In Andlau, in the foothills of the Vosges mountains, the Marc Kreydenweiss wine estate embodies a family winegrowing history deeply rooted in Alsace soil. Heir to a family history that began as early as the XVIIIᵉ century, it was taken over in 1971 by Marc Kreydenweiss, grandson of Fernand Gresser, a leading figure in Alsace winegrowing. A visionary winegrower, Marc began in the 1980s to think deeply about the expression of terroirs, and turned resolutely towards biodynamic viticulture, for which he founded the Biodyvin union. His passion for geology and his relentless efforts to bring out the best in his vines and improve the quality of the grapes enabled him to achieve greater precision in his work in the cellar, and revolutionize the entire wine estate in the process.
At his side for many years, his son Antoine Kreydenweiss immersed himself in these demands and took over the management of the wine estate in 2008, after the tragic death of his elder brother and Marc's departure for the Languedoc. Committed to the foundations laid by his predecessors, Antoine continues to work with uncompromising rigor, respecting the identity of soils, plants and time. Faithful to family values, he brings his own rigorous vision to every stage of the work, from the vine to the cellar, to reveal the full diversity of Alsace's soils.
The Kreydenweiss wine estate's vineyards are planted on a mosaic of complex terroirs, just like the Andlau valley, where blue schist, pink sandstone and limestone marl meet. Three Grand Cru terroirs stand out: Grand Cru Kastelberg, unique in Alsace for its schist bedrock, where Riesling captures the straight, salivating energy; Grand Cru Wiebelsberg, with its Vosges sandstone soils, producing fleshier wines; and Grand Cru Moenchberg, which combines power and depth. Around these emblematic crus gravitate a number of characterful lieux-dits such as Clos du Val d'Éléon, Lerchenberg and Kritt, all cultivated with the same exacting standards. The diversity of exposures and altitudes enables each grape variety to express the uniqueness of its terroir, in a faithful interpretation of the Alsatian landscape.
The Kreydenweiss wine estate cultivates mainly the emblematic grape varieties of Alsace, with a clear predominance of Riesling, planted on the Grands Crus and the most expressive slopes. Alongside the king of grape varieties, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Gewurztraminer and Pinot Noir complete the planting, each finding its place according to the nature of the terroir. This fine-tuning of grape varieties to the soil is part of a precision approach that has gone hand in hand with biodynamic viticulture for over forty years. Antoine Kreydenweiss pursues this approach with the utmost rigor, managing his vineyards without the use of synthetic inputs, giving preference to natural preparations and compost to encourage the deep life of the soil. Animal traction, integrated in 2008, is part of this deep commitment: it limits soil compaction, reinforces observation, and reflects a genuine respect for living things. Both in the vineyard and in the cellar, the wine estate refuses any systematic intervention, seeking to reveal in each wine the balance specific to each vintage and each place.
Great terroir wines are the beating heart of the Marc Kreydenweiss wine estate. The Riesling Grand Cru Wiebelsberg is a full-bodied, straightforward wine with superb, deep salinity. The Riesling Grand Cru Kastelberg reveals a vertical expression of striking mineral purity, ideal for ageing.
The wine estate also offers a range of wines that finely reflect the diversity of plots and soils in the Andlau Valley. The Kritt Gewurztraminer, planted on clay-limestone soil, combines richness and tension in a perfectly balanced, spicy expression. The Kritt Pinot Blanc, from the same vineyard, reveals subtle fruitiness, supported by a straightforward structure. The Riesling Au Dessus de la Loi, named after a stream that runs through the valley, is an exclusive cuvée from a micro-parcel suspended above Andlau, which finely expresses the tension of the sandstone. On the Lerchenberg, Pinot Gris is pure and racy, far from the opulent standards. La Fontaine aux Enfants, a pure Pinot Blanc, seduces with its floral density and natural radiance, while Clos du Val d'Éléon, a blend of Riesling and Pinot Gris, brings these two grape varieties together on the same soil for a wine of profound character.
The Marc Kreydenweiss wine estate embodies a true quest for authenticity and precision, where each wine is the faithful expression of a carefully respected terroir. Under Antoine, the biodynamic philosophy continues to guide the wine estate, affirming a profound link between the vine and its environment. The estate's wines reflect the richness and diversity of Alsace's terroir, combining rigor and elegance in every bottle. This harmony between family tradition and sustainable innovation imbues their wines with emotion and precision, and has earned the Kreydenweiss domaine its reputation as a key figure in the Alsace wine world.