Marc Kreydenweiss

History of Domaine Marc Kreydenweiss

The history of Domaine Marc Kreydenweiss is rooted in the medieval village of Andlau, where the family has cultivated vines for thirteen generations, working as winegrowers and millers across from the abbey since the 18th century. In 1945, the marriage of Denise Gresser and René Kreydenweiss marked the takeover of the former Gresser estate and the adoption of the Kreydenweiss name. Their son Marc took over in 1971 and made a decisive change: he abandoned the pursuit of higher yields and standardized varietal wines in favor of the purest expression of each terroir.

A visionary, Marc Kreydenweiss became one of the first Alsatian winegrowers to practice biodynamics in the late 1980s. In 1989, he helped establish the Grand Cru appellation and founded the Biodyvin association. In 1999, he took over an estate in Costières de Nîmes, settling there permanently in 2007 and entrusting the Alsatian property to his son Antoine. Now at the helm of the estate, Antoine Kreydenweiss carries on this legacy with uncompromising rigor, using animal traction with his Comtois horse Sam, aging wines for extended periods on the lees, and, since 2020, making wines exclusively from grapes grown on the property.

Terroirs and Vines of Domaine Marc Kreydenweiss

The vineyards of Domaine Marc Kreydenweiss span a geological mosaic that reflects the Andlau valley, halfway between Strasbourg and Colmar. On slopes sheltered from northerly and westerly winds, blue schist, pink Vosges sandstone, and calcareous marl sit side by side, giving each grape variety a distinctive setting. Three Grand Cru terroirs stand out: Kastelberg, with its bedrock of Villé schist, among the oldest in Alsace at over 500 million years old; Wiebelsberg, with its luminous pink sandstone; and Moenchberg, with its sun-drenched calcareous marl.

Around these crus lie distinctive vineyard sites such as Clos Rebberg, Clos Rebgarten, Clos du Val d'Éléon, Lerchenberg, and Kritt. Biodynamic farming, grounded in soil life, natural preparations, and respect for natural cycles, goes hand in hand with intentionally low yields. This range of exposures and elevations faithfully reflects the Alsatian landscape, where minerality and freshness always take precedence over varietal power.

Winemaking at Domaine Marc Kreydenweiss

In the cellar, the philosophy remains minimalist and respectful of the grapes. Hand harvesting is followed by slow whole-cluster pressing, then fermentation driven solely by native yeasts. The estate ages its wines on the lees for extended periods, from twelve to as many as forty-eight months, in oak foudres and demi-muids, stainless steel tanks, or concrete eggs, developing greater depth and natural stability.

Sulfur use is kept to an absolute minimum, with some cuvées even made without added sulfites and left unfiltered. The Grand Cru Rieslings now undergo extended aging of up to four years. This patient approach yields wines of rare vitality: taut, mouthwatering, and energetic, capable of aging for many years while remaining true to their origins.

The Wines of Domaine Marc Kreydenweiss

Kastelberg Grand Cru (Riesling): the estate’s collector-worthy cuvée. On blue and black schist, the Riesling develops a vertical energy, stony salinity, and smoky minerality unique to Alsace. A fine wine for aging ten to twenty years before drinking.

Wiebelsberg Grand Cru (Riesling): grown on pink Vosges sandstone, this Riesling is more airy, floral, and luminous, with crystalline finesse. Elegant and slender, it charms with its pure fruit and delicacy.

Moenchberg Grand Cru (Pinot Gris): a quintessential calcareous marl terroir, producing a Pinot Gris with generous body and imposing structure, supported by lively acidity and a saline, spicy finish that promises longevity.

Clos Rebberg (Riesling): an emblematic cuvée from the very ancient blue Villé schist. A concentration of fruit and terroir, at once smoky and fresh, it impresses with its mineral intensity and masterful balance.

Clos Rebgarten (Gewurztraminer): a small walled vineyard in Andlau worked by horse and replanted with Gewurztraminer on granitic sands. Made as an orange wine, it offers great complexity, with notes of peony, tobacco, and spice.

Clos du Val d'Éléon (Riesling and Pinot Gris): a co-planting of the two varieties on blue-gray Villé schist, aged for an extended period on the lees in a foudre. Saline, focused, and taut, it is a characterful wine with remarkable savory appeal.

KB Kirchberg de Barr (Pinot Noir): from a terroir classified as Grand Cru for Pinot Noir in 2022, this complex, deep red stands out for its silky texture, elegance, and fine tannins.

Au Dessus de la Loi (Riesling): an exclusive cuvée from a tiny plot of pink sandstone perched above Andlau. Crystal-clear and taut, it finely expresses the tension of Vosges sandstone.

Lerchenberg (Pinot Gris): a pure, distinctive Pinot Gris, far from opulent styles. Both rich and fresh, its spicy flavors complement boldly flavored dishes.

La Fontaine aux Enfants (Pinot Blanc and Auxerrois): grown on granite soil, this energetic wine charms with its floral depth, natural brilliance, and smoky notes after extended aging.

Kritt Pinot Blanc: a Pinot Blanc of rare complexity, with notes of fine herbs, white flowers, and delicate spices, and remarkable energy and density on the palate.

Kritt Gewurztraminer: an off-dry Gewurztraminer shaped more by its soil than by varietal expression, combining aromatic intensity, depth, and incisive freshness.

Lune à Boire: a range of easy-drinking white and red wines made from blends of Alsatian grape varieties. Generous and lively, they are designed for sharing.

Depending on the vintage, the estate also produces Vendanges Tardives and Sélections de Grains Nobles, exceptional sweet wines that showcase the aromatic richness of Andlau’s terroirs.