Utrecht

Styles

Principal grape varieties

Terroir

• In the east of Utrecht, on the border with Gelderland, the soil consists of loamy fine sand in the form of cover sands (dekzanden), in the area known as the Gelderland/Utrecht Valley.
• To the northeast, east, and southeast of Utrecht, pushed-up formations from the last ice age occur, consisting mainly of coarse and fine, often gravel-rich river sands, with locally also fine drift sand, situated on the Utrechtse Heuvelrug.
• The remainder of Utrecht is strongly influenced by ancient riverbeds of the Rhine, with river clay and peat deposits, while fen peat deposits are found in the northwest.
• The climate of the region is characterised by an average annual rainfall of 858 mm and 1,602 sunshine hours per year (De Bilt).
• The average temperature is 10.1°C over the full year and 17.0°C in summer, with a diurnal temperature range in September of 9.0°C.

• The climate makes it possible to achieve the stated yields and ripeness levels, resulting in a fresh, fruity white wine with slightly tropical notes and a red wine with predominantly red fruit.

Facts drawn from the specification's terroir-link section by automatic interpretation — see the source.

All appellations in Netherlands

Sources

• Specification (EUR-Lex, single document)
• eAmbrosia register (EU) — File number PGI-NL-A0967
• Official trade body site — Vereniging Nederlandse Wijn Producenten (VNWP)