Alsace grand cru Wiebelsberg

Styles

Principal grape varieties

Terroir

• The vineyard is planted on well-exposed slopes, facing east to south-west, on the steep hillsides of the sub-Vosges foothills, sheltered by the Vosges massif from the cool, moist north-westerly winds.
• The grand cru is characterised by a sandy geology composed exclusively of Vosges sandstone, corresponding to the upper Vosges sandstone dated to the Middle and Upper Triassic.
• The soils, although sandy, nonetheless provide the vine with a good water supply.
• The steep gradient of the hillside makes this grand cru a sunny and warm site, benefiting fully from solar exposure.
• The sandstone bedrock is covered in its lower section by deposits of soliflucted Quaternary material — loose, water-saturated earth. (via Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0)

• The appellation d'origine contrôlée Alsace grand cru Wiebelsberg was recognised in 1983, reflecting a practice of communicating the geographical origin of the wines that stretches back several centuries.
• The vineyard is trained on tall trellising 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 bearing the terms Vendanges Tardives and Sélection de Grains Nobles are made from overripe and delicate grapes harvested by hand and must undergo a minimum ageing period of 18 months.

• These age-worthy white wines display a pronounced freshness underpinned by a dominant tartaric acidity, linked to good grape ripeness.
• The dry, mineral wines and the aromatic, fruit-forward, full-bodied, and rich wines show a sustained depth of colour, ranging up to golden yellow.
• Vendanges Tardives wines often display highly exotic aromas and candied fruit with a fresh finish, while those in the Sélection de Grains Nobles style are more concentrated and powerful, with fruit-paste aromas.
• The terms Vendanges Tardives and Sélection de Grains Nobles are invariably followed by the variety names Gewurztraminer, Muscat, Muscat Ottonel, Pinot gris, and Riesling, with mandatory indication of the vintage.

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