Alsace Grand Cru Wine

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Alsace Grand Cru (always followed by the name of one of the 51 vineyards that have been delimited within this Appellation). Defined in 1975, these 51 delimited named vineyards represent 4% of total production. While Alsace wines are traditionally known by their familiar grape names : Sylvaner, Pinot Blanc, Riesling, Muscat d'Alsace, Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer and Pinot Noir, the Appellation Alsace Grand Cru gives an added dimension, "terroir", the unique influence of the vineyard itself on the wine. Fifty-one sites have been delimited according to strict criteria of geology and micro-climate, to make up the mosaic of Alsace Grand cru vineyards. These exceptional vineyards vary in size from 3 to 80 hectares, each having its own specific character and personality, according to its geology, aspect and slope. With an annual average of more than 45 000 hl, Alsace Grand Cru wines represent only 4 % of total Alsace wine production. Appreciating Alsace Grand Cru wines In order to taste Alsace Grand Cru wines under optimum conditions, it is best to follow a few simple hints on storage and serving : Although Alsace Grand Cru wines are agreeable to enjoy when they are young, they will gain from being kept Read more »

for much longer (5 to 10 years, or even more in the finest vintages), preferably in a dark, well ventilated cellar with a constant temperature (10°-15°C / 50°-60°F). The bottles should be stored on their sides so that the wine is in permanent contact with the cork. Alsace Grand Cru wines should be served cold but not chilled (at about 8°C / 45°F), in a slender, long-stemmed clear crystal glass. These are gastronomic wines par excellence, and an Alsace Grand Cru wine can accompany every course on the menu. Muscat d'Alsace is an ideal apéritif, Riesling Grand Cru is the perfect partner for all seafood, fish and shellfish, Pinot Gris is perfect with white meats, game and foie gras, while Gewurztraminer is unrivalled with exotic and Asian food, cheese and dessert. Background to Alsace Grand Cru wines Experts appointed by the INAO (Institut National des Appellations d’Origine des vins et eaux de vie) have delimited a total of 51 individual production sites, which are protected by means of very strict regulations. To be entitled to AOC (Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée) Alsace Grand Cru status, as defined by the decree of 24 January 2001, a wine must come from grapes picked by hand in one of the strictly defined sites within the limits of the Alsace wine region of production. A winegrower wishing to produce AOC Alsace Grand Cru wine must declare before 1 March each year, exactly which vineyards and grape varieties are destined for such wines. Beyond fixing the rules of production, the decree of 24 January 2001 reinforces the role of each winegrowers union in the management of each Grand Cru site (plantation policy, specific starting date for the vintage, possibility of imposing a higher minimum ripeness level for each site and grape variety, fixing the annual PLC for each site…). Only four grape varieties are authorised for AOC Alsace Grand Cru : Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris and Muscat d’Alsace. However, the decree of 21 March 2005 authorises the use of the Sylvaner variety for AOC Alsace Grand Cru Zotzenberg and in the blended wines of AOC Altenberg de Bergheim. The decree of 12 January 2007 also authorises blended wines for AOC Alsace Grand Cru Kaefferkopf. To be entitled to AOC Alsace Grand Cru status, wines must exceed the minimum natural potential alcohol level defined by decree for each grape variety and for each site : AOC Alsace Grand Cru Riesling and Muscat 11° AOC Alsace Grand Cru Gewurztraminer and Pinot Gris 12,5° AOC Alsace Grand Cru Zotzenberg Sylvaner 11° AOC Alsace Grand Cru Altenberg de Bergheim Pinot Gris and Gewurztraminer 14° AOC Alsace Grand Cru Altenberg de Bergheim Riesling, 12° AOC Alsace Grand Cru Altenberg de Bergheim blend 14° AOC Alsace Grand Cru Kaefferkopf Pinot Gris and Gewurztraminer 12,5° AOC Alsace Grand Cru Kaefferkopf Riesling 11° AOC Alsace Grand Cru Kaefferkopf blend 12° Every vine planted since 1 September 2000 must be cultivated according to new