In the granite stones and sand of the Frankstein hill, we produce a wine which stands out from all other wines.
back to the top of the pageOur Grand Cru Frankstein Pinot Gris is fine and elegant. We make it rather dry. It is perfect as an aperitif or an accompaniment to a wide range of dishes. Rounder and more supple than the Riesling, the Pinot Gris is a full-bodied wine with an ample structure. It is a wine to keep, as it will benefit from ageing. Be patient: it's particular "fumet", smoky bouquet, becomes more intense with the years.
The Grand Cru Frankstein Gewurztraminers bouquet has a large aromatic richness, offering a scent unknown in other white wines, from its discreet violet notes to the strong fragrances of acacia and elder tree. Unlike the stones on which the vine stock grows, its body is not rough, but soft like honey and sparkling like mica. It fills the mouth and the throat like the exotic dishes described in the scenes of the Bible and oriental tales. But there is one essential difference: it does'nt go to the head.
A wine with a mineral character
contactThis disadvantage is nowadays a sought-after quality, because it is these particular minerals absorbed by the vine stock that contribute to the special flavour and aroma of our wines.
back to home pageOur Gewurztraminer vineyard... on the top of the Frankstein hill.
This poor soil forces the vine stock to combat nature, soak up dew and send roots down to a depth of twenty metres to extract the minerals. All this gives our wine it's original taste. Since Roman times, vines have been planted in soil which is not rich enough for growing wheat. The "good" soil was reserved for grain, while the land that was too stony was left for wine.
An old Gewurztraminer stock growing between granite stones
The Grand Cru Frankstein Riesling with it's fine acidity, it's aromas of white blossoms and of citrus fruits in it's young years, expresses as the wine ages some more mineral and austere notes. It is the older Rieslings that best express the mineral character of Frankstein
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Our hills over Dambach-la-Ville, exposed as they are to the morning sun, are very different from the other vineyards in Alsace. Our vine stocks don't grow in heavy clay or limestone, but in a very dry soil made from granite stones and sand. The Frankstein is situated on the old primary granite bed, just above the break between the Vosges and the plain of Alsace.
Florian Beck- Hartweg's wine-cellar Grand Cru Frankstein, our terroir a very special land

Michel checks the maturity of the Pinot Gris