Beck-Hartweg
| Vigneron | Florian and Mathilde Beck-Hartweg |
| Location | Dambach-la-Ville (Bas-Rhin) |
| Size of Domaine | 8 ha |
| Terroir | Continental climate, sheltered from rain by the Vosges foothills. Mainly granitic sand on pink granite bedrock but also sandstone and volcanic soil. From gentle to steep slopes on hillsides. 220 to 330m altitude. |
| Viticulture | Certified organic (Ecocert) practising biodynamic. |
| View Beck-Hartweg wines ↓ |
Beck-Hartweg is one of the historic domaines of Alsace which can be traced back to the early 16th century. They’re located in the medieval town of Dambach-la-Ville, a quintessentially Alsatian village, built upon a unique and homogeneous pink granite bedrock.
Florian and Mathilde are the 16th generation at the domaine and despite their young age (early 30s) they've already gained a solid reputation as a skilled and progressive representative of the future of Alsace.
Respect and increase of life through the soils and vines have been the main focus for the past two generations, with the return of grass in the vineyards from 1982 and organic certification in 2011.
Nowadays, inspired among others by the writings of Japanese farmer and philosopher Masanobu Fukuoka (cf. The One Straw Revolution), Florian and Mathilde allow wild plants to grow around their vines, roll them over, and create a mulch which in return increases organic matter and humidity. This is especially precious when working on poor acidic soils (granite bedrock) with dry topsoils of little depth. The vines are also weaved, as opposed to being trimmed, to preserve the shoot apex and avoid plant stress.
A few years back the couple took over a stunning parcel in the lieu-dit of Rittersberg, above the village of Scherwiller (just south of Dambach) and right below the Ortenbourg medieval castle. One hectare planted by Florian’s great uncle more than 60 years ago, pinot noir and gris were mixed with auxerrois and riesling resulting in a field blend 'à l'ancienne'.
Passionate believers in diversity – not only in nature and vineyards but also in the flavours of wines – the couple went on co-planting with gewürztraminer first and then sylvaner (coming into the blend soon) to fully express the character of this unique terroir. Mathilde and Florian produced their first Rittersberg in 2018.
Their forward-thinking farming produces dense and ripe grapes, with such health and balance that residual sugar is scarce following fermentation.
Meticulous vinification and ageing (see wines below) are carried out without the use of any additives including SO2; resulting in profound and vibrant wines carried by the typical saltiness and mineral print of Dambach-la-Ville’s emblematic two-mica granite.
Weaved vines above Dambach-La-Ville 
Beck-Hartweg Wines
TOUT NATURELLEMENT PÉTILLANT 2024
40% Muscat, 40% Pinot Noir, 20% Pinot Gris
40% Muscat, 40% Pinot Noir, 20% Pinot Gris (12.5% alc.)
A rosé pét’ nat’ made from grapes grown at the bottom of slopes on heavier soils. Deeply-coloured this is 'pure juice' – zesty acids, crunchy bitters and the right amount of funk for fun times!
DAMBACH-LA-VILLE 2023
100% Riesling
100% Riesling (12.5% alc)
The designation Dambach-la-Ville distinguishes a unique terroir characterised by a homogenous pink granite bedrock on which the medieval village and its vineyards sit. This cuvée is made from three different lieux-dits (Lanzenberg, Frankstein, Breitstein) on sandy and rocky slopes exposed to the east. The grapes are slowly and gently pressed followed by an eight to ten months long fermentation in old traditional wooden foudres. Like all their wines bottled unfined and unfiltered after a year, this is a stunning terroir-driven riesling, crystalline and lifted, with flavours of pink grapefruit and roses.
GRANITE 2022
34% Riesling, 33% Pinot Noir, 33% Pinot Gris
34% Riesling, 33% Pinot Noir, 33% Pinot Gris (13% alc)
Grown on the typical granitic slopes of Dambach-la-Ville, the three varieties come from three different plots, they're harvested together and then slowly pressed with their stems. Fermentation takes place in old wooden foudres for eight to ten months and the wine remains on its fine lees for an extra few months before bottling. This atypical blend has a deep and golden colour, distinctive aromas of sweet toasted almonds and a fleshy texture. The common thread of tension, minerality and salinity is once again found in this wine. A consistent proof of the Beck-Hartweg’s dedication to showcase their unique terroir through thoughtful and meticulous viticulture.
FRANKSTEIN GRAND CRU 2021
100% Riesling
100% Riesling (13% alc)
The soil on the hillsides surrounding Dambach-la-Ville is homogeneous and all granitic. Unusually for Alsace, four distinct south-facing slopes have been classified as Grand Cru. The Beck-Hartweg family proudly possesses 25% of their holdings on Frankstein GC, in the Frauenberg and the Pflanzer lieux-dits, with two thirds of the vines averaging 70yo. The grapes are slowly pressed and ferment in old traditional wooden foudres for up to ten months. Frankstein’s early ripening and warm terroir forces the roots deep in search of water, nutrients and minerals, which results in a bone-dry, deep and powerful wine balanced by an extreme salinity. Rock salt, Mediterranean herbs, mint, yuzu and bergamot are all part of its complex, refined and aromatic bouquet. A pure pinot gris is also made from their Frankstein GC holdings – it is a different interpretation of this 'grand terroir', lush and round with Chartreuse-like flavours although the salty mineral cut remains. Both stunning, for drinking now to 2030+.
FRANKSTEIN GRAND CRU 2022
35% Riesling, 35% Pinot Gris, 15% Pinot Noir, 15% Gewürztraminer
35% Riesling, 35% Pinot Gris, 15% Pinot Noir, 15% Gewürztraminer (13.5% alc)
The whole bunches of different varieties are slowly pressed together, and the wine ferments and ages in old barrels for up to 11 months. This is yet another interpretation of the Frankstein GC by Florian and Mathilde, and they comment: "Arguably, this wine provides a more complete lecture of the Frankstein terroir, expressing all its facets through co-fermentation of the different varieties, as it had been for centuries until recent history." Fruit-forward, deep and multi-layered, this is complex with a discreet tannic structure that enhances salivation and length. For drinking now to 2030+.
LANZENBERG 2022
100% Gewürztraminer
100% Gewürztraminer (13.5% alc.)
A vineyard planted in the 1950s by Charles Beck (Florian's grandfather), on land bought from the Lanzenberg family – a Jewish family who was largely killed during the Second World War despite local help to hide and save them. Only Mrs Lanzenberg survived, later selling the land to her friends the Becks. The stunning Lanzenberg lieu-dit is located above the Frankstein GC, at the top of the coteau, on a steep granitic slope. To tame the variety aromatics and amplify the terroir's mineral expression, a two-year oxidative ageing was carried out in old traditional foudres (no top-up or 'ouillage') – this wine combines power and refinement, marked by vibrant acidity and salinity. It shows complex aromas of walnut, local herbs, and dried fruits spiced up by a touch of flor. For drinking now to 2030+.
GRANITE ROUGE 2023
100% Pinot Noir
100% Pinot Noir (13% alc)
This cuvée comes from two different vineyards in Dambach-la-Ville, Pfirdel and Rebbronn, both at the bottom of slopes with deeper soils of granitic sand and silt over pink granite bedrock. The grapes are carefully destemmed but not crushed, then macerated for a week before being pressed and aged in stainless steel for less than a year. The result is ripe pinot with a rustic and refreshing structure, lovely flavours of red stone fruits, spices and a gentle smokiness reminiscent of Lapsang Souchong tea.
RITTERSBERG 2020
25% Riesling, