Clos Jebsal is a respected Alsace vineyard, situated at the heart of the region's prime wine-growing district around the town of Colmar. This monopole site is located in Turckheim – the home of its owner, Domaine Zind-Humbrecht. It is literally surrounded by Grand Cru sites: Florimont to the north-east, Sommerberg to the north-west and Brand to the south-west. Despite this, the clos does not have Grand Cru status and therefore does not qualify for the Alsace Grand Cru appellation.
The site covers only 3.2 acres (1.3ha), planted almost exclusively with Pinot Gris. This variety does particularly well in the terroir of the clos, particularly when used to produce sweet Selection de Grains Nobles wines. The very name Jebsal is a reference to the gypsum (jebsal) in the soils here. It not only aids water retention (vital to the development of botrytis), but also contributes to the mineral structure of the sweet, long-lived wines. In exceptional vintages, a Trie Speciale wine is made from Clos Jebsal Pinot Gris grapes picked very late in the season, when conditions are perfect for the development of botrytis.
