Domaine Marcel Deiss

The Marcel Deiss winery was founded shortly after World War II in 1947 by Marcel Deiss in Bergheim, Alsace. It’s one of Alsace’s leading wineries and is part of the Grand Cru classification of Alsace wines. A pioneer of biodynamics in the region, the estate favors living viticulture without chemicals, notably through complantation.

A family story

The story of Marcel Deiss, a renowned ambassador for Alsace vineyards, is rooted in Bergheim, where the Deiss family has been cultivating vines since 1744. After returning from military service following World War II, Marcel Deiss passionately reinvested himself in the family wine estate. Working with his son André, he successfully developed a flourishing business. Today, the winery is skillfully managed by Jean-Michel Deiss and his son Mathieu.

Cellars of domaine Marcel Deiss

Biodynamics at the heart of domaine Marcel Deiss

Biodynamics has been an integral part of Domaine Marcel Deiss for many years, practiced across their entire 32-hectare vineyard. For the Deiss family, it’s a deep conviction and a guiding philosophy that informs all of their viticultural practices. This philosophy views the vineyard as an interconnected ecosystem, where the soil, plants, and the broader environment work in harmony.

Far from conventional methods focused on yield, biodynamics seeks to unlock the full potential of the terroir for authentic and expressive wines. The use of compost and herbal teas, along with a keen focus on biodiversity (planting trees, encouraging beneficial wildlife), contributes to the creation of a healthy and balanced ecosystem, thereby improving wine quality.

Complantation: Essential at the Domaine

Domaine Marcel Deiss employs an ancestral and complex viticultural technique: complantation. This method involves mixing diverse grape varietals within the same parcel, thereby creating a rich and diversified vineyard ecosystem. Before the era of clones, this practice was the norm, ensuring consistent harvests and natural biodiversity.

At Domaine Marcel Deiss, complantation goes beyond a simple mix; it’s an art form where 13 traditional Alsatian grape varieties and 47 ancient “orphan” varietals are combined. Harvested and pressed together, then vinified without additives, these wines allow the terroir to dominate, offering a unique gustatory and tactile architecture. This approach, initiated in 1984 and brought to fruition with the planting of the first modern complanted vineyard in 1990, aims to create an intrinsic expression of the vine and its place.

The art of complantation at the Domaine

The wines of Domaine Marcel Deiss

The Deiss family continues their work with complantation, delivering convincing, complex wines boasting a wonderful intensity of flavor and incredible balance. Tasting the estate’s range is a fascinating journey, offering a renewed interpretation of Alsatian terroirs.

Schlossberg captivates with its textural delicacy and an almost hypnotic brilliance. Touches of bergamot and dried flowers further enhance the splendor of this masterful wine.

Mambourg, on the other hand, offers great complexity and a refreshing length, oscillating between spicy tones and bitter bergamot notes. This shimmering wine, with its crisp and perfectly dry texture, is a true sensory experience.

Schoenenbourg stands out with formidable substance and a fruit-driven richness, possessing a rare vibrational intensity. Its broad, almost weightless body is balanced by very fine sugars that enhance its amiability.

Finally, Altenberg reveals itself with delicate coriander notes on the nose; it’s a burnished and suave wine, evoking pink grapefruit, enhanced by a luminous brilliance.

Our selection

Marcel Deiss, Schlossberg 2020

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Marcel Deiss Mambourg 2015

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Marcel Deiss Altenberg de Bergheim 2018

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