Our vines
Here at the LICHTLÉ Wines estate we work 6 hectares of vines organically. There are 8 different grape varieties planted, and 40 fruit trees! Most of our plots are located around Gueberschwihr, except one: the Bollenberg.
Vines
Vines are a fascinating plant, and quite a resistant one. One vine variety produces one type of grape. A vine stock can live for 70 years or more!
Organic
LICHTLÉ Wines has been certified organic since 2008. Working organically means using non-synthetic products on the vines; it is also choosing to work in a way that allows biodiversity to thrive.
Terroir
Terroir is a very French notion, created by three elements: the earth, the micro-climate and us, humans. Our vines are planted on a variety of terroirs that each bring something different to the wine.
The two most famous terroirs we cultivate are the Grand Cru Goldert and the Bollenberg.
The Goldert has a rich clay and Muschelkalk soil, and a dry climate. The mountains behind it protect it from rain and from the afternoon sun, and many natural springs flow beneath it. This creates a rich environment for the vines: they thrive and make a powerful wine.
The Bollenberg is a hill with a Jurassic limestone soil and a lot of stones that store heat. Protected from rain by the Grand Ballon, it is exposed to the sun all day long. This dries the ground and creates a challenging environment: the vines struggle to grow and make mineral wines.
All our vines are planted in slightly different places that each bring something to the wine. It is by working them year after year that we observe all the variations between them, and how they transform in the cellar.
Handwork
We spend most of our time outside in the fields. At LICHTLÉ Wines we believe that handwork is the best way to make high-quality wine. Every plant is unique, so we tailor our work to each vine. Working by hand lets us observe our vines better and react better to disease. It is also a way to protect our soils and the biodiversity naturally present in them.