Brand & Co. - Le Barde, Riesling, Schieferberg, Alsace, France (2020)

TASTING NOTES

With a slight prick of effervescence when first opened, this Riesling has a slightly bruised apple note with lots of lemon balm, quince, wet wool, pear, petrol and flint. A really lovely, persistent finish. 

Domaine Brand et Fils has created a winery based on curiosity and innovation making wines that are both excitingly unusual but somehow also familiar. Phillipe Brand and his father partnered together on their family’s vineyards working with an organic and biodynamic philosophy becoming certified organic in 2001 and certified biodynamic in 2015.

Brand et Fils understands the importance of the microorganisms involved in organic farming which is why no chemicals, filtering, or fining are used in the making of their wines. This allows the wines to ferment spontaneously and slowly, and are kept alive in the bottle by not adding any sulphur—obeying the standards of both Vin Naturel (AVN) and S.A.I.N.S.

These are unique and delicious wines from Alsace, and one of the few producers in the region that strives for extended bouts of skin-contact making these some of the most distinct “orange wines” on the Ontario market.

Phillipe’s dad Charles studied geology in university, and is more than willing to share his knowledge of all the diverse soils in Alsace and how they arrived there. Charles is also a mushroom forager and a bit of a legend in the region, a really nice family —no egos, just genuine passion to make good wine with zero additives.