Alsace Grand Cru AOC Furstentum is one of the Grand Cru AOC sites in the Alsace region of north-eastern France. It is located in the communes of Kientzheim and Sigolsheim in the Haut-Rhin department. 

History: The Furstentum is mentioned in 1330 in the inventory of vineyards belonging to the Convent of Basle. It became known in the modern era after Marcel Blanck of Domaine Paul Blanck pushed for its classification (Tom Stevenson, 1993, p171).

Size: Approximately 27.65 hectares (68.3 acres) of which 14.3 hectares (35.3 acres) are in Kientzheim and 11.35 hectares (28 acres) are in Sigolsheim.

Terroir: Furstentum lies in the Kayserberg Valley. A hillside vineyard, it is sheltered from the winds. The aspect is south south-east facing (and south south-west it seems). It forms an island of chalk-loving Mediterranean vegetation. The topsoil (Tertiary conglomerates) consists of brown, calcareous, magnesium-rich and very stony-pebbly marl over a grey, magnesium-rich limestone and calcareous marly (lower Dogger) sandstone bedrock or mother rock which pokes out. The steep (37%) slope optimises exposure to the sun, on a soil which accumulates both heat and moisture (The steep relief means the site captures both sun and rain). Elevation is 300-400 metres (984-1,412 feet).

History: See Tom Stevenson (1993).

Wines

Gewurztraminer:

Gewürztraminer Vendanges Tardives:

Gewurztraminer Grains Nobles:

Muscat:

Muscat:

Muscat Vendanges Tardives:

Muscat Grains Nobles:

Pinot Gris:

Pinot Gris Vendanges Tardives:

Pinot Gris Grains Nobles:

Riesling

Riesling Vendanges Tardives

Riesling Grains Nobles

Wineries

Certified Biodynamic: Domaine Bott-Geyl.

Bibliography

Tom Stevenson, The Wines of Alsace, Faber & Faber, 1993.