regulations concerning the density of plantation, distance between rows, and height of vegetation. Vineyards must be planted with a minimum density of 4500 vines per hectare. Grapes must be picked by hand. In addition, new regulations concerning pruning now apply to all vineyards, concerning the distance between the horizontal wires and the number of buds authorised per vine depending on variety. All vineyards must be pruned to a maximum of from 8 to 10 buds per m2 according to the grape variety. The maximum authorised yield is 55hl/ha, plus from 0 to 20% of PLC, but the maximum yield of 66hl/ha must never be exceeded. It is compulsory for the label of all AOC Grand Cru wines to mention, besides its AOC Alsace Grand Cru status, the named vineyard (terroir) and the vintage year. In general it will also state the name of the grape variety, except for blended wines (Kaefferkopf and Altenberg de Bergheim). • Decree of 24 January 2001 concerning AOC « Alsace Grand Cru ». • Decree of 21 March 2005 concerning AOC « Alsace Grand Cru ». • Decree of 12 January 2007 concerning AOC « Alsace Grand Cru ». The Grands Crus of Alsace / Named vineyard (village) / Principal geological soil type(s) 51 Named vineyards defined Altenberg de Bergbieten Marl-limestone-gypsum Altenberg de Bergheim Marl-limestone Altenberg de Wolxheim Marl-limestone Brand (Turckheim) Granite Bruderthal (Molsheim) Marl-limestone Eichberg (Eguisheim) Marl-limestone Engelberg (Dahlenheim and Scharrachbergheim) Marl-limestone Florimont (Ingersheim and Katzenthal) Marl-limestone Frankstein (Dambach-la-ville) Granite Froehn (Zellenberg) Clay-marl Furstentum (Kientzheim and Sigolsheim) Limestone Geisberg (Ribeauvillé) Marl-limestone-sandstone Gloeckelberg (Rodern and Saint-Hippolyte) Marl-limestone Goldert (Gueberschwihr) Marl-limestone Hatschbourg (Hattstatt and Voegtlinshoffen) Marl-limestone & loess Hengst (Wintzenheim) Marl-limestone-sandstone Kaefferkopf (Ammerschwihr) Granite and limestone-sandstone Kanzlerberg (Bergheim) Argilo-marneux-gypseux Kastelberg (Andlau) Shale Kessler (Guebwiller) Sablo-argileux Kirchberg de Barr Marno-calcaire Kirchberg de Ribeauvillé Marl-limestone-sandstone Kitterlé (Guebwiller) Sandstone-volcanic Mambourg (Sigolsheim) Marl-limestone Mandelberg (Mittelwihr et Beblenheim) Marl-limestone Marckrain (Bennwihr et Sigolsheim) Marl-limestone Moenchberg (Andlau et Eichhoffen) Marl-limestone with scree Muenchberg (Nothalten) Stony-sandstone-volcanic Ollwiller (Wuenheim) Sandy-Clay Osterberg (Ribeauvillé) Marl Pfersigberg (Eguisheim and Wettolsheim) Limestone-sandstone Pfingstberg (Orschwihr) Marl-limestone-sandstone Praelatenberg (Kintzheim) Granito-gneiss Rangen (Thann and Vieux-Thann) Volcanic Rosacker (Hunawihr) Dolomitic limestone Saering (Guebwiller) Marl-limestone-sandstone Schlossberg (Kientzheim) Granitic Schoenenbourg (Riquewihr and Zellenberg Marno-sableux-gypsum Sommerberg (Niedermorschwihr and Katzenthal Granitic Sonnenglanz (Beblenheim) Marl-limestone Spiegel (Bergholtz and Guebwiller) Marl-sandstone Sporen (Riquewihr) Stony-clay-marl Steinert (Pfaffenheim and Westhalten) Limestone Steingrubler (Wettolsheim) Marl-limestone-sandstone Steinklotz (Marlenheim) Limestone Vorbourg (Rouffach and Westhalten) Limestone-sandstone Wiebelsberg (Andlau) Sandy-sandstone Wineck-Schlossberg (Katzenthal and Ammerschwihr) Granitic Winzenberg (Blienschwiller) Granitic Zinnkoepflé (Soultzmatt and Westhalten) Limestone-sandstone Zotzenberg (Mittelbergheim) Marl-limestone (hide)

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Alsace Grand Cru on Snooth

May 2017

Cora, here's a link to a trip report I wrote when we visited Alsace last summer, hope you enjoy it. Most definitely seek out some Alsace Riesling when you get a chance, especially some Grand Cru from a well known producer like Domaine Weinbach or Domaine Zind-Humbrecht. Read More

Forum post in the topic Weekend Wines - Post Pictures...
December 2016

Here are my WOTYs USA. This red and white are both California wines.Red - 2008 Scherrer Pinot Noir Platt Vineyard. Here's part of my CT tasting note - It's difficult to describe all the layers of flavors, ripe red and black cherry, blackberry, tar, a bit of smoke, fine grained tannins, juicy acidity, a finish that went on forever.White - 2012 Fa... Read More

