At Domaine Weinbach, every wine tells a story. Each family member stars in one, lending their name to a bottle. This is the story of Théo Faller.
Broadly speaking, and as a headline, it can be said that the wines of Alsace (in the north of France) owe their current status to this figure. As the principal promoter of the A.O.P. Alsace and A.O.C. Alsace Grand Cru, Théo Faller is one of those indispensable characters who will always be remembered for transforming his winery into a benchmark. His family, who still manage Domaine Weinbach today, honours him with Domaine Weinbach Riesling Cuvée Théo.
Domaine Weinbach Riesling Cuvée Théo is a single-varietal white wine made from riesling that originates from Le Clos des Capucins, a historic vineyard of about five hectares located at the foot of the Schlossberg hillside. This land, which belonged to Empress Richarde, was donated to the Abbey of Etival in 890. Part of it passed into the hands of Capuchin monks, who began operating the winery in 1612. Part of this history and legacy can still be observed today in the walls that surround the vineyard. In this location, the vines are sheltered from the winds, growing on sandy soils with gravel and pebbles. The variety that shines here is riesling. The undisputed queen of Alsace, this German-origin grape began to be cultivated in this area at the end of the 15th century, finding its true development in the second half of the 19th century. The journey to this point was not easy, as the riesling (whose name comes from the German word riesen, meaning 'to fall') was a very sensitive grape that had to adapt to the climatic conditions of this region (semi-continental, sunny, warm, and dry).
Nevertheless, the danger has passed, and the riesling—now fully adapted—predominates in the Alsatian vineyards (covering at least 75% of the area). Partly due to this adaptation, viticulturists can now employ much more respectful cultivation methods, avoiding the use of chemical products. Domaine Weinbach was a pioneer in organic farming, eventually transitioning to biodynamic practices in 1998. This ensures much purer wines, where the terroir is revealed without anything to hide or mask it. This also means that in the winery, the winemaking processes are carried out with minimal intervention (only the absolutely necessary ones), allowing the wine to follow its course and develop freely. Steps such as very gentle pressing and fermentation and ageing in wood are key in the production of Domaine Weinbach Riesling Cuvée Théo.
The white Domaine Weinbach Riesling Cuvée Théo is not the only tribute wine. It is joined by other bottles, such as Domaine Weinbach Gewürztraminer Cuvée Laurence, another white dedicated to Laurence Faller (daughter of Théo Faller and the winery's oenologist who passed away in 2014 following a heart attack).