3 TERROIRS, 3 SIGNATURES OF WINE.
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View of Orschwihr |
3 local soils :
the Bollenberg (a little unusual hill with a chapelle on the top),
the Clos Liebenberg ( Monopole)
and the Grand Cru Pfingstberg.
The Bollenberg is a large limestone hill sticking out of the Rhine valley, where we produce brilliant Riesling, Gewurztraminer and Pinot Noir. it is an unusual hill with a little chapelle on its top. Dry landes are protected by the french association NATURA 2000; no extension of the vineyard is allowed.
The limestone and the iron oxyd give a red soil.
The Grand Cru Pfingstberg dominates our pretty little valley in which nestles Orschwihr.
The upper part is located on a chalky sandstone and substrate micas sandstone substratum.
In places, the very steep slope has necessitated the construction of terraces, consolidated by sandstone walls.The ancient reputation of Pfingstberg dates back to 1299, the date of its donation by the knight Richard d’Epfig to the Unterlinden Couvent.
The wines show great Typicity, with very floral and mineral aromas. Riesling reaches its plenitude after two or three years in bottle.
The AOC GRAND CRU is attributed to 51 vineyards that are entitled to this status. And only 4 grapes which follow numerous criteria of quality are allowed, for example :
the vineyard's history, terroir and geology, methods of viticulture...
The Clos Liebenberg (Monopole ZUSLSIN)3,5 ha : in margin of the Grand Cru pfingstberg. A very nice exposure - south and south east for the terraces.
The main part is Riesling then Pinot Gris, Auxerrois and Sylvaner (old vines).
The other 2 AOC are AOC ALSACE and AOC CREMANT D'ALSACE (sparkling wine).
We have 2 specific mentions which are :
vendanges tardives: means late harvest the grapes are picked when over-ripe often several weeks after the start of the harvest, very aromatic character enhanced by the concentration (development of the noble rot) the botrytis cinerea.
The second mention is Sélection de grains nobles : Concentrated grapes by noble rot and successive and individual pickings. The end of the harvest, generally on November or December. The wine will be very powerful of great complexity and exceptional length on the palate.
The grapes used are :Auxerrois, Riesling, Muscat, Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Noir (Red wine), late harvest and Crémant (traditional sparkling wine - Champagne Method).
per year: 80 000 bottles over 13 hectares of vines.
To a comparison: Some 14 000 hectares produce about 150 million bottles per year in ALSACE.
Our wines are sold in France and in 23 different countries.
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