Goldert is an Alsace Grand Cru vineyard and corresponding appellation in the village of Gueberschwihr in Alsace, northeastern France. It is among the more southerly of the 51 grand cru sites that are dotted along the eastern slopes of the Vosges Mountains.
The quality of the Goldert terroir has been well known for hundreds of years, and wine has been made from its vines since at least the 8th Century. The dioceses of Basel and Strasbourg also laid claim to vineyards in Goldert from the Middle Ages up until the French Revolution. More recently, Goldert was classified as an Alsace Grand Cru vineyard in 1983.
©Conseil Interprofessionnel des Vins d'Alsace (CIVA)
The Goldert site covers roughly 45 hectares (111 acres) on the slopes immediately north of Gueberschwihr village.The upper slopes, in particular, are very steep, rising rapidly from 755 to 1080ft (230 to 330m). The base soils across the site are rich in limestone, with marlstone increasingly present on the lower sections. This relatively homogenous base is covered with a sandy top layer of mixed calcareous deposits – the result of glaciation during the last ice age. This combination of soil types is rich and fertile, with the high proportion of carbonate providing good drainage. Furthermore, this soil composition allows for a lengthy ripening period and heats up slowly, thereby preserving the acidity of the grapes.
Most of the Goldert vineyard has a southeasterly aspect, although there is a subtle topographical change amid the upper slopes, where certain sections face almost due east. It is on the upper slopes that one of Alsace's famous Clos Vineyards – the Clos Saint Imer – is to be found. The mesoclimate is continental and fresh and the southeast exposures bring the vines optimal sunshine in the mornings, while protecting them from high afternoon temperatures.
Gewürztraminer is the predominant grape variety, but smaller quantities of Riesling (first planted in the 1930s), Pinot Gris and Muscat also succeed here. Goldert wines are rich and renowned for their varietal expression. In fact, the name "Goldert" means gilded and refers to the distinctive golden color of the Grand Cru's wines.
Notable producers from Goldert include Domaine Ernest Burn, Domaine Zind-Humbrecht and Pfaffnheim.
