Alsace grand cru Winzenberg

Styles

Principal grape varieties

Terroir

• The vineyard is planted on a steep south-east-facing slope where two-mica granite bedrock outcrops in places.
• The soil is shallow, warms up quickly, and is prone to drought stress, which demands strict yield control and makes this a relatively late-ripening vineyard.
• The granitic sand of the soil is relatively quartz-rich and shallow, ranging from 30 to 50 centimetres in depth, according to the terroir description given for this lieu-dit. (via Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0)
• The Vosges massif shields the vineyard from cool, moist north-westerly winds, allowing viticulture on well-exposed east- to south-west-facing, steeply sloping hillsides at the foot of the Vosges.
• The appellation is characterised by soils belonging to a single geo-pedological unit, combined with a particularly favourable mesoclimate.

• The appellation d'origine contrôlée Alsace grand cru Winzenberg was recognised in 1992, as confirmed by the decree of 17 December 1992, which incorporated this cru, which had not been included among the original twenty-five.
• Wines have been required to be bottled in the Bas-Rhin and Haut-Rhin since the law of 5 July 1972, traditionally in the flute-shaped bottle of the "Vin du Rhin" type described in the 1955 decree.
• 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 hand-harvesting of the grapes.

• The age-worthy white wines show a pronounced freshness underpinned by dominant tartaric acidity, combined with good grape ripeness.
• The mineral dry whites and the aromatic, fruit-forward, full-bodied, and rich whites display a sustained depth of colour ranging up to golden yellow.
• Wines bearing the Vendanges Tardives designation often show highly exotic aromas and candied fruit, with a fresh finish.
• Wines bearing the Sélection de Grains Nobles designation are more concentrated and powerful, and often display fruit-paste aromas, with a depth of colour ranging up to amber-yellow.

• The geological distinctiveness of the lieu-dit imparts to the wine a liveliness and a crystalline purity detectable at every stage of tasting.
• Excellent late-season climatic conditions encourage concentration on the vine and the development of noble rot, making possible the production of wines from overripe harvested grapes.

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