🏷️ Alsace Grand Cru
Alsace's 51 best vineyards for its four main grape varieties.
Alsace Grand Cru is the top category for wines from specially recognised vineyards in Alsace, in eastern France. There are 51 such sites. Each has its own name, borders and soil type: granite, limestone, sandstone or volcanic rock.
Four main varieties may be used in a grand cru wine: Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris and Muscat. The rules require low yields and a certain ripeness of the grapes. The label shows the name of the vineyard.
Alsace lies in the rain shadow of the Vosges mountains, so it gets little rain and a lot of autumn sun. Grapes ripen well and the wines are aromatic. Alsace Grand Cru belongs to the French appellation system and is similar in idea to grand cru in other French regions, although each region has its own rules. Well-known sites include Brand and Schoenenbourg. When choosing such a wine, look for the vineyard name on the label.
How it connects to Wine
🏷️ Alsace Grand Cru → → → 🍇 Riesling → kind of → 🍇 Grape varieties → kind of → 🍷 Wine
Links
- Part of
- 🏷️ Grand cru
- Where it applies
- 🗺️ French wine
- Related to
- 🍇 Riesling
- Similar and different
- 🏷️ Grand cru, 📍 Alsace
Frequently asked questions
How many grand cru vineyards are there in Alsace?
There are 51.
Which grapes are used for Alsace Grand Cru?
Four main varieties: Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris and Muscat.
How is Alsace Grand Cru different from ordinary Alsace wine?
It comes from one recognised vineyard site and follows strict rules on yield and ripeness.
Similar
🏷️ Premier cru · 🏷️ Échelle des crus · 🏷️ Burgundy Grand Cru · 🏷️ VDQS · 🏷️ Cru Artisan · 🏷️ Appellation d'origine contrôlée
⚠️ Wine contains alcohol: adults only, drink in moderation. Wine usually contains sulphites; egg white or milk proteins are sometimes used for fining — important for allergies and for vegans.