An exceptional site :
At the entrance to the Munster valley, overlooking the town of Turckheim, the extensive vineyard moulded on a natural cirque, faces south and southeast and has remarkable exposure to the sun. It reaches 343 metres of altitude. We are here on the mountainside and on the Vosges basement consisting of so-called Turckheim granite with black and white micas. Weathering gave rise to colluvial, coarse grained sandy, acid brown soils with little water retention capacity, but enough mineral nutrients. The eastern corner of the site outrides the Vosges border fault, but the granite screen covers also the downthrown Upper Muschelkalk terrains.
Favoured varietals :
The uniformity of the granitic soil and the excellent exposure of the slope favour Riesling, Tokay Pinot Gris and Gewurztraminer, which cover all 57,95 ha.
Within living memory...
Continuous vine growing around Turckheim dates back to Roman times.
Viticulture in today's Brand area is recorded in 1328 from documents of Pains and Munster Abbeys. In this "Land of Fire" (Brand), where legend has it that the sun battled with a dragon and beat it, the celebrated wines of Turckheim, led by the Grand Cru Brand, had an undisputed reputation during the Middle Ages.
Typical characteristics :
With great finesse, subtility, and a very specific fruitiness, Grand Cru Brand wines display regal balance.
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