Forum post in the topic What's Your 2016 Wine of the...
June 2016

Yesterday was Kientzheim day. I looked into renting a car for a day trip, went to the Avis web site and saw some fairly high rates for some very small cars $50-$70 for one day. Decided that the price was a bit steep but clicked a bit further in the booking process. When I got near the last step the "extra" charges showed up - more than doubling ... Read More

Forum post in the topic Trip Report - Alsace France
June 2016

I'm starting this thread in order to drop a few notes and pics of the wine related portions of our Alsace trip. We're here with two other couples and although we have consumed a fair amount only a small portion of this trip is centered on wine. The first problem we encountered was the lack of rental cars due to the railway workers strike. We hir... Read More

Forum post in the topic Trip Report - Alsace France
June 2016

Well it's 4:30 pm here in Colmar, Alsace so we popped this Wolfberger Grand Cru Riesling with some local cheese and a fresh baquette. Neat city, a slight bit touristy but not as much as Strasbourg. Heading to Ribeauville tomorrow and then to Kientzheim Friday for wine tastings.Our apartment is the two floors with the blue windows, a five minut... Read More

Forum post in the topic Whatcha drinking tonight?
October 2015

Domaine Schlumberger Grand Cru Saering Riesling 2008

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No written review

Wine review by smuratore
January 2015

Rene Mure Clos Saint Landelin Riesling Grand Cru Vorbourg Alsace Cl 2012

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No written review

Wine review by MrRiesling
January 2015

Rene Mure Riesling Clos Saint Landelin 2012

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No written review

Wine review by MrRiesling
November 2014

Helfrich Alsace Grand Cru Gewurztraminer 2012

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No written review

Wine review by mark
November 2014

Helfrich Alsace Grand Cru Gewurztraminer 2012

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Quite floral honeysuckle and honey aromas with fresh violets, pear, and rose petals. Flavors are quite intensely floral as well, with lavender essence, honey, lemonade, green apples. Finishes long and perfumed. Read More

Wine review by Snooth Editorial
Apr 2, 2009

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Alsace Grand Cru wine ratings and reviews

Winery:	Domaines Schlumberger
Region:	France » Alsace » Ammerschwihr » Alsace Aoc
Varietal:	Riesling
Type:	Table Wines

Winery:	René Muré
Region:	France » Alsace » Ammerschwihr » Alsace Grand Cru Aoc
Varietal:	Riesling
Type:	Table Wines

Winery:	Helfrich
Region:	France » Alsace » Ammerschwihr » Alsace Grand Cru Aoc
Type:	Table Wines

Winery:	Andre Hartmann
Region:	France » Alsace » Alsace Grand Cru Hatschbourg de Voegtlinshoffen
Varietal:	Gewürztraminer
Type:	Table Wines

Winery:	Domaine Loew
Region:	France » Alsace » Bergbieten
Varietal:	Riesling
Type:	Table Wines

Winery:	Josmeyer
Region:	France » Alsace » Ammerschwihr » Alsace Grand Cru Aoc
Varietal:	Pinot Grigio
Type:	Table Wines

Winery:	Domaine Weinbach
Region:	France » Alsace » Ammerschwihr » Alsace Grand Cru Aoc
Type:	Table Wines

Winery:	Domaine Zind-humbrecht
Region:	France » Alsace » Ammerschwihr » Alsace Grand Cru Aoc
Type:	Table Wines

Winery:	Domaine Barmes Buecher
Region:	France » Alsace » Ammerschwihr » Alsace Grand Cru Aoc
Type:	Table Wines

Winery:	Domaine Pierre Sparr
Region:	France » Alsace » Alsace Grand Cru
Type:	Table Wines

Alsace Grand Cru Wine

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Zind-Humbrecht Riesling Alsace Grand Cru Aoc Rangen de Thann Clos St. Urbain

Smothered Chicken Breasts Recipe

Domaine Weinbach Riesling Alsace Grand Cru Aoc Schlossberg

Slow Cooker Lemon Garlic Chicken II

Domaine Weinbach Riesling Alsace Grand Cru Aoc Cuvée Théo Schlossberg

Chicken and Vegetables Slow Cooked

Josmeyer Riesling Alsace Grand Cru Aoc Hengst

Sour Cream Marinated Chicken II

Domaine Barmes-Buecher Riesling Alsace Aoc Tradition

Regular Chicken Soup

Pierre Sparr Riesling Schoenenbourg Grand Vin

Chicken with Peas, Parmesan & Prosciutto

Rene Mure Riesling Clos Saint Landelin

Easy Chicken Chow Mein

Domaines Schlumberger Riesling Alsace Grand Cru Aoc Saering

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Alsace Grand Cru on Snooth