Hengst

🇫🇷 France

Grand Cru Rare find

The "Stallion" - possibly Alsace's FIRST vineyard (1st century Roman post), Gewurztraminer paradise

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Region profile

History

Name "Hengst" means stallion - heavy horses traditionally worked the heavy marl soil. Roman staging post remains from 1st century AD sit in middle of vineyard where horses were changed - experts believe this may be Alsace's FIRST viticultural area. First cited 9th century in Abbey of Murbach donation. Zind family owns parcels since WWII; oldest vines planted 1920s by grandfather Emile Zind.

Climate
Calcareous marl with high lime and iron content; steep south-east slope at 270-370m; one of driest areas (Colmar 600mm/year)
Signature wines
Zind-Humbrecht Hengst Gewurztraminer - 60-year-old vines, 1920s massal selection; benchmark for variety; Josmeyer also legendary
What sets it apart
Possibly Alsace's FIRST vineyard (1st century Roman post); "Stallion" name from horse-worked soil; Gewurztraminer ideal terroir; Zind vines since 1920s

Facts

  • 53 hectares
  • classified Grand Cru November 1982
  • Roman staging post remains (1st century AD)
  • "Hengst" = stallion (heavy horses worked soil)
  • Zind-Humbrecht oldest vines from 1920s

Region profile from the Wine Memories wine-data corpus · verified January 2026