Alsace — Wine Region Guide
The Alsace maps from Your Own Wine Encyclopedia — every name tag opens a study card. Below, the chapter's own geography, climate and geology notes.
Maps on this page
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On the map
Bas-Rhin (North) · Marlenheim–Molsheim · Barr–Andlau–Dambach · Haut-Rhin (South) · +5 more
Interactive map
Terrain & satellite · every name tag opens a study card
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From the encyclopedia — geography, climate & geology
Geography, Climate & Geology
Location & Topography
- Latitude: ~48°N (≈ 47th–49th parallel)
- North-eastern France, foothills of Vosges Mountains
- Located on western part of Rhine Graben (geological trough flanked by Vosges and hills of Baden, Germany)
- Isostatic uplift influenced Rhine Graben formation (also affects Pfalz in Germany)
- Divided into 2 départements:
- Haut-Rhin: contains over 2/3 of Grand Cru vineyards
- Bas-Rhin: contains 14 Grand Crus
- Major cities (N→S): Strasbourg, Colmar, Mulhouse
- Colmar: capital of Haut-Rhin; driest city in France; with Ribeauvillé, one of Haut-Rhin's two principal towns
Climate
- Cool continental climate
- Cool, long growing season with extended daytime length (northerly latitude)
- Vosges Mountains rain shadow effect: Annual rainfall only 600mm (cf. Côte d'Or 700mm)
- Foehn wind: dry, warm wind that raises temperature and reduces fungal disease pressure
- High sunshine hours: result of northerly latitude combined with rain shadow effect
- Rainfall distribution: spread throughout year, wettest in summer (August), driest during harvest (September-October)
- Rainfall timing issue: can be problematic at flowering and fruit set
On the map
- Bas-Rhin (North)
- Marlenheim–Molsheim
- Barr–Andlau–Dambach
- Haut-Rhin (South)
- Ribeauvillé–Riquewihr
- Kaysersberg–Ammerschwihr
- Colmar (Turckheim–Eguisheim)
- Rouffach–Guebwiller
- Thann (Rangen)