Riesling d'Alsace

Riesling is the Rhine grape variety par excellence. Riesling from Alsace is often dry. The mixture of delicate bouquet and pronounced acidity but of a fine elegance forms an exceptional harmony. This grape variety is suitable for elaborate and refined cuisines.

The fine acidity of the Riesling is conducive to these wines of great ageing. 

What to pair Alsace Riesling with ?

The Riesling grape variety, which gives rise to wines of gastronomy and fine acidity, will go perfectly with elaborate charcuterie, terrines, white meats or even typical Alsatian dishes such as sauerkraut or baekaoffa. It will also be a perfect match with modern cuisine: sushi, ceviche and poke bowl. Naturally, the Riesling is the ideal match for fish, shellfish and seafood.

As for the Riesling Grand Cru, a wine of superior finesse, will accompany fish (Sole, Pike, Salmon), oysters, but also fresh cheeses or citrus desserts.

Oenological analysis of Riesling from Alsace

To the eye : Yellow with light green reflections. For the Grands Crus, a deeper yellow with golden and brilliant reflections, good adhesion to the glass.

Nose : Good rendering of the typicity of the grape variety, notes of white and yellow fruits, citrus fruits, zesty notes.

On the palate: Fine acidity, mineral and slightly saline wine, fresh and fruity mouthfeel.

The Grand Cru Zinnkoepflé

The Grand Cru Zinnkoepflé, with an altitude ranging from 200 to 400 meters, faces south and southeast. It covers 71 hectares on the hillsides of Soultzmatt and Westhalten. The circular layout of the valley (Vallée Noble) and thanks to the protection of the Petit Ballon, makes this place a low rainfall area. This terroir benefits from a warm and dry micro-climate on a triassic calcareous soil with Mediterranean and Caspian flora and fauna. It is composed of inclusions of sandstone and limestone Coquillier of the Muschelkalk.

The name of this place is easily broken down with "Zinn" or "Sonne" translating into sun and "Koepflé" or "Kopf" for head in German. This gave the translation "sun mountain", because the ground is very strongly exposed to the sun. The name could also come from the small fossilized gastropods which are numerous on this soil; called "Sinnele".

Our Rieslings express themselves very well here. This terroir produces Rieslings rich in minerality but also dry with vegetal and herbaceous notes (dry grass). They come out fine and harmonious. These wines are destined to become wines for aging and gastronomy.

The Grand Cru Spiegel

The Grand Cru Spiegel, covers 18.25 hectares and faces east between Guebwiller and Bergholtz. Between 260 and 315 meters of altitude, it is located south of the Grand Cru Pfingstberg. This terroir rests on substrates of marl and oligocene conglomerates (with a majority of sandstone pebbles). The soil of this locality is made up of a sandy-clay texture. The Grand Cru Spiegel terroir is perfectly suited to the production of the Riesling grape variety.

The terroir Lippelsberg

The Lippelsberg is located on the edge of the Grand Cru Pfingstberg. It was exploited as early as 1287 by the Bishopric of Strasbourg, the largest owner of vineyards in Alsace under the Ancien Régime. It was one of the first terroirs in Alsace to be named by its "place of origin". Its sunshine is facing east. This soil gives the wine a lot of substance because it comes from a clay-limestone soil.

The terroir Bollenberg

The Bollenberg takes its name from " Belen " or " Belenus " being the celtic god of sun.

Located south of Rouffach, this hill is very windy and sunny. This climate benefits the evolution of a rare flora and the proliferation of an exclusive fauna. This gives rise to a protected area.

The considerably limestone terroir of the Bollenberg (thin layer of earth and mother rock often outcropping) as well as its micro-climate are beneficial to the evolution of Riesling.