WINE INFORMATION:
COLOR : white
DISTRIBUTION OF VARIETIES AND / OR BLENDINGS PLANT ON THE TERROIR : Gewurztraminer 85 %, Pinot Grey 5%, Muscat 5%
READY TO DRINK : 8 – 35 years old
SOME FOOD AND WINE PAIRINGS:
GEWURZTRAMINER : all the spicy dishes, Indian cuisine, Mexican cuisine, smoked herrings …
GEWURZTRAMINER LATE HARVEST : spicy (ginger, pepper) and caramelized dishes, duck breasts with honey, apricot tagine …
ABOUT THE PLACE-DIT
This locality enjoyed the same prestige as the Oberer Weingarten of Rorschwihr due to the fact that it was joined to the latter by certain owners such as, for example, the kings of France (see history of the vines of Rorschwihr). We know that Louis le Pieux, in 817, owned vines there. As early as 1348, its wine was sold under “Stegreben” by the Silo de Sélestat which, in 1530, had the opportunity to expand its property on this cru, part of which previously belonged to the Sainte Catherine de Colmar convent. Among the illustrious owners of the past, we must mention the noble families Rathsamhausen (1478), Habsbourg (1313), Chamlay, Sigfried, Godefroi … From the etymology of the name, historians believe there may have been a connection with Roman exploitation. The eastern side is still partly delimited by a wall. Its west side is naturally delimited by the topography which gives it its name, the translation of which means “Staircase of Vines”. This vintage is still claimed and marketed every year; This wine is notament renowned for its remarkable gewurztraminer its reputation mainly based on the reputation of the “Cuvée Anne” (until 1985) then the “Cuvée Anne-Marie ”(after 1985) every year with more than 70% of noble rot so we have on the labels the name of the vintage and this mention; the other years with 40% to 70% noble rot there is only under Stegreben de Rorschwihr. It is marketed by two marketers from the municipality and exceptionally by a cooperative cellar. Completely anecdotally, it should be noted that it was already mentioned under the heading “Grand-Cru”Even before the 1975 delimitation (see the 300 harvest declarations of Rorschwihr which mention the 12 localities. It should be noted that Rorschwihr only has 5 workers, 2 of whom do not have vines in the 12 localities of the Municipality, the other winegrowers being either cooperators or vendors of grapes).