Collection: Domaine Durrmann

Tucked away among the picturesque vistas of the storied Alsace region, lies the charming winemaking village of Andlau. A beautiful village nestled on the first slopes of the Vosges Mountains south-west of Strasbourg by 30 minutes, which is renowned for its rich viticultural heritage. Settled in the year 880AD by a monastery of nuns, a place where grapes have been cultivated for more than a thousand years! Andlau stands as a testament to centuries of winemaking tradition & innovation - and here lies Domaine Durrmann.
 
Domaine Durrmann was established in 1979 with a mere 1.5Ht undervine, inherited from André Durrmann's grandfather who worked as a shoemaker, to supplement his vinous & mixed farming pursuits. The absence of entrenched winemaking customs may have posed initial challenges to Anna & André Durrmann, but it also gifted them the freedom to forge a path unbound by convention. 

Enter Yann Durrmann, heir to this rich legacy, who has trodden the vineyard rows since childhood & now steers the Domaine's helm with great conviction. In a region heralded for its organic pioneers, Yann's ethos transcends mere certification, embracing a holistic approach that champions nature's nuances. Since 2007, vinification has eschewed additions or heavy artefact, a testament to the unwavering commitment to purity. Their vineyards, now sprawled across 10Ht of 30 diverse lieux-dits, reflect a quest for terroir diversity, each parcel an ode to the unique voice of this locale.
 
Like scattered shards of a stained glass window. Stunning & diverse, remarkably formed & placed, seemingly without rhyme or reason & within those parcels, a range of asymmetrical climates that are at once unto themselves & yet exquisitely pieced together into a meticulously engineered, breathtaking whole. Please excuse the hyperbole, but the terroir is truly exceptional, like nothing I have witnessed before, characterised by its diverse soils & varied microclimates. Situated at the foothills of the Vosges Mountains, the vineyards of Andlau benefit from a rolling composition of isolated granite, limestone, schist, sandstone & hornfels soils: each contributing distinct characteristics to the wines produced here.

Concerned with the preservation of their surrounds, Domaine Durrmann  has been certified organic since 1998. They consider their farm as a single organism, an ecosystem in which they maintain a balance between their various flora of vines, fruit trees for juice & Eau de Vie, and grass for grazing sheep. Durrmann's vineyards are dry grown, rooted in steep & rocky slopes where their soils are left covered with grass to prevent soil erosion & to help maintain a balanced soil microbiome - maintaining their natural fertility & encouraging biodiversity.
 
 Utilising manure for composts as fertiliser for their vines & fruit trees, electric powered vehicles & vineyard machinery along with harnessing the sun's rays for heated water & electricity - just a few of the efforts that the Durrmann family have made to ensure the equilibrium of this closed loop, sustainable farming system.

A semi-continental climate with frigid winters & hot, dry & sunny summers, as well as a microclimate unique to this region. The Vosges mountains, which act as a natural barrier for vineyard plantings & give the region the lowest rainfall in France. This factor helps to reduce the risk of fungal disease, frost & ultimately limits the use of synthetic/systemic treatments of the vines.
 
The microclimate of Andlau is governed by the disposition of the Vosges range & the moderating effects of the nearby Rhine River. At an average of 600m asl, this results in a relatively cool climate with ample sunshine, ideal for the slow ripening & the development of complex flavours. The village experiences a marked diurnal temperature variation, ensuring that grapes retain natural acidity while achieving optimal ripeness; producing pure, honest & chiseled wines without an ounce of superfluous fat.