate of Rosacker yields wines structured by a powerful, ripe acidity, lending them length and freshness.
• Late-season climatic conditions favour 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