From Soil to Bottle: The Story of Domaine Zind-Humbrecht's Distinctive Wines

Mar 1

Nestled in the heart of Alsace, Domaine Zind-Humbrecht is a biodynamic winery renowned for producing exceptional wines that reflect the terroir and the philosophy of its founder, the legendary winemaker Léonard Humbrecht. For over 60 years, the estate has been crafting wines with a unique personality and a strong sense of place, using sustainable practices that respect the environment and the natural rhythms of the vine.

Each vineyard tells a story of passion, innovation, and tradition, from the iconic Clos Windsbuhl to the precious Clos Jebsal and the historic Clos Hauserer.

Join us on a journey from soil to bottle and discover the secrets behind some of the most exciting wines of our time.

The Humbrecht family has passed down the art of winemaking from father to son since the 17th century. Today, Domaine Zind Humbrecht stands as a testament to this tradition, producing some of the most sought-after wines in the region.

Since its creation in 1959, the Domaine has grown to own 40 hectares of vines spread across six communes, including some of the most coveted Grand Crus of Alsace. The Rangen de Thann, Goldert in Gueberschwihr, Hengst in Wintzenheim, and Brand in Turckheim are just a few Grand Crus under the Domaine's ownership. In addition, they also cultivate terroirs like Rotenberg and Clos Häuserer in Wintzenheim, Herrenweg, Clos Jebsal, and Heimbourg in Turckheim, and Clos Windsbuhl in Hunawihr.

To produce wines that truly express the essence of each terroir, the Domaine follows organic and biodynamic principles. With great care and attention to detail, the viticultural team of 22 staff members tends to each vine throughout the growing season. They also use animal traction and their own compost to reduce the impact of mechanical compaction on the soils.

The result is ripe, balanced, and concentrated grapes that enable a hands-off approach to vinification, preserving the initial harmony of each terroir.

Vinification

Fermentations are slow, and the wines spend at least 6 months on total lees. Bottling occurs between 12 and 24 months after harvest, allowing the wine to mature and develop complexity. The yield greatly depends on the vintage but averages around 35hl/ha with an annual production of 12,000 to 16,000 cases.

Since 1992, the Domaine has been located at Route de Colmar, Turckheim, in the heart of the Herrenweg vineyard. Organic certification was granted in 1998 by Ecocert, and biodynamic certification was followed in 2002 by Biodyvin/Ecocert. The Domaine's commitment to quality and respect for the land has earned them a reputation as one of the most esteemed wineries in Alsace.

Biodynamic Approach

The Domaine Zind-Humbrecht prides itself on its biodynamic approach to winemaking, which includes using two important preparations - the P500 and the P501. These preparations are made by dynamizing the bio-dynamic preparations in water and then spraying this water onto the soil just before tilling or directly onto the vines for the P500.

The P500 aims to give the vine a vertical axis to concentrate growth towards the earth's center, resulting in deeper and faster root growth. This leads to better access to nutrients in the soil, which translates into better-quality grapes.

The P501, on the other hand, helps the vine concentrate its energy on astral influences, preparing it for the flowering process. This preparation is so powerful that if used too close to flowering, it can cause the flowers to drop. Both preparations activate the vine's metabolism, affecting its mineral composition and balance. This is crucial as the vine becomes the image of the soil it is growing on, which ultimately reflects the quality of the resulting wine.

Domaine Zind-Humbrecht's biodynamic approach to winemaking sets them apart from other producers. By respecting the ecosystem's natural balance, they create an environment that encourages the vine to grow in harmony with the soil and the surrounding environment.

The use of bio-dynamic preparations, such as the P500 and the P501, is an important aspect of their approach. This is why their wines have a unique character that reflects the terroir and are renowned for their exceptional quality.

The domain has been practicing biodynamic viticulture since 1997, focusing on enhancing the vitality of the soil and the vines.

Biodynamic preparations, such as the P500 and P501, activate the vines' metabolism and improve their mineral composition and balance.
The vineyard is treated as a living organism, with a holistic approach to managing the ecosystem and promoting biodiversity.
Cover crops are planted between rows to help control erosion, improve soil structure, and attract beneficial insects.
No synthetic pesticides or herbicides are used, focusing on natural solutions and prevention.
The vineyard is managed according to the lunar calendar, with activities scheduled around the moon's cycles.
Each parcel of land is treated individually, focusing on expressing each site's unique terroir.
Biodynamic principles are also applied in the cellar, with natural yeasts and minimal intervention during winemaking.
The wines are bottled without fining or filtration, allowing for a pure expression of the terroir.
Domaine Zind-Humbrecht's biodynamic approach has resulted in numerous accolades and critical acclaim, with their wines known for their complexity, depth, and ability to age.

Clos Haüserer

The Clos Haüserer vineyard is blessed with a warm climate, but despite this, the ripening process for the Riesling grapes is slow, often taking longer than in surrounding vineyards. The result is a wine that may be harsh and astringent in its youth but develops into something remarkable with age. The secret to this vineyard's success lies in its clay and chalk-rich soil, which gives the Riesling an important structure that makes it stand out from other wines.

