The soils diversity of the Alsatian terroir can be found in the fifty classified 'grands crus' defined and delimited since the 1970s. The originality of each terroir is taken into consideration in this designation, and more particularly its soil, its orientation and its exposure.
With a few exceptions, only the four noble grape varieties - gewürztraminer, riesling, muscat and pinot gris - currently benefit from the Alsace Grand Cru designation.