Domaine Zind-Humbrecht’s Clos Windsbuhl Vineyard faces south to south-east. With its average to steep slope (between 15 and 40%), the small Windsbuhl hill is at a high altitude for Alsace (around 350 m). The vines grow in a limestone substrata dense with shells (muschelkalk) and rich in clays and chalky rock. The soil is very thin in certain areas and the country rock often outcrops in the middle of the slope. It is well worth noting that the Windsbuhl Vineyard lies on a soil structure quite different from the rest of the commune.
The altitude of the vineyard coupled with Hunawihr’s tardy climate means that the Clos Windsbuhl is often one of the last of our domaine’s vineyards to be harvested. This explains the aromatic quality of the Clos’ wines and the consistent balance of acidity, a guarantee of good aging. Although often harvested late, Windsbuhl Vineyard grapes are only rarely botryitized, doubtless due to the altitude of the vineyard, but nevertheless often reach high levels of maturity.
