Domaine Weinbach
Ghislain Berthiot (cellar master Domaine Weinbach ), Catherine and Théo Faller at the foot of the majestic Schlossberg hill, between Kienztheim and Kaysersberg, in a setting of vines and roses, the Domaine Weinbach "wine stream", named after the small river that crosses it, was built in 1612 by the friars capuchins. The Clos des Capucins is a historic 5-hectare terroir, protected by the walls of the ancient Capuchin convent. Sold as a national property during the French Revolution, the estate was bought in 1898 by the Faller brothers, who passed it on to their son and grandson Théo.
A leading figure in the Alsatian wine industry and ardent promoter of its recognition as Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée, Théo Faller worked for the quality of Alsatian wines and the development of their incomparable terroirs and grape varieties. In love with his ownership of him, he developed, enlarged and embellished it.
Since 1979, his wife Colette and daughters Catherine and Laurence have shown the same passion for the great wines of Alsace and the same unfailing commitment to quality. Faithful to an Alsatian tradition that considers that the best is just enough, the “Capucines” have fervently followed in the footsteps of their elders, with the aim of constantly seeking perfection and the best product. Since 2015, Catherine has been running the estate with her son Théo.
A culture of the vine marked by respect for nature that makes it a gift, enhancing the best of tradition without disdaining innovation in the choices of conduct and in the treatment of the vineyard, based on organic methods. A third of the vineyard was biodynamically managed in 1998, putting the two philosophies in parallel for some time in order to better study and compare the particularities of each.
The Faller sisters, with the experience acquired over the years, soon realized that biodynamics brought another dimension to the cultivation of the vine. A vine in harmony with its environment produces a more complex and natural grape and therefore a more complex, authentic and ultimately unique wine. The entire estate has been biodynamic since the 2005 harvest.
This quality requirement was achieved thanks to a lucky combination of several factors:
a delayed harvest until optimal maturity; rigorous selections; gentle and progressive pressing; long fermentation in old oak barrels, under the action of indigenous yeasts, factors of authenticity and complexity.
The terroirs are rich and varied, combining exceptional geological, topological and climatic characteristics, with a dominance of hilly vineyards and exposures that benefit from the best sunshine in the privileged microclimate of the Kaysersberg valley.
The vinification process carefully respects the qualities of the grapes; a minimum of intervention but an extreme vigilance allow them to blossom, always with the same search for purity, elegance combined with richness and balance. A winemaking process that seeks to bring out the quintessence of each of the grape-variety-terroir combinations with a need for authenticity and elegance, and to practice a skilful synthesis of the terribly current debate between the notions of terroir and grape-variety, which does not consider exclusive. The best judge is always the tasting phase, which must offer, from the humblest to the noblest of vines, wines capable of thrilling all the senses and leaving the happy memory of a privileged moment.
This alchemy allows the wines of Domaine Weinbach to be present today on the best tables in the world and to represent Alsace in many countries, even the most distant, showing how much the wines of the region possess extraordinary personalities, rich and eminently subtle aromatic palettes, and infinite resources in their marriage to food.
A tasting at Domaine Faller is a moment apart, a parenthesis, a feeling of living a strong and unforgettable moment. First of all, the arrival at the estate, this fabulous family home, a former convent, surrounded by vineyards. A haven of peace. A place out of time. Then a meeting, time for a discussion, to share a passion for life, wine and gastronomy around fabulous wines, wonders of balance and purity.
Domaine Weinbach was awarded 5 * in the Parker guides:
“Domaine Faller continues to bottle some of the most generous and flamboyant wines of Alsace and France. (Parker Guide)"