Kaefferkopf
The Kaefferkopf vineyard (dt. Käferkopf) is a vineyard in Alsace . The Kaefferkopf vineyard has been part of the Alsace Grand Cru appellation since January 12, 2007 , making it one of the 51 potentially best vineyards in Alsace. A total of 71.65 hectares of vineyards were approved.
The location is in the municipality of Ammerschwihr , just a few kilometers north of Colmar . The area is located in a hilly zone that is in front of the Vosges. The vineyard is located south to south-east at an altitude of 230 to 350 m above sea level. NN . Due to the hillside location below the Drei Ähren, 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 remain 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.
The Walbach topographically divides the vineyard into two areas:
- The northern area has an eastern orientation. Only in the extreme north does the area follow a fault and is oriented north-east there (the district of Gries). The location rests on a base of granitic primary rock. The fault is not open; the soil is covered with loess and sedimentary rocks from the Vosges. The clay soil has a particularly high lime or sand content
- The southern area is topographically much more heterogeneous. The surface is loosened by a few small valleys of small rivulets. The vineyards are located in a south to northeast exposure. In the lower area of the slope, the Upper Rhine fault is exposed and releases various granite floors.
The Kaefferkopf location was compiled from an abundance of landmarks:
- Kastzelberg-Purbergtal district, 2 ha 78 ar 35 approx
- Purberg district, 9 ha 04 ar 40 approx
- District Kaefferkopf, 1 ha 87 ar 33 approx
- District Krettenruck, 4 ha 85 a 50 approx
- District Hebsack, 2 ha 49 a 79 approx
- District Froehn, 4 ha 43 a 35 approx
- Erlenbrunn district, 0 ha 74 a 99 approx
- District Steinbruecklen, 0 ha 21 a 66 approx
- District Hahnen, 2 ha 23 a 92 approx
- District Pfulben, 9 ha 07 a 38 approx
- Marking Stichreben, 4 ha 29 a 06 approx
- District Meywihr, 6 ha 84 a 58 approx
- District Hasengrab, 3 ha 92 a 59 approx
- District Oberhinterkirch, 2 ha 80 a 00 approx
- District Gries, 9 ha 97 a 21 approx
- District Sommerberg, 0 ha 20 a 94 approx
A few parcels were added to these landmarks on September 6, 2006 so that the Kaefferberg was enlarged from 67.81 hectares to its current size of 71.65 hectares when it was named Alsace Grand Cru.
Grape varieties
The location and the quality of the soil favor the cultivation of Gewürztraminer (approx. 59 percent of the area under vines) and Riesling (approx. 35 percent of the area under vines). To 5 percent is Pinot Gris grown, which is called in Alsace Pinot Gris. The name Tokay was also common in the past. In principle, the Muscat d'Alsace grape varieties ( i.e. Muscat Ottonel or Muscat blanc à petits grains ) can also be planted. However, these varieties lead a shadowy existence with just under 1 percent.
Besides the Altenberg de Bergheim , the Kaefferkopf is the only Alsace Grand Cru location in which blends can be offered in addition to single-variety wines. This blend has the short name Kaefferberg and is composed as follows:
- The main variety is the Gewürztraminer, the proportion of which is 60 to max. 80 percent must be.
- The second main variety is Riesling, which makes up 10 to 40 percent.
- Optionally, the two main varieties may be max. 30 percent of the Pinot Gris and a maximum of 10 percent of the nutmeg varieties are added. In extreme cases, the cuvée can consist of only the two main types or it can be blended from 4 types.
history
The Kaefferberg district has been known and famous for its great wines since the 14th century. The first written mention is in the land register of the Monastery Pairis von Mittelwihr from the year 1328. The Cistercian monks, who probably cultivated the vineyard much earlier, gave this location the name zem Kefersberg.
The exceptional position of the Kaefferkopf was confirmed on February 24, 1932, when this location was the first vineyard in Alsace to receive AOC status, a few years before the definition of the Alsace wine region as a whole. When setting up the Alsace Grand Cru, however, the Kaefferkopf was bypassed. This situation was only resolved in 2007.
literature
- Pierre Galet : Cépages et Vignobles de France. Tome 3: Les Vignobles de France. Volume 1: Méditerranée, Rhône-Alpes, Bourgogne, Franche-Comté, Alsace-Lorraine. 2nd édition entièrement refondue. Tec & Doc, Paris et al. 2004, ISBN 2-7430-0585-8 .
- Benoît France (ed.): Grand Atlas des Vignobles de France. Éditions SOLAR, Paris 2002, ISBN 2-263-03242-8 .