Sporen is an Alsace Grand Cru vineyard and corresponding appellation split between the communes of Riquewihr and Bennwihr in Alsace, north-eastern France. At roughly 56 acres (23ha) it is one of the smaller of the region's 51 Grand Cru sites.
Sporen is very much at the heart of Alsace's prime vineyard belt, located in a crop of about ten Grand Crus between the towns of Colmar and Ribeauville. These sites occupy an area somewhat removed from the lower slopes of the Vosges, where most of the other Alsace Grand Crus are situated. The topography here changes slightly, losing the concise transition between the slopes and the plains demonstrated elsewhere. This situation is faintly mirrored around Eguisheim on the southern side of Colmar, particularly in the lower sections of Eichberg and Pfersigberg.
(© CIVA)
The result of the more-sprawling topography around Sporen is that the sites are highly varied in their shape and size. Vineyards like Froehn and Mandelberg are squeezed onto smaller patches of land with favorable aspects, while larger sites such as Schoenenbourg and the combined might of Mambourg and Marckrain capitalize on the unusually long stretches of sunny, south-facing hillsides. Sporen falls into the first category, occupying a small section of land between Riquewihr and Bennwihr.
The Sporen vineyard rises gently from 870 to 1051ft (265–310m) as it approaches the south-western corner of Riquewihr. The aspect is easterly and even veers towards northerly for the higher vines. This is unusual amongst Grand Cru sites, the majority of which face south-east, making the most of the gentle morning sunshine. In the case of Sporen, the importance of aspect is dramatically reduced by the shallowness of its slopes, which receive sunlight throughout the day.
The relatively deep soils here are rich in clay and marlstone, helping the vines to stay hydrated in periods of drought. They are known for their high content of phosphoric acid, which is believed to contribute to the racy, tart style of Sporen wines.
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 one of 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. Sporen is dominated by plantings of Gewurztraminer and Pinot Gris.
