Alsace grand cru Sommerberg
Styles
Principal grape varieties
Gewurztraminer (Gewuerztraminer)Muscat À Petits Grains BlancsMuscat À Petits Grains RosesMuscat OttonelPinot GrisRiesling (Riesling Weiss)Pinot Noir
Accessory grape varieties
Terroir
Natural factors
- South/south-east-facing slope of a sub-Vosges foothill, exposed from east to south-west, with steep gradients.
- Soils: very dense marls over a limestone bedrock, well-drained, ensuring a balanced water supply to the vines.
- A homogeneous geo-pedological unit combined with a favourable mesoclimate, typical of the sub-Vosges foothills.
- The Vosges massif shields the vineyard from the cool, moisture-laden winds of the north-west.
Human factors
- AOC recognised in 1992, with Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris and Sylvaner as the authorised white grape varieties.
Product characteristics
- Age-worthy white wines: freshness underpinned by dominant tartaric acidity, great substance, complexity, powerful aromatics and a long finish.
- VT: exotic aromas, candied fruits, fresh finish; SGN: more concentrated and powerful, with fruit-paste aromas; both styles tending toward amber-yellow.
Terroir / wine link
- The dense marls of the Zotzenberg yield full-bodied, rich wines with an elegant salinity and exceptional aromatic finesse.
Facts drawn from the cahier's terroir-link section (Lien au terroir) by automatic interpretation — see the source.