Domaine de l`Achillée, Pepin Blanc

The Dietrich family has farmed land in Alsace since 1600, mostly in the village of Scherwiller, but also in an adjacent village. In 1999 Yves converted the estate to organic farming (at the time he would sell his grapes to the local Cave co-operative), Pierre and Jean took over the responsibility of the winery in 2016 and were the first members of the family to bottle the estate’s wines.

The estate has been farmed biodynamically ever since 2003 and includes 18.5 hectares of vines and 6 hectares of fruit trees from which the family produce Pet-Nats. from black and red cherries, damsons and Victoria plums.

The cellar, located in the centre of Alsace wine road, is the largest building in Europe made out of straw. Achillée is the name for yarrow, a plant used in biodynamic farming and one that grows abundantly on the Dietrich family’s vineyards.

’Achillee’ (pronounced ‘Ackillay’) is the name of the plant Achillea Millefolium (Common Yarrow in English), that is used as an infusion in biodynamic farming, it grows very naturally in vineyards, and it is sometimes planted intentionally in by vignerons for its ability to enhance the antifungal powers of plants growing near to it, therefore reducing the necessity of regular sulphur spraying on vines. It is also planted for its capacity to contribute coolness and energy to the vine plants in the Summer heat. Pierre comments that, ever since his family converted its vineyard to biodynamic farming, this flowering plant has grown up quite naturally amongst all their vines.

The grapes for this wine were manually harvested and the juice fermented in stainless steel vats with natural yeasts. After 12 months ageing on lees, the wine was loosely filtered, unfined and bottled with very little sulphur.