Domaine Rietsch
ALSACE
In the heart of the Bas-Rhin wine region, the village of Mittelbergheim and its surroundings boast some excellent terroirs within renowned lieux-dits (Stein, Brandluft, Hagel) and in the Grand Cru Zotzenberg. Nearby Grand Crus include Wiebelsberg (Andlau) and Kirchberg de Barr, as well as the unique terroir of Klevener de Heiligenstein. Another notable feature of the village is its high proportion of organic vineyards and domains that are committed to respecting terroir, among which Domaine Rietsch stands out, alongside Domaine Rieffel and Domaine Kleinknecht.
An old family from Mittelbergheim, the Rietschs moved away from polyculture in the early 1970s to devote themselves to viticulture by developing an estate now run by Jean-Pierre Rietsch and his wife Sophie. Spread over Mittelbergheim, Andlau, Heiligenstein and, further north, Mutzig, the 12 ha of vineyards – where Riesling accounts for a quarter of the area planted – were gradually converted to organic farming during the 2000s, with only surface-level tillage and green manures to allow native flora and fauna to create a balanced environment conducive to true expression of terroir. Vinification is carried out gently to preserve all the substance of the juices, without any addition or treatment. Grape varieties and terroirs thus find their truest definition in expressive cuvées of great precision and great frankness, where fruit and minerality marry in perfect drinkability.
