Alsace Grand Cru

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Alsace wine region

The Alsace Grand Cru appellation, created in 1975, defines 51 outstanding individual sites in the Alsace wine-growing region as of 2007 . They are spread over 14 communes in the Bas-Rhin department and 33 communes in the Haut-Rhin department . In total, the Grands Crus occupy an area of ​​1,680 hectares, but this appellation is only claimed for some of the wines produced on them. In 2002, 43,576 hectoliters of "Alsace Grand Cru" were produced on a vineyard area of ​​806 hectares, which was less than 3.6% of the total production in Alsace.

Legal regulations

Even if the term Grand Cru had existed for a long time in Alsace, the legal framework was not created until November 20, 1975 with the creation of an Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC for short). In this draft, the first and only individual layer was named: the Schlossberg. The first expansion came on March 1, 1984. In this draft, 24 new individual layers were named. The list was expanded to include the remaining 25 locations in 1992. At the beginning of 2007 the Kaefferkopf was finally added to the list. The demarcation of the locations follows the terroir principle: Within the respective Grand Crus, the vine must have uniform conditions. Above all, this requires geological homogeneity of the soil and subsoil. Hence the very different sizes of the sites, ranging from 3.23 ha to over 80 ha.

Only the grape varieties Riesling , Gewürztraminer , Pinot Gris and the three Muscatel types Muscat blanc à petits grains , Moscato Rosa and Muscat Ottonel are permitted . They have to be expanded as a single variety . The Sylvaner has now been approved for Grand Cru production on the Zotzenberg. The natural alcohol content of the grapes is at least 11 percent by volume , for Gewürztraminer and Pinot Gris even 12.5 percent by volume.

The planting density must be at least 4,500 vines per hectare. The maximum permitted yield is 55 hl / ha with a fluctuation range of up to max. 66 hl / ha. This value appears high compared to the Premier Crus of Burgundy (40 hl / ha), but is below the average yield in top German locations. White wines are also less sensitive to higher yields than red wine varieties such as Pinot Noir .

The individual location must be indicated on the label, grape variety and vintage remain voluntary. Cuvées of several grape varieties or locations can therefore not be sold as "Alsace Grand Cru".

character

The wines are generally made dry . Wines with residual sweetness may only be produced as Vendange tardive (literally late harvest , but the degree of maturity corresponds to a German selection ) or Sélection de grains nobles ( berry selection with noble rot ).

The dry Alsace Grands Crus mature in the cellar for between three and ten years. With increasing maturity, the character of the terroir asserts itself in the wine, the primary fruit of the grape variety gives way to multi-layered aromas and a complex bouquet . Sweet berry selections can even be kept for several decades in suitable cellars. The dry Grands Crus should be enjoyed at a drinking temperature of 10–12 ° C, sweet Auslese at 6–8 ° C.

List of individual layers

This list contains the names of the individual layers and the locations where they are permitted. This is followed by the single layer areas and the associated departments. If a location comprises several individual layers, this is officially supplemented with "de" + Ort, such as Altenberg de Bergbieten .

Individual layers according to Décret of November 20, 1975

Map of the Alsace wine-growing region and individual Grand Cru vineyards. These are shown as red dots.
  • Schlossberg , ( Kientzheim , 80.28 ha, Haut-Rhin)

Individual layers according to Décret of November 23, 1983

Individual layers according to Décret of December 17, 1992

Individual layers according to Décret of January 12, 2007

literature

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. a b Except for the Altenberg de Bergheim and the Kaefferkopf, which can also be expanded as waste under proportional conditions.
  2. ^ Extract from the INAO's officialization decree: III. - Les vins à appellation d'origine contrôlée “Alsace grand cru” suivie du nom de lieudit “Zotzenberg” proviennent d'un seul des cépages suivants: riesling B, gewurztraminer Rs, pinot gris G, sylvaner B. INAO: Textes Consolidés