One of the defining characteristics of the Clos Haüserer Riesling is its exceptional acidity, even in warmer vintages. Although the vineyard has tended to develop noble rot in the past, resulting in slightly sweeter wines, the vines have reached a balance in recent years and now consistently produce dry Rieslings of exceptional quality.

Despite its slow ripening process and potential austerity in its youth, the Clos Haüserer Riesling is a wine that rewards patience. With age, it opens up, intensifies, and becomes more complex, making it a truly special wine worth waiting for.

Clos Jebsal

The Clos Jebsal terroir is known for its remarkable precocious character, being the first to show signs of flowering and véraison at Domaine Zind Humbrecht. Despite this, it can produce wines typical of cool soils, thanks to its grey marls of Keuper, which retain water and yield wines with beautifully balanced acidities.

This terroir always presents Noble rot, resulting in yearly sweet wines. The expression of the Clos Jebsal wine depends on the end-of-season climate, with the wine taking the form of Sélection de Grains Nobles or Vendange Tardive. In some vintages, it's the only terroir that produces a noble rot wine.

When the botrytis concentration surpasses 30° potential alcohol, the wines are called Trie Spéciale, characterized by their low alcohols (usually less than 6%) and high levels of residual sugar (usually greater than 300 g/l).

In their youth, the wines from Clos Jebsal may have smoky or flinty aromas, but the expression of fruit linked to the concentration by botrytis develops over time in the bottle. It is recommended to age these wines for at least ten years to allow for the development of their true expression.

Clos Windsbuhl

The Clos Windsbuhl vineyard is a marvel of nature. Its lofty altitude, combined with the region's cool climate, means that the vines here ripen slowly, allowing the grapes to develop a unique aromatic quality that is simply unparalleled.

Despite being one of the last vineyards in the area to be harvested, the grapes from Clos Windsbuhl consistently produce wines with perfectly balanced acidity, a hallmark of great aging potential. And although the grapes here are often picked later than in other vineyards, they rarely succumb to botrytis, big thanks to the vineyard's high altitude.

The Clos Windsbuhl vineyard spans an impressive 5.5 hectares, with Pinot Gris being the dominant grape variety. Gewurztraminer and Riesling also thrive here, while a small parcel of Chardonnay and Pinot Auxerrois is reserved for the winery's unique "Zind" blend.

For those seeking a truly unique wine experience, look no further than the exceptional wines produced at Clos Windsbuhl. With its distinct terroir and meticulous winemaking techniques, this vineyard has earned its place among the world's most respected wine producers.

10 Things to Know

Clos Windsbuhl is located in Hunawihr, Alsace, and covers an area of 5.5 hectares.
Most vines in Clos Windsbuhl are Pinot Gris, followed by Gewurztraminer and Riesling.
The vineyard has a high altitude and a tardy climate, which leads to late harvests and aromatic wines with balanced acidity that age well.
Despite the high altitude, the grapes are rarely botrytized but often reach high maturity levels.
Clos Jebsal is located in Hunawihr and can produce wines typical of cool soils despite its precocious character.
The grey marls of Keuper have a good water retention capacity and prevent hydric stress, resulting in wines with beautifully balanced acidities.
Noble rot is always present in Clos Jebsal, and the climate at the end of the season determines whether the wines take the form of a Sélection de Grains Nobles or Vendange Tardive.
In vintages where botrytis attains extreme concentration and surpasses the threshold of 30° potential alcohol, these wines are designated Trie Spéciale.
Wines from Clos Jebsal are often marked with flinty or smoky aromas in their youth but develop the expression of fruit linked to botrytis concentration with time in the bottle.
Clos Haüserer, located in Wintzenheim, benefits from a warm and precocious climate but ripens much later than the surrounding terroirs, resulting in dry Rieslings of exceptional quality.

These three vineyards showcase the unique terroirs of Domaine Zind-Humbrecht and contribute to the production of their distinctive and acclaimed wines.

20 QUESTION

What is biodynamic farming?
How does Domaine Zind-Humbrecht use biodynamic farming in their vineyards?
What is the history of Domaine Zind-Humbrecht?
What are the three key vineyards of Domaine Zind-Humbrecht?
What is the significance of the Clos Windsbuhl vineyard?
What is the significance of the Clos Jebsal vineyard?
What is the significance of the Clos Häuserer vineyard?
How does the soil type of each vineyard affect the wines produced?
What are some of the unique characteristics of Domaine Zind-Humbrecht's wines?
How does Domaine Zind-Humbrecht approach winemaking?
What is the role of oak barrels in aging Domaine Zind-Humbrecht's wines?
How does Domaine Zind-Humbrecht determine the right time to harvest their grapes?
What is the role of noble rot in the production of sweet wines?
How does Domaine Zind-Humbrecht's use of biodynamic preparations affect the vineyards and resulting wines?
What is the philosophy behind Domaine Zind-Humbrecht's winemaking approach?
How does Domaine Zind-Humbrecht ensure the quality of their wines?
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How does Domaine Zind-Humbrecht stand out among other wineries in Alsace?

Alper Billik