Vendanges Tardives d'Alsace

Vendanges Tardives

Wines of celebration, the reputation of the Late Harvest of Alsace is well known. True wines of time, arm yourself with patience !

These sweet nectars will reveal a rich and complex aromatic palette.

Prestigious wines

Alsace Late Harvest wines are rare and prestigious. This is because the noble rot, called Botrytis Cinerea, give them a great aptitude for aging.

Depending on the vintage, aromas of candied apricots, peach pie, and honey dance in the glass. On the palate, the wine reveals a velvety, juicy, ample, and powerful texture. Stored in the right conditions, these bottles are sure values that will last for decades. Little treasures to be snapped up on special occasions.

The harvest

The harvest of the Late Harvest of Alsace is generally situated between 2 to 5 weeks following the end of the traditional harvest. A good late season is essential for the development of noble rot, also called Botrytis Cinerea. The harvest, which must be done by hand, reveals withered berries.

They are the result of an evaporation of water, then a concentration of sugar. The slow ripening on the vine is a bold move, cutting yields in half. Vendanges Tardives d'Alsace thus echoes vintages of irreproachable quality, and rather generous yields.

The criteria

The Vendanges Tardives label is a complement to the appellation d'origine contrôlée. On the label of an Alsatian flute, it therefore follows the AOC Alsace, or Alsace Grand Cru.

The complementary term Vendanges Tardives d'Alsace implies a control by an independent certification organization. The berries, then the must, are checked for ripeness. Vinification is carried out according to rigorous specifications, including a ban on the addition of sugar, also known as chaptalization. The year following the harvest, the bottled wine is checked a third time on a set of visual, olfactory and gustatory criteria. The meeting of the required conditions will allow the marketing 18 months after the harvest.

Only the region's four noble grape varieties are eligible for the Vendanges Tardives d'Alsace complementary label: Riesling, Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer and Muscat.