Altenberg de Bergheim

Alsace Grand Cru Altenberg de Bergheim, or Altenberg-de-Bergheim is a French white wine produced in the Altenberg lieu-dit, located in the commune of Bergheim, in the Haut-Rhin department, in Alsace.

On the Alsace Wine Route, Altenberg de Bergheim is located between Gloeckelberg to the north and Kanzlerberg just to the west (the latter also in the municipality of Bergheim, adjoining Altenberg).

It is one of the fifty-one grands crus of the Alsace region, each enjoying its own appellation but sharing the same Alsace Grand Cru specifications (with more stringent constraints than for the Alsace appellation in general). In the case of the Bergheim cru, the name of the commune is mentioned after the name of the lieu-dit to differentiate this cru from the two other Altenbergs: Altenberg de Bergbieten and Altenberg de Wolxheim.

History

In 1983, Altenberg de Bergheim was one of the twenty-four lieux-dits selected to become the geographical names of the Alsace Grand Cru appellation.

There have been some changes since then: the decree of 1 March 1984 regulates the terms vendanges tardives and sélection de grains nobles within the appellation[1] and the decree of 24 January 2001 reduces yields and gives the possibility of modifying the specifications of each denomination (each vintage) after consulting the local wine syndicate.[2]

Geology

This vineyard is significantly further south than the similarly named Altenberg de Bergbieten (see image). The vineyard is located in the Ribeauvillé fault area. It contains marl-limestone soil which is rich in fossils. The area is of Jurassic origin.[3][4]

Climatology

To the west, the Vosges protect the hillside from wind and rain. The prevailing westerly winds lose their moisture on the western slopes of the Vosges and reach Alsace in the form of foehn winds, dry and warm. Precipitation is therefore particularly low.

The vineyard plots are on the hillside, between 220 and 320 meters above sea level, on the south-facing slopes of Mount Grasberg, above and northwest of Bergheim. The planted area is 35.06 hectares.[5]

Climate

The nearest meteorological station to Kintzheim is the Entzheim station. Values between 1961 and 1990 are as follows:

Climate data for Strasbourg-Entzheim
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C 3.5 5.8 10.4 14.6 19 22.2 24.7 24.2 20.8 14.7 8.2 4.5 14.4
Daily mean °C 0.9 2.5 6 9.6 13.8 17 19.1 18.6 15.5 10.6 5.2 1.9 19.1
Mean daily minimum °C −1.7 −0.9 1.6 4.6 8.6 11.7 13.4 13.1 10.3 6.5 2.1 −0.7 5.7
Average precipitation mm 33.1 34.3 36.6 48 74.5 74.6 56.8 67.8 55.5 43 46.6 39.9 610.5
Mean daily maximum °F 38.3 42.4 50.7 58.3 66 72.0 76.5 75.6 69.4 58.5 46.8 40.1 57.9
Daily mean °F 33.6 36.5 43 49.3 56.8 63 66.4 65.5 59.9 51.1 41.4 35.4 66.4
Mean daily minimum °F 28.9 30.4 34.9 40.3 47.5 53.1 56.1 55.6 50.5 43.7 35.8 30.7 42.3
Average precipitation inches 1.30 1.35 1.44 1.9 2.93 2.94 2.24 2.67 2.19 1.7 1.83 1.57 24.04
Mean monthly sunshine hours 42 78 122 161 197 212 240 215 168 101 58 43 1,637
Source: [6]

Yields

The yield limit for the entire Alsace Grand Cru appellation is set at 55 hectoliters per hectare, with a maximum yield of 66 hectoliters per hectare which is much lower than the 80 hectoliters authorized by the Alsace appellation. Bergheim winegrowers have set a stricter maximum yield since 1995, through a quality charter common to wo Bergheim crus (Altenberg and Kanzlerberg): 50 hectoliters per hectare.

The actual yield of the entire appellation (the 51 Alsatian crus) was 50 hectoliters per hectare on average for the year 2009. Although this is well below the average yields of the Alsace vineyard, it is a yield within the French average.[7]

The grands crus of Alsace must be harvested by hand.[8]

Wines

Alcoholic strengths

The grapes harvested must have a minimum average natural alcoholic strength by volume of 12.5% for the Pinot Gris and Gewurztraminer grape varieties and 11% for Riesling and the Muscats. Wines from a blend have a minimum average natural alcoholic strength by volume of 12%.[9]

Blending

A particularity of the Alsace grand cru Altenberg de Bergheim appellation is the blending of part of the production, i.e. the mixing of several grape varieties within the same vintage, something rare in Alsace where the vast majority of wines are single-varietal. The only other appellations where this is allowed are Kaefferkopf and Zotzenberg (the latter allowing Sylvaner to be blended).[10][11]

Bottling

Alsace wines must be bottled only in flutes, i.e. bottles of the "Rhine wine" type of 75 centiliters, regulated by several decrees.[12]

References

  1. ^ "Décret n° 2010-214 du 2 mars 2010 relatif au ressort territorial, à l'organisation et aux attributions des services déconcentrés de la protection judiciaire de la jeunesse (J.O. du 4 mars 2010)". Journal du droit des jeunes. 294 (4): 45. 2010-04-01. doi:10.3917/jdj.294.0045. ISSN 2114-2068.
  2. ^ Noilhan, Henri (1972). "Commentaires sur le décret du 21 juillet 1971, relatif à l'Inspection sanitaire et qualitative des Animaux vivants et des denrées animales ou d'origine animale". Bulletin de l'Académie Vétérinaire de France. 125 (4): 165–168. doi:10.4267/2042/66350. ISSN 0001-4192.
  3. ^ "Géoportail". www.geoportail.gouv.fr. Retrieved 2024-09-11.
  4. ^ "Grand Cru Altenberg de Bergheim - Vins d'Alsace". www.vinsalsace.com. Retrieved 2024-09-11.
  5. ^ Rosa, Stéphane (2023). Le guide Hachette des vins, sélection 2024. Vanves: Hachette pratique. ISBN 978-2-01-946707-4.
  6. ^ http://www.infoclimat.fr
  7. ^ "Alsace/Vin d'Alsace AOP". Sommelier-Academy - Dein Weg zum Sommelier (in German). Retrieved 2024-09-11.
  8. ^ Bonné, Jon (28 March 2023). The New French Wine. Ten Speed Press. p. 60.
  9. ^ "Alsace/Vin d'Alsace AOP". Sommelier-Academy - Dein Weg zum Sommelier (in German). Retrieved 2024-09-11.
  10. ^ "LESVINSIDS.COM - Gustave Lorentz Gewurztraminer Grand Cru Altenberg de Bergheim". lesvinsids.com. Retrieved 2024-09-11.
  11. ^ Johnson, Hugh; Robinson, Jancis (2013). The world atlas of wine (7th ed.). London: Mitchell Beazley. p. 121. ISBN 978-1-84533-689-9.
  12. ^ Décret n°55-673 du 20 mai 1955 Emploi de La Bouteille Type "Vin du Rhin", 20 May 1955, retrieved 2024-09-11
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