Alsace grand cru Sommerberg

Styles

Principal grape varieties

Terroir

• The lieu-dit lies in the extension of the summit of the Galtz.
• The soils are acidic and derived from granitic sands (arènes granitiques), the product of the very advanced decomposition of the two-mica granitic bedrock known as the Turckheim granite.
• The relief is characterised by a succession of three amphitheatres separated by outcrops of the parent rock, on a hillside with a very steep slope and full sun exposure.
• The very stony soil stores the warmth of the day and releases it at night, making this terroir early-ripening in spring yet with a relatively slow maturation.
• The Vosges massif shields the vineyard from the cool, humid winds of the north-west, allowing its establishment on well-exposed slopes facing east to south-west at steep gradients.

• The appellation Alsace grand cru Sommerberg was recognised in 1983, the regulatory expression of a long-standing tradition of communicating wine origin by lieu-dit.
• The vineyard is trained on a tall trellis system to achieve an optimal leaf surface area, with a minimum planting density of 4,500 vines per hectare and hand harvesting of the grapes.
• Wines carrying the Vendanges Tardives or Sélection de Grains Nobles designations are produced from overripe and delicate grapes harvested by hand, with a mandatory minimum ageing period of 18 months.
• Since the law of 5 July 1972, wines must be bottled in the Bas-Rhin and the Haut-Rhin, and are traditionally bottled in the flute-shaped bottle of the Vin du Rhin type as described in the 1955 decree.

• The age-worthy white wines are characterised by a pronounced freshness underpinned by a dominant tartaric acidity, allied to good grape ripeness.
• Four wine types may be distinguished, including dry and mineral styles and aromatic, fruity, full-bodied and rich styles, both showing a sustained depth of colour ranging up to golden yellow.
• Wines carrying the Vendanges Tardives designation often display highly exotic aromas of candied fruit with a fresh finish, while Sélection de Grains Nobles yields more concentrated and powerful wines with aromas often reminiscent of fruit paste.

• The richness and diversity of the minerals present in the soils determine the finesse and multiplicity of the wines' aromas, which often include noble citrus bitterness.

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