TERROIR PROFILE
Mitte (Andlau–Dambach)
Schist & granite — the austere middle
Alsace's only schist (Kastelberg) and the Frankstein granite: the region's most mineral Rieslings.
Climate, site & wine
Schist, granite and sandstone are poor and free-draining and give Riesling an austere, mineral stamp; at the Kastelberg it is smoky, at the Frankstein finer and citrus-toned.
Mittelbergheim has the Zotzenberg, the only Alsace grand cru where Sylvaner is also permitted; there the variety shows herbal spice and a saline note. Riesling accounts for about 22 percent of Alsace's vineyard area, Gewurztraminer about 19 percent.
TERROIR PROFILE · Alsace
Mitte (Andlau–Dambach) Schist & granite — the austere middle
Alsace's only schist (Kastelberg) and the Frankstein granite: the region's most mineral Rieslings.
SOILS
Slatemineral, smoky
Slate stores heat and releases it at night — wines show wet stone, smoke and a delicate structure.
Graniteelegant, lightly spicy
Weathered granite produces elegant, slender wines with fine, lightly spicy profile.
Sandstonewarm, dry, spicy
Sandstone warms quickly and yields ripe, fragrant wines with yellow fruit and fine spice.
CLIMATE · Warm · Dry · Sunny
The Vosges to the west block rain, making Alsace a comparatively dry, sunny wine region. The foot of the slopes stays cool at night.
TOPOGRAPHY · steep
Steep slopes at the foot of the Vosges at Andlau with the Kastelberg on schist and at Dambach-la-Ville with the Frankstein on granite, with Nothalten, Blienschwiller and Châtenois in between.
WHAT IT MEANS IN THE GLASS
Similar terroirs worldwide
Computed from fingerprint similarity
Würzburg & Maindreieck
Franconia
96% similar
- Dryness (slightly): Mitte (Andlau–Dambach) is drier → more concentrated, denser, smaller berries (8 vs. 7).
Colmar & Kaysersberger Tal
Alsace
93% similar
- Dryness (slightly): Mitte (Andlau–Dambach) is drier → more concentrated, denser, smaller berries (8 vs. 7).
- Body (slightly): Mitte (Andlau–Dambach) gives less body → finer, lighter wines (6 vs. 7).
Wineries on this terroir
See all 31 →Domaine Fernand Engel
Rorschwihr
Renown 59/100
Domaine Rolly Gassmann
Rorschwihr
Renown 45/100
Domaine Muller-Koeberlé
Saint-Hippolyte
Renown 27/100
Domaine Paul Fahrer
Orschwiller
Renown 24/100
Domaine Gilg
Mittelbergheim
Renown 9/100
Domaine Dirringer
Renown 8/100
Gustave Lorentz
Bergheim
Renown 8/100
Domaine Bléger
Saint-Hippolyte
This terroir's soils in the glossary