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Alsace Haut-Rhin

Alsace

ColmarStrasbourgAlsace Haut-RhinAlsace Haut-Rhin

Alsace appellations

The southern heartland of Alsace wine, stretching from Ribeauvillé to Thann. The Haut-Rhin contains 37 of the 51 Grand Crus and is where Alsace’s most celebrated vineyards are found, including Schlossberg, Brand, Rangen, and Hengst. The soils are extraordinarily diverse, from the volcanic terroir of Rangen to the granite of Brand.

The wines of Alsace Haut-Rhin are made primarily from Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris.

204–469 m

Elevation range

whitedessert

Wine styles

37 Grand Crus

Avg. slope 9.7°

Vineyard Map

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Nearby Appellations

To the north Alsace Bas-Rhin

Add Alsace Haut-Rhin to your Discoveries. When you taste one, you can tick it off.

Terroir & Character

Climate

Protected by the higher Vosges peaks, the Haut-Rhin benefits from enhanced rain shadow effects and warmer temperatures than northern Alsace, with excellent sun exposure on its steep hillsides. The varied topography creates numerous favorable mesoclimates that allow for optimal ripening of noble varieties.

Terroir

GraniteLimestoneVolcanicSandstoneMarlClay

The Haut-Rhin sits on complex Paleozoic bedrock including Hercynian granite massifs, Triassic sandstone, and Jurassic limestone formations, with significant volcanic porphyry outcrops around Ribeauvillé and Riquewihr. The varied geological substrate creates excellent drainage on steeper slopes while allowing deep root penetration in fractured bedrock, with marl and clay deposits in valley floors providing water retention.

Typical Aromas

white peachlime zestwet granitewhite flowershoneysmoky minerals
Explore the aroma wheel

Notable Producers

TrimbachClos Sainte Hune, dry Riesling icon
Zind-HumbrechtBiodynamic Grand Cru specialist
Domaine WeinbachExquisite Grand Cru, Altenbourg
Albert BoxlerMineral Riesling and Pinot Gris
HugelHistoric Riquewihr house

Grapes of Alsace

Riesling

White
Body
Sweetness
Acidity
green applelimelemonwhite peach

Mostly bone-dry and full-bodied. Citrus, orchard fruit, and steely minerality, ageing beautifully into petrol and honey over a decade or more.

Gewürztraminer

White
Body
Sweetness
Acidity
lycheerosepeachapricot

Alsace's flamboyant white. Lychee, rose petal, Turkish delight, and ginger spice on a full, low-acid palate, ranging from dry to lusciously sweet (Vendanges Tardives, SGN).

Pinot Gris

White
Body
Sweetness
Acidity
lemonpeachmangobanana

Rich, off-dry to sweet, with stone fruit and honey. Often labelled Pinot Gris.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Alsace Haut-Rhin known for?▼
Alsace Haut-Rhin is known as the southern heartland of Alsace wine and home to the region's most celebrated vineyards. It contains 37 of Alsace's 51 Grand Crus, including prestigious sites like Schlossberg, Brand, Rangen, and Hengst, stretching from Ribeauvillé to Thann.
What does Alsace Haut-Rhin wine taste like?▼
Haut-Rhin wines display exceptional complexity and minerality due to the extraordinary diversity of soils, from volcanic terroir to granite and limestone. The wines are typically dry, elegant, and expressive, with each Grand Cru site imparting distinct mineral characteristics and terroir-driven flavors.
What grapes are grown in Alsace Haut-Rhin?▼
Haut-Rhin grows the classic Alsace varietals including Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris, and Muscat, which are the four noble grapes allowed in Grand Cru vineyards. Pinot Blanc, Sylvaner, and Pinot Noir are also cultivated throughout the region.
How many premier crus does Alsace Haut-Rhin have?▼
Alsace Haut-Rhin has 37 Premier Crus (Grand Crus in Alsace terminology). This represents the vast majority of Alsace's 51 total Grand Cru vineyards, making it the most prestigious sub-region of Alsace.
What soil types are found in Alsace Haut-Rhin?▼
Haut-Rhin features extraordinarily diverse soils including granite, limestone, volcanic soils, sandstone, marl, and clay. This remarkable geological diversity across the Grand Cru sites creates distinct terroir expressions and contributes to the complexity of the wines produced.

Map data: INAO · Imagery: Sentinel-2 cloudless by EOX IT Services GmbH (CC BY 4.0)