Pierre Frick Pinot Gris Macération

Demeter, the name of the Greek goddess of agriculture, is where the inspiration came from when it came to naming the certification that guarantees farms, products and/or organisations use biodynamic methods. The first biodynamic farm to gain this certification in 1928 was Finca Irlanda, in Chiapas, Mexico. A coffee cultivation that still exists today and that set production standards with a holistic approach where plants, animals and humans all work together. In less than 3 years there were already more than 1,000 farms operating under these same guidelines and today it is the most reliable official biodynamic certification in the world. So Pierre Frick, a pioneer winemaker of artisan Alsace wine, didn’t think twice about joining this organisation when he became the owner of the family estate in the village of Pfaffenheim, in the Upper Rhine region, just a few kilometres south of the city of Colmar (AOC Alsace). A process that began with the conversion of the estate to organic farming in 1970, which was completed in 1986 with Demeter certification.

Together with his wife Chantal and son Thomas, they manage 12 hectares of vineyards using a respectful approach in 3 different Grand Cru in Alsace (Steiner, Vorbourg and Eichberg). There, following an ancient family tradition that has been passed down for 12 generations, they cultivate the typical Alsace varieties to extract genuine and simple wines that reveal the richness of the local terroirs. A delicious range which includes Pierre Frick Pinot Gris Macération, a wine made with the Pinot Gris variety from vines planted in predominantly calcareous soils with components of marl and sandstone. They are cultivated organically, using biodynamic treatments and limited yields. When the grapes reach optimum ripeness, they are harvested by hand. In the winery, following the same philosophy of minimal intervention, the crushed grapes ferment spontaneously with native yeasts and macerate on the skins for 7 days. The wine is then aged in oak for a few months. It is finally bottled without clarifying, filtering or adding sulphites.

The result could not be more delightful. An orange wine that, although made using old methods, is undoubtedly incredibly cool and with vibrant freshness and fine minerality. A real treat!