Marcel Deiss Altenberg de Bergheim Grand Cru SGN Gewurztraminer 1996

Jean-Michel Deiss has always been a trailblazer. After an old man on his deathbed entrusted him with one of Alsace’s gems, the Schoenenbourg vineyard, Jean-Michel found that it was planted to an old field blend, or “co-plantation”, instead of any single variety. He quickly realized that this was the missing link in his quest for terroir expression and, to much controversy at the time, replanted every one of his top vineyards to such blends. Ever since Jean-Michel took over this historic domaine in 1981, he has been known as a passionate man with strong beliefs that buck to no trend. Under his stewardship, he installed organic farming practices, before switching to biodynamics in 1998, eventually becoming one of the region’s loudest proponents of the practice. Through his forward-thinking viticulture and perfectly orchestrated winemaking, he is considered one of the unquestionable qualitative leaders of the region. Now with his son Mathieu leading the domaine, with his father at his side, this domaine is reaching new heights with absolutely stunning wines that show off the old-vine magic of the beautiful rolling hills of Bergheim.