Kirchberg de Barr is a named vineyard of the Alsace Grand Cru appellation, meaning that Kirchberg de Barr may be used as part of the appellation title on wine labels. As the name suggests, it is located in the commune of Barr in the Bas-Rhin sub-region of Alsace, and should not be confused with Kirchberg de Ribeauville, 16 miles (26km) to the south. Kirchberg means 'church hill', referring to the Saint-Martin chapel at its summit.
The slopes of Kirchberg de Barr cover nearly 101 acres (41ha) and rise very steeply from 705 to 1082ft (215–330m) immediately above the western side of Barr. The soils here are mostly composed of marlstone and limestone, the lower strata of which retain water reasonably well, helping the vines to survive in Alsace's famously dry climate.
Kirchberg de Barr faces south-east, so its vines are perfectly exposed to the gentle ripening effects of morning sunshine. This contributes to the balanced, complex nature of its wines, which are renowned for their ageing potential. They are not as approachable in their youth as wines from warmer sites like Zotzenberg, just to the south.
The climate throughout Alsace is of continental type, with particularly low rainfall – a result of the rain shadow cast by the Vosges. The mountains also provide protection from the prevailing westerly winds, making the Alsatian summer amongst the driest and warmest in the northern half of France. At the other end of the temperature scale, the winters here are cold; it is not uncommon to see Alsace vineyards lined with snow.
Apart from a few notable exceptions, all Alsace Grand Cru wines are varietals and may be made from Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris or Muscat. Kirchberg de Barr produces all three of the major varieties as well as a small quantity of Muscat.
