Altenberg de Wolxheim
The Altenberg de Wolxheim is a vineyard in Alsace . Altenberg de Wolxheim has been part of the Alsace Grand Cru appellation since December 17, 1992 , making it one of the 51 potentially best locations in Alsace. A total of 31.20 hectares of vineyards were approved.
The location is in the area of the municipality of Wolxheim , only about 22 km west of Strasbourg . The area is located north of a hilly zone that is in front of the Vosges. The Altenberg de Wolxheim is located in a south-south-west exposure at an altitude of 175 to 250 m above sea level. NN . Due to the hillside location below the Horn , on the highest point of which the Sacré-Cœur statue stands, the risk of frost damage after the vines have sprouted in spring is minimized, because the cold air that arises during the nights does not lie over the vineyards, but can slide down to the plain . The Vosges in the west protect the lee wine-growing region from too much rainfall in south-west or west-westerly weather conditions. This results in an above-average length of sunshine for the northern location. This location within the Wolxheim fault ditch has a base from the geological age of the Lias and the Dogger . The soil is made of marl-lime and is interspersed with many small stones and pebbles. In the eastern parts of the site one can find clay and loess soils .
The Altenberg de Wolxheim is one of the most northerly of the Grand Cru locations in Alsace. Only the nearby Altenberg de Bergbieten and the Engelberg are further north.
Grape varieties
The location and the quality of the soil favor the cultivation of Riesling (around 18 hectares of vineyards) and Gewürztraminer (around 8 hectares of vineyards). There are therefore only about 26 hectares of the total of 31.20 hectares under yield. In principle, the Pinot Gris and Muscat d'Alsace grape varieties ( i.e. Muscat Ottonel or Muscat blanc à petits grains ) may also be planted.
history
Wolxheim has always benefited from its proximity to Strasbourg. Today's road D45 follows the same route as an old road in the time of the Celts. Various religious congregations have been cultivating wine on the slopes of the Horn since the 8th century: The diocese of Strasbourg (archives of Bishop Wernher from 1003), the Abbey of Höhenbourg (today Sainte-Odile, 1188), the Benedictines of Altdorf (1192) , the hospital of Strasbourg (inventory of goods from 1320) and later again the Benedictines of Altdorf (1328 to 1789) owned a large part.
In the diocese of Strasbourg, wine quickly became the sacrament . This custom also brought some curiosities. The Bishop Jean de Manderscheit founded the Wine Brotherhood to the Horn . The admission requirement was to empty a horn filled with four liters of wine in one go!
De Grandidier, archivist of the diocese of Strasbourg and historian, writes that Wolxheim's wine is famous. Emperor Napoléon I valued him. The Altenberg produces a quality wine, the famous Riesling .
See also
The name Altenberg is quite common in Alsace. Other well-known vineyards are the Altenberg de Bergheim and the Altenberg de Bergbieten .
Web links
literature
- Pierre Galet: Cépages et Vignobles de France . Lavoisier Publishing House, Paris 2004. ISBN 2-7430-0585-8
- Benoît France: Grand Atlas des Vignobles de France . Éditions SOLAR publishing house, Paris 2002. ISBN 2-263-03242-8