TERROIR PROFILE
Süd (Rouffach–Thann)
Volcanic & sandstone — warm south
Rangen de Thann: Alsace's only volcanic Grand Cru — smoky, powerful wines from Zind-Humbrecht and Schoffit.
Climate, site & wine
The Rangen is the only true volcanic terroir in Alsace, with no limestone in the soil; the wines are concentrated, smoky and long-lived.
Around Guebwiller and Rouffach, Riesling, Pinot Gris and Gewurztraminer grow on sandstone and limestone, with richness, perfume and often some residual sugar. Guebwiller has four grands crus; at the Rangen of Thann the soil contains neither limestone nor ammonites. The Rangen lies near Thann.
TERROIR PROFILE · Alsace
Süd (Rouffach–Thann) Volcanic & sandstone — warm south
Rangen de Thann: Alsace's only volcanic Grand Cru — smoky, powerful wines from Zind-Humbrecht and Schoffit.
SOILS
Volcanic rocksmoky, mineral, powerful
Volcanic soils yield smoky, often iodine-mineral wines with dense structure.
Sandstonewarm, dry, spicy
Sandstone warms quickly and yields ripe, fragrant wines with yellow fruit and fine spice.
Limestoneprecise, mineral
Limestone delivers tension, structure and a cooler, more mineral character.
Marlbalanced, structured
Marl is a mix of limestone and clay — yields structured, balanced wines with acidity backbone.
CLIMATE · Warm · Dry · Sunny
The Vosges block rain, and the south of Alsace is among its warmest and driest stretches. At the Rangen, the volcanic rock adds warmth.
TOPOGRAPHY · terraced
The Rangen near Thann is the highest, steepest and southernmost vineyard in Alsace. Added to it are Guebwiller's grands crus Kitterlé, Kessler, Saering and Spiegel and the Vallée Noble with the Zinnkoepflé.
WHAT IT MEANS IN THE GLASS
Similar terroirs worldwide
Computed from fingerprint similarity
Volkacher Mainschleife
Franconia
91% similar
- Warmth (slightly): Süd (Rouffach–Thann) is warmer → riper fruit, more alcohol, softer acidity (8 vs. 7).
- Sun (slightly): Süd (Rouffach–Thann) gets more sun → deeper colour, riper tannin (9 vs. 8).
Kaiserstuhl
Baden
88% similar
- Dryness: Süd (Rouffach–Thann) is drier → more concentrated, denser, smaller berries (8 vs. 6).
Wineries on this terroir
See all 9 →This terroir's soils in the glossary