Catherine Riss
Alsace—France

Catherine-riss.jpg
 
 

Catherine comes from a hospitality background, her parents operating restaurants in Alsace since she was young. And whilst Catherine had a keen interest in food and wine, she didn’t want to venture into restaurants. After completing her schooling she undertook viticulture and Oenology studies in Beaune and Dijon, interning with Jean Louis Trepat. Several years later after extensive travel working in France and overseas, Catherine’s return to Alsace was with Chapoutier in 2009, who were establishing themselves in Reichsfeld. This was to provide Catherine with invaluable experience, understanding the terrain, the climate, the cellar conditions and also the chance to befriend other vignerons. 
 
In 2012 she purchased 1.3 hectares and began her own domain. She was assisted by Antoine Kreydenweiss and Lucas Rieffel in the early years. They offered advise and encouragement, with Lucas providing his cellar for Catherine to make her wines until 2015 when she established her own cellar in Bernardville. 
 
All farming is done in organics, her original hectares certified in 2015. Catherine seeks diversity in the vineyard, cover crops are planted with the intent of taking nitrogen in to feed the soil. She now has 4 hectares, all located around the village of Reichsfeld, approximately 40 minutes south west of Strasbourg.
 
Her vineyards are steep and sit high at the base of the Vosges mountain range, bordered by forest at 350-400 meters altitude. This micro climate ensures freshness and acidity, the mountains protecting the vineyards and allowing slow ripening. Across 10 plots, the vineyards are within a few kilometres of each other, the majority on sandstone (gréseux) soils which are fast draining. She also has some plots in Schififferberg Cru, the soil crumbly blue schist, a rarity in Alsace.
 
Of the 6 cuvees Catherine produces, four come from the sandstone soils and two from schist. Her production now is closer to 14,000 bottles.
 
Catherine belongs to the Association des Vins Libres d’Alsace which promotes local organic wines without inputs. All work is manual. In the cellar, she does not own a de-stemmer and has a German Wilmes press which provides a gentle pressing of the grapes. Elevage is in old barriques on lees, the wines are unfined, without filtration and without sulphur. Catherine will not release a wine onto the market if it is not stable and ready.
 
Local artist Julien Kuntz designed the labels in collaboration with Catherine, with the intent of being a little cheeky.

Precise and balanced, these are wines that offer an abundance of drinkability and joy, for now and for many years to come. 

The Wines

Dessous de Table 2018
An assemblage of Pinot Auxerrois and Sylvaner in equal portions, Whole bunches are directly pressed together slowly over 6 hours, the juice settled overnight before being racked into old barrels.  

De Grés ou de Force Riesling 2018
From the high slopes, this plot is all Sandstone (gréseux in French). Direct pressed, elevage in old barriques for 11-12 months on lees.

Empriente Pinot Noir 2018
Catherine produces two Pinot Noirs, this cuvee from a vineyard planted on sandstone. Whole bunch maceration for two weeks, elevage for 12 months in old barrels.

T’as du Schiste Pinot Noir 2018
The first release of this cuvee was 2016, each harvest yields two to 4 barrels only. 15 days whole bunch maceration, 12 – 14 months elevage in old barrels.

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