Léo Dirringer

Léo Dirringer has taken the helm in Dambach-la-Ville (near Colmar), where his family has been making wine for over four generations. After obtaining his BTS Viti-Œno in Montpellier, Léo received training at a winemaking school in Switzerland. It was at this time that he became passionate about the organically farmed grapes and the importance terroir, which was further reinforced by his encounter with Marie-Thérèse Chappaz and a bottle of Chalasses Marnes Bleues from Ganevat. Returning to Alsace and his family estate in 2007, Léo brought with him vision and ideas of a new kind of Alsace wine. His first move was to convert all of the family's vineyards to organic agriculture. Green manure, teas and decoctions of horsetail, nettle, or willow became common practice to reduce the amount of copper and sulfur in the vines and to bring life to the soil.  The vines of the domain are located in a unique heart of a granitic formation. The soils are very sandy on the hillsides with clay soils in the plains. The main Alsace grape varietals are planted on about 14 hectares of vines: Riesling, Auxerrois, Gewurztraminer, Sylvaner, Muscat, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir. In the winery, Leo shows the utmost respect for his grapes, he employs slow gentle presses without additives. The wines are aged in traditional Alsatian foudre.  These wines tell the story of generations of Alsatian winemaking and terroir. Léo's chapter has just begun; but so far it’s very exciting.