An iron hand in a velvet glove! The domaine endeavours to express the marl of the Gruenspiel vineyard (one of the best vineyards in Bergheim). It does this in the form of an "orange wine", i.e. with maceration. In this way, the wine expresses its location and still guarantees a long storability. The wine has phenomenal length, a slightly tannic structure and impressive power. The flavours are yellow-fruity and exotic, accompanied by mint, lime and a cool, stony minerality. An excellent accompaniment to veal tartare and Riz Casimir.

Attributes

Origin:	France / Alsace
Grape variety:	Riesling, Pinot noir, Gewürztraminer
Label:	Vegan, Certified organic or biodynamic wine
Ripening potential:	5 to 15 years
Drinking temperature:	10 to 12 °C
Food Pairing:	Vitello tonnato, Fish ragout with saffron sauce, Hot vegetable curries
Harvest:	hand-picking, strict selection
Volume:	14.5 %
Note:	Contains sulphites

Grape variety

Riesling

The cold-weather king

The Riesling is the flagship of the German wine industry. It grows from north to south in all growing areas. It is also comfortable in the neighbouring Alsace region and in Austria. Its specialty is being vinified to a variety of degrees of sweetness, from bone-dry wines to ice wine. Moreover, thanks to its spirited acidity, it ages better than many reds. The typical Riesling smells of citrus, peach and apricot, shows hints of flint, and with maturity develops an idiosyncratic petrol note. It reflects its terroir like hardly any other white variety. Thus, it often gets fuller and more aromatic in Austria than in Germany. In Alsace, in turn, it has a particular mineral taste. Riesling is a wonderful culinary companion. It fits well not only with fish and shellfish, but also takes the heaviness from hearty meals. And with a fine sweetness and acidity balance, it works wonders for Asian cuisine.

Pinot noir

Blueprint of the terroir

No other variety expresses its terroir as precisely as Pinot noir. It is a sensitive, fragile grape. But when it succeeds, it gives the world some of its very greatest wine plants. It especially excels in Burgundy, where it has been cultivated for at least 700 years. Even in the middle ages, it was considered so precious that it was kept separate from other grapes so as to not diminish its value. The finest examples are delicate and fragrant with aromas of cherries and red berries. With maturity, notes of forest floor, leather and truffles enter as well. An irresistible fruity sweetness still shines through, even after several decades. The Pinot noir does well in cool locations: in Switzerland and in Germany, where it is known as Blauburgunder and Spätburgunder respectively; in Alsace and in South Tyrol, in Oregon, New Zealand and Tasmania. Not least, it yields fantastic champagnes. It is a wonderful culinary companion. With its soft tannins and charming bouquet, it meshes with everything, from Güggeli and cheeses to fried fish.

Gewürztraminer

Floral wines for exotic cuisine

SeThe aroma is unmistakable: if it smells of exuberant rose, lychee and fresh grape, it is guaranteed to be Gewürztraminer. Its berries shine almost pink at harvest, but the wine is golden yellow. It has low acidity, but often reaches 14 percent alcohol and more. It is characterized by a slight bitter note at the end. These flavours stem from the family of the Traminers. It is cultivated on a large scale in Alsace, where the “gewurz” (spice) brings out an exotic side. In South Tyrol it is known as Traminer aromatic, and in Germany simply – and wrongly – as Traminer. In the Palatinate, there is a Gewurztraminer vineyard whose stocks are likely up to 400 years old. Wines of this variety harmonize fantastically with Asian cuisine, especially with Thai dishes and their lemongrass aromas.

Region

Alsace

Alsace: diverse whites

The exceptional position of Alsace on the border of Germany has contributed to the fact that Alsatian wine culture contains both French and German elements. The range of grape varieties, unusual from a French perspective, is dominated by Gewürztraminer, Sylvaner and Pinot Blanc (Weissburgunder) –varieties all cultivated on the German side of the Rhine in Baden. According to the French tradition, the wines are cultivated and vinified such that they embody their respective terroirs.

Country

France

France – Philosophy in a bottle

According to French philosophy, wine should be an expression of the soil and climate. They use the word “terroir” to describe this. Terroir makes every wine different, and many especially good. French wine is regarded worldwide as an expression of cultural perfection. The French believe that humans are responsible for the quality of the berries, the vine variety for their character, and nature for the quantity. This philosophy can be expressed succinctly as: “the truth is the vineyard, not the man.”