Domaine valentin zusslin
Domaine Valentin Zusslin has been established in the village of Orshwihr, southern Alsace since 1691. Representing the 13th generation are brother and sister Jean-Paul and Marie Zusslin. They took over the winery in 2000 and have followed in their father’s footsteps to protect their land and elevate Domaine Valentin Zusslin to the pinnacle of Alsace wines.
They own 16 hectares of vineyards spread across different hillsides and a mosaic of plots, the majority being Lieux-Dit Bollenberg, Clos Liebenberg and Grand Cru Pfingstberg.
Bollenberg, a big dry hill spread over 4 villages, is extraordinarily rich in biodiversity and the home to some unique species in Europe. Due to its size the soils are varied from limestone to marls and loess.
Clos Liebenberg is a 4ha monopoly situated above Grand Cru Pfingstberg. Isolated by hedgerows, stone walls, and forest, it is where the Zusslin can fully express themselves. The highest vineyards of the Zusslin winery at 360m. Soils are composed of marl and sandstone. The wines produced in Clos Liebenberg have a very distinctive tension and elegance coming from cool sandstone vineyards.
Grand Cru Pfingstberg is the only Grand Cru in Orschwihr. The Zusslin family only produce Riesling from this terroir. Beneficiating from an ideal South-East exposition at around 300m altitude it is protected from the rainfall by the Vosges just behind. Soils are composed of marls, limestone but mainly sandstone. The wines from Grand Cru Pfingstberg are powerful, deep, concentrated, precise and vertical.
In the cellar, they allow time to run its course. Low intervention, usage of large traditional oak foudres and long ageing on the lees. They hold on average 3 vintages and release the wines when ready for our pleasure.
The Wines
The Zusslin family are settled in the village of Orschwhir in Southern Alsace since 1691 and crafting wines for 13 generations now. Its fair to say they know a thing or two on how to craft the best Riesling in Alsace. Les Chapelles comes from 3 prime plots on the Domaine, Bollenberg, Clos Liebenberg and Grand Cru Pfingstberg. This wine is a true benchmark of the quality that Zusslin can produce. Les Chappelles offers refreshing, energising citrus character whilst also maintaining its elegance and complexity with 10 months on the lees and being aged in traditional large oak foudre. A steel considering its pedigree!
Bollenberg is the large hill wrapping around Orschwihr, the most sheltered part of the Domaine, notably warmer and dryer than other plots in Alsace. The whole hill is classified as a natural reserve and the wine producers farming on it are all very mindful of its unique biodiversity. The Pinot Noir vines from the Zusslin date back to the 60's and 70's and are carefully cultivated, hand harvested and sorted twice over before entering the winery. Zusslin are widely recognised now to be producing exceptional quality Pinot Noir, rivalling famous villages in the Cote de Beaune.
From the steep, limestone-sandstone slopes of Pfingstberg Grand Cru, this 2018 Riesling is a poised and structured expression of Alsace's noble grape, shaped by biodynamic farming and minimal intervention in the cellar.
The nose opens with striking purity: preserved lemon, green apple, and white peach, interwoven with flinty minerality, lime zest, and subtle floral tones of elderflower and dried chamomile. On the palate, it is laser-focused and dry, with precise acidity and a taut, vertical structure. Notes of citrus oil, crushed stone, and wet slate unfurl slowly, giving way to a long, saline finish with a fine phenolic grip and a hint of herbal lift.
A serious, contemplative Riesling—built for aging but already showing layers of elegance and complexity.
The Zusslin family is famed for their Riesling and Pinot Noir. Their reds rival Premier cru Burgundy from the Cotes de Beaune. "Harmonie" comes from two distinctive plots on the Bollenberg hill (a natural Reserve) that now are vinified almost as grand cru, separately. The Zusslin farm organically and certified biodynamic too, giving wines with vibrant energy. From a cool vintage this is delivering so much umami character, complex layers of earthiness, combined with warm spices and smooth tannins. At 11 years of age, this shows well now and can age another 5 years.
The Zusslin family are settled in the village of Orschwhir in Southern Alsace since 1691 and crafting wines for 13 generations now. Its fair to say they know a thing or two on how to craft the best Riesling in Alsace. Les Chapelles comes from 3 prime plots on the Domaine, Bollenberg, Clos Liebenberg and Grand Cru Pfingstberg. This wine is a true benchmark of the quality that Zusslin can produce. Les Chappelles offers refreshing, energising citrus character whilst also maintaining its elegance and complexity with 10 months on the lees and being aged in traditional large oak foudre. A steel considering its pedigree!
Creativity at its finest. Treading the line between a Red or White, Ophrys is a deep, gastronomic redish Rose! A blend of a Pinot Noir & Pinot Gris! A salute the to flora and forna within the Bollenberg plot, delicate in colour but textural and rich on the nose and palate.
Clos Liebenberg, the mountain of Love is a special place on earth beaming with biodiversity and energy. It is a proper clos, closed of by dry stone walls, natural boundaries from hedges and woodland, It is a formed of 4 distinctives plots spread on 4 hectares atop Grand Cru Pfingstberg. Its the highest spot in the entire Domaine at 380m altitude. The wines Clos Liebenberg produces have an unmistakable tension and a heaps of elegance, typical of cool sandstone terroirs. The real complexity shines after a few years in bottle. The aim of the vinification here was to offer a fresh, lively and complex Riesling with the aromatic richness allowed by the slow maturation offered by this terroir. Our most popular Riesling with our sommelier friends.
Creativity at its finest. Treading the line between a Red or White, Ophrys is a deep, gastronomic redish Rose! A blend of a Pinot Auxerrois, a white grape which is here vinified like a red and Pinot Noir which is made like a white! A salute the to flora and forna within the Bollenberg plot, delicate in colour but textural and rich on the nose and palate.