Florimont is an Alsace Grand Cru vineyard divided between the villages of Ingersheim and Katzenthal in northeastern France. The 21-hectare (52-acre) vineyard was promoted to Grand Cru status in 1992 and is located in the Haut-Rhin department, 4 miles (7km) from the commune of Colmar in Alsace.
Gewürztraminer, Riesling, Pinot Gris and Muscat vines are planted on Florimont's east- and south-facing slopes of marl-limestone, which rise steadily from 820 to 920ft (250 to 280m). The vegetation here is noticeably different from the other hillsides in the area, as the loose limestone soils and sunny aspect encourage the growth of plants more commonly associated with Mediterranean landscapes. The name Florimont literally means the "hill of flowers".
©Conseil Interprofessionnel des Vins d'Alsace (CIVA)
The vines, too, benefit from this combination of soil and sun exposure. In particular, the stony soils allow the vines' root systems to extend further into the ground in search of water and the soil's pebbly composition favors the absorption of the sun's heat. Florimont's dry, continental climate is also the result of the vineyard's location close to the Vosges mountains; the peaks block the cooling effects of the prevailing westerly winds and also cast a rain shadow that reduces annual precipitation levels to a minimal 550 mm.
Historically, winegrowing has been recorded in the village of Ingersheim from as early as the Middle Ages. Since then, the unique terroir of Florimont has produced wines renowned for being full, well-balanced and ageworthy. Indeed, Florimont's Gewürztraminer wines are known for their aromatic complexity and elegance, with its Riesling wines noted for their acidity and citrus aromas. Some of Florimont's finests wines are produced by the likes of Justin Boxler and Domaine Bruno Sorg.
