Domaine Weinbach is situated at the foot of the Schlossberg hill in Alsace and is named after a small stream, ‘Wine Brook’, that runs through the Estate. Founded in 1612 by Capuchin monks and then taken over by the Faller brothers in 1898, it is now in the hands of Catherine Faller and her son Théo who produce some of the country’s finest wines.

“I visit a lot of wine estates, but this is one visit I will remember for a long time. Weinbach, based in Kientzheim, is one of the star domaines of Alsace.” Jamie Goode, wineanorak.com

Domaine Weinbach farms biodynamically and hand harvest all of the crop with a view to quality over quantity. Each vineyard has its own specific terroir, which along with the other unique characteristics of grape and vintage, shimmer through these elegant and sophisticated wines thanks to their ageing in large old oak foudres.

Catherine and Théo grow a variety of grapes within the estate - Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer, Muscat, Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc and Sylvaner - but it is Riesling that is the king of Alsace wine and at the hearts of the Faller family. The Domaine owns 8 hectares of Riesling vineyards and they were among the first in Alsace to receive Grand Cru status in 1975.

On a base of granite rocks, the soils are brown, slightly acidic, and pebbly. The Schlossberg’s steep, south-facing slopes ensure exposure to optimal sunshine. The soils are very well drained and warm up very rapidly producing delicate fruit with a bouquet of great finesse.

“I have already nailed my colours to the mast by listing Domaine Weinbach in my 100 Most Iconic Wine Estates book. I am always absolutely mesmerised by the thrilling wines from this Domaine.” Matthew Jukes

Alsace is a wine region in northeastern France, located in the eastern foothills of the Vosges mountains and bordering Germany to the east. The region has a documented winemaking history stretching back to the medieval period, though its current appellation framework was formalized in the 20th century. The terrain is characterized by steep, terraced vineyards on hillsides that face southeast, with the Vosges providing a natural rain shadow that significantly influences the local climate.

The region experiences a continental climate with warm, dry summers and cold winters, conditions that favor the production of dry wines with concentrated fruit character. Soils vary considerably across Alsace's scattered vineyard sites, ranging from limestone and marl to granite and volcanic substrates, which imparts distinct mineral signatures to wines. The appellation permits several white grape varieties as its principal focus—Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris, and Muscat—alongside limited production of Pinot Noir for red wines. Winemakers here traditionally produce wines across a spectrum of sweetness levels, from bone-dry to late-harvest expressions, depending on vintage conditions and harvest timing.

Alsatian wines are characterized by aromatic intensity and crisp acidity despite relatively high alcohol levels, a profile shaped by the region's cool-climate continental setting. Rieslings from Alsace display floral and mineral notes with stone fruit character, while Gewurztraminers are known for distinctive spice, lychee, and rose petal aromatics. Pinot Gris typically offers broader body and riper fruit expression than Riesling, often with honeyed undertones. The dry style predominates in modern production, though noble rot infections in favorable years produce complex sweet wines of considerable aging potential.