Steinert is an Alsace Grand Cru vineyard and corresponding appellation in the village of Pfaffenheim in Alsace, north-eastern France. It is among the more southerly of the 51 Grand Cru sites dotted along the eastern slopes of the Vosges Mountains.
(© CIVA / Z Vardon)
Steinert is located on the western side of Pfaffenheim, on the plain below the limestone cliffs which dominate the area. Created by glacial activity, they are the reason for its noticeably white soils. The upper slopes of the vineyard have thin, free-draining, calcareous soils, while the lower slopes are covered with looser, stonier soils of the same origin. They were the inspiration for the name Steinert (stein being German for 'stone'), which serves as a reminder of Alsace's Franco-Germanic history and culture.
The Steinert vineyard covers roughly 96 acres (39ha) with an easterly aspect, meaning that the vines are well exposed to the soft rays of early morning sunshine. The slopes are also relatively gentle (particularly compared to those of Zinnkoepfle just to the south and the cliffs immediately above), climbing steadily from 790 to 1115ft (240–340m) above Pfaffenheim.
The climate of the area is of continental type with marked 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 produced from Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris or Muscat.
