Love at first sip. That happens to us sometimes. If it turns out that the philosophy of the wine estate in question is completely in line with what we stand for in terms of wine; the match is quickly made.
Kirrenbourg's philosophy
There is no lack of ambition at domaine Kirrenbourg. The domain was founded in 2015 by a group of passionate Alsace lovers. In terms of vineyards, they have acquired both areas in grand cru Schlossberg and Brand. These are being resolutely converted to biodynamics. A completely new cellar is being built in 2016. It will have room for both the most modern installations and old-school wooden foudres and barrels.
This is what they say about biodynamic farming: Biodynamic culture is the most effective way to make vines grow deep roots and at the same time help them “reach for the stars”. The grapes they produce are unique, a perfect reflection of the terroir, creating authentic wines of unparalleled quality.
Terroir
Grand Cru Schlossberg
Schlossberg was the very first Alsace Grand Cru to be classified as such in 1975. With an area of 80 hectares, located between Kaysersberg and Kientzheim, it is also the largest.
With its southern exposure, the Schlossberg is a striking location. The steep, terraced terrain is situated at altitudes between 230 and 400 metres and the mineral-rich granite rock is regularly exposed to fresh breezes blowing up from the valley. This encourages the grapes to ripen beautifully and slowly and to retain their refreshing acidity.
The wines of this Grand Cru have their own powerful yet elegant personality, with a pure taste enhanced by their perfectly balanced acidity and mineral notes.
Grand Cru Brand
Brand achieved Grand Cru status in 1983 and overlooks the town of Turckheim with its 50 hectares of vineyards. The vineyard’s sun-warmed slopes benefit from a granite subsoil, allowing the vines to sink deep roots to take advantage of the abundance of minerals.
The wines of this Grand Cru reflect the complexity of the soil with their elegant character enhanced by a pleasant freshness.
Vinification
At Kirrenbourg, vinification is as natural as possible. This means spontaneous fermentations and subsequent maturations that allow the grape and the terroir to speak as much as possible. That is why wood use has been kept to a minimum and maturation is mainly done in Clayver. These are spherical ceramic vessels. This allows the wines to be exposed to micro amounts of oxygen without adding flavour.