Biodynamic vineyard
Domaine Exeterra was officially born in 2022, but it’s the culmination of a 20-year dream nurtured by Florence and Boris Kachelhoffer.
“I’ve been working for several Alsatian wineries for over 10 years.
Two years ago, I had the opportunity to take over 1.5 ha of vines (mainly located on the slopes of the Rittersberg in Scherwiller, Bas-Rhin) and this year, we were lucky enough to acquire a further 1 ha of old vines (70 years old) of rielsing and pinot noir in Nothalten and Blienschwiller, with the precious help of my husband, who has been vineyard manager at a biodynamic estate for 20 years, the vines are managed organically and biodynamically. My aim is to take care of the vines so that they give me high-quality grapes, because for me, this is an essential basis for making good wines.
Taking care of the vines means first of all getting to know them by observing them.
Then it means carrying out all the work of the season, adapting each one to the climatic conditions of the vintage, to accompany the vine and enable it to find its balance in all circumstances.
Finally, it means creating an environment conducive to its development, a milieu teeming with life where plants and animals live in symbiosis.
That’s why, last spring, I planted around fifty melliferous trees and shrubs and installed a beehive on my Rittersberg plot.
In the cellar, my aim is to intervene as little as possible to obtain expressive wines that resemble the vines from which they come.
I believe my role is to accompany the wines as I have accompanied the vines.
This requires time and observation, a good dose of self-confidence (and confidence) and sometimes, as rarely as possible, a small dose of sulfites.
I don’t shy away from this option if, despite all my care, a wine needs it.
