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Froehn is an Alsace Grand Cru vineyard and corresponding appellation in the commune of Zellenberg, northeastern France. At 15 hectares (37 acres), it is one of the smallest of the Alsace's 51 grand cru sites. Froehn was classified as Alsace Grand Cru in 1992.

Froehn is set within a cluster of roughly 10 grand crus between the towns of Colmar and Ribeauvillé in the heart of the Alsace Grand Cru vineyard belt of the Haut-Rhin. These sites occupy an area slightly removed from the lower slopes of the Vosges, where most of the other Alsace Grand Crus are found. The topography here changes somewhat, losing the concise transition between the slopes and the plains demonstrated elsewhere.

Froehn Grand Cru vineyard
©Conseil Interprofessionnel des Vins d'Alsace (CIVA)

The small Froehn site occupies the southeastern half of the Zellenberg mamelon (dome-shaped hillock). At the top of the hillock is Zellenberg itself, a fortified town which migrated gradually up the slopes during the Middle Ages, conveniently leaving the best land available for vineyards.

Froehn's slope rises smoothly but steeply from the plains, climbing from 886 to 984ft (270 to 300m). The south and southeasterly aspect means that the vines benefit from maximal exposure to sunshine in the morning and early afternoon, allowing them to reach optimal ripeness during the growing season.

The mamelon is composed entirely of calcareous sandstone, which dictates the nature of the topsoils. There is also a ferrous element to the soils in the form of reductive iron nodules, intermingled with the schistous marl and bright limestone pebbles. This combination means that Froehn ranks highly not just with local winemakers, but also with geologists. Riesling does not have an affinity with this soil and is not widely planted, but Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris and Muscat are well-suited.

Froehn is best known for its Gewürztraminer and Pinot Gris wines, which are renowned for their fruitiness, richness and aging potential. Of these wines, those produced by Jean Becker and Cave Vinicole de Hunawihr are particularly well regarded.

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