The Kirchberg Grand Cru de Ribeauvillé is located on a fairly steep hillside, facing south, south-west with a terrace at the top with a cooler climate.
The soil is mainly sandy marl with a streak of limestone and these lands enable a slow maturation of the grape due to the altitude and cool winds. The Kientzler vineyard has cultivated a great variety of vine stock over decades on this Kirchberg Grand Cru hillside.
Traditional Muscat, poorly represented amongst the Grand Cru compete with Riesling, Pinot Gris and Auxerrois. Our plots, mainly situated on the heights of Grand Cru are planted with a density of 5500 plants per hectare.
What characterises the Kirchberg Grand Cru from Ribeauvillé?
Of the 3 great Grands Crus of the district, the Kirchberg is the one which has the coolest climate and late vintage.
It produces structured mineral wines, fine and refined, blended together with an outstanding salinity.
STORY
The Auxerrois is a vine stock which cannot be called Grand Cru. Nevertheless, we maintain the heritage of this plot planted in 1959, in other words, 20 years before the Grand Cru was trademarked.
DETAIL
The Church Saint-Grégoire at the bottom of the hill inspired the name of Grand Cru Kirchberg which means the churchhill.