Alsace Grand Cru AOC

The created in 1975 Appellation Alsace Grand Cru defined as of 2007 51 prominent individual layers in the wine region of Alsace. They are spread over 14 municipalities in the department of Bas -Rhin and 33 municipalities in the department of Haut-Rhin. Overall, the Grands Crus occupy an area of 1,680 hectares, but this appellation is claimed only for a portion of the wines produced on them. In the year 2002 43.576 hectoliters of " Alsace Grand Cru " were produced in a vineyard area of 806 hectares, these were less than 3.6 % of the total production of Alsace.

Legal regulations

Even if the term of the Grand Cru in Alsace existed long, the legal framework with the creation of Appellation d' Origine ( AOC short ) was created only on 20 November 1975. In this design, the first and only single vineyard was called: the Schlossberg. On March 1, 1984, the first expansion. In this design, 24 new individual layers were called. The list was in 1992 extended to the remaining 25 positions. In early 2007 finally found the Kaefferkopf inclusion in the list. The delineation of the layers follows the terroir principle: Within the respective Grand Crus, the vine must have uniform conditions. This implies in particular geological homogeneity of the soil and subsoil. Hence the very different size of documents, ranging from 3.23 ha to over 80 ha.

Approved are solely those grape varieties Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris and Muscat three - Types Muscat blanc à petits grains, Moscato Rosa and Muscat Ottonel. You must be extended varietal wine. Meanwhile, the Sylvaner has been allowed to Zotzenberg Grand Cru production. The natural alcohol content of the grapes is at least 11 percent by volume, for Gewürztraminer and Pinot Gris even 12.5 vol - %.

The planting density must be at least 4,500 vines per hectare. The permissible maximum yield is 55 hl / ha with a variation up to max. 66 hl / ha. This value seems to be high as compared to the Premier Crus of Burgundy (40 hl / ha), but below the average in German prime locations. White wines will also respond less sensitively to higher yields than red varieties such as Pinot Noir.

On the label, single location must be specified. Grape variety and vintage remain voluntary. Blends of several grape varieties or layers can therefore not be sold as " Alsace Grand Cru ".

Character

The wines are generally dry. Wines with residual sugar may tardive only as Vendange (literally late harvest, but the maturity level is equivalent to a German Auslese ) or Sélection de Grains Nobles ( Beerenauslese with noble rot ) are produced.

The dry -developed Alsace Grands Crus build in the basement between three and ten years long. With increasing maturity consists in the wine, the character of the terroir through the primary fruit of the vine differs complex aromas and a complex bouquet. Sweet Beerenauslese hold even for several decades in suitable basements. The dry Grands Crus to be enjoyed at a drinking temperature of 10-12 ° C, at 6-8 ° C. sweet Auslese

List of individual layers

In this list you will find the single-layer numbers and places where they are admitted. This is followed by the single-layer surfaces and the associated departments. If a location has several individual layers, this is officially completed with "de" location, such as Altenberg de Bergbieten.

Individual layers according décret of November 20, 1975

Schlossberg, ( Kientzheim, 80.28 hectares in the Haut- Rhin)

Individual layers according décret of November 23, 1983

Altenberg de Bergbieten, ( Bergbieten, 29.06 ha in the Bas- Rhin)
Altenberg de Bergheim ( Mountain Home, 35.06 hectares in the Haut- Rhin)
Brand, ( Turckheim, 57.95 hectares in the Haut- Rhin)
Eichberg ( Eguisheim, 57.62 hectares in the Haut- Rhin)
Geisberg, ( Ribeauvillé, 8.53 hectares in the Haut- Rhin)
Gloeckelberg, ( harvesters and Saint- Hippolyte, 23.4 hectares in the Haut- Rhin)
Goldert, ( Sifnos, 45.35 hectares in the Haut- Rhin)
Hatschbourg, ( hat shop and Voegtlinshoffen, 47.36 hectares in the Haut- Rhin)
Stallion, ( Wintzenheim, 75.78 hectares in the Haut- Rhin)
Kanzlerberg, ( Bergheim, 3.23 hectares in the Haut- Rhin)
Kastel mountain, ( Andlau, 5.82 ha in the Bas- Rhin)
Kessler, ( Guebwiller, 28.53 hectares in the Haut- Rhin)
Kirchberg de Barr (Barr, 40.63 ha in the Bas- Rhin)
Kirchberg de Ribeauvillé ( Ribeauvillé, 11.4 hectares in the Haut- Rhin)
Kitterlé, ( Guebwiller, 25.79 hectares in the Haut- Rhin)
Moenchberg, ( Andlau and Eichhoffen, 11.83 ha in the Bas- Rhin)
Ollwiller, ( Wuenheim, 35.86 hectares in the Haut- Rhin)
Rosacker, ( Hunawihr, 26.18 hectares in the Haut- Rhin)
Saering, ( Guebwiller, 26.75 hectares in the Haut- Rhin)
Summer mountain ( Niedermorschwihr and cats Thal, 28.36 hectares in the Haut- Rhin)
Sun shine ( Beblenheim, 32.8 ha in the Haut- Rhin)
Mirror, ( Bergholtz and Guebwiller, 18:26 ha in the Haut- Rhin)
Wiebelsberg, ( Andlau, 12:52 ha in the Bas- Rhin)

Individual layers according to Décret of 17 December 1992

Altenberg de Wolxheim, ( Wolxheim, about 31 ha in the Bas- Rhin)
Bruderthal, ( Molsheim, about 18 ha in the Bas- Rhin)
Engelberg, ( Dahlenheim, about 15 ha in the Bas- Rhin)
Florimont, ( Ingersheim, about 21 hectares in the Haut- Rhin)
Frank Stone, ( Dambach- la -Ville, about 56 ha in the Bas- Rhin)
Froehn, ( cells Mountain, about 15 hectares in the Haut- Rhin)
Mambourg, ( Sigolsheim, about 62 hectares in the Haut- Rhin)
Almond Mountain ( Mittelwihr, about 22 hectares in the Haut- Rhin)
Marckrain, ( Bennwihr and Sigolsheim, about 59 hectares in the Haut- Rhin)
Osterberg, ( Ribeauvillé, about 25 hectares in the Haut- Rhin)
Pfersigberg, ( Eguisheim, about 75 hectares in the Haut- Rhin)
Pfingstberg ( Orschwihr, about 28 hectares in the Haut- Rhin)

Praelatenberg, ( Orschwiller and Kintzheim, about 19 ha in the Bas- Rhin)
Spores ( Riquewihr, about 24 hectares in the Haut- Rhin)
Steinert, ( Pfaff Home, 38.9 hectares in the Haut- Rhin)
Steingrubler ( Wettolsheim, 22.95 hectares in the Haut- Rhin)
Block of stone, ( Marlenheim, 40.6 ha in the Bas- Rhin)
Vorbourg, ( Rouffach and West Holding, 72.55 hectares in the Haut- Rhin)
Wineck - Schlossberg, (cats and Thal Ammerschwihr, 27.4 hectares in the Haut- Rhin)
Winzenberg, ( Blienschwiller, 19.2 ha in the Bas- Rhin)
Zinnkoepflé, (West holding and Soultzmatt, 68.4 hectares in the Haut- Rhin ), also called Sonnenkoepflé, Riesling and Pinot Gris (Pinot gris ) on limestone soils
Zotzenberg, (Central Mountain Home, 36.45 ha in the Bas- Rhin)

Individual layers according to Décret of 12 January 2007

Kaefferkopf, ( Ammerschwihr, 71.65 hectares in the Haut- Rhin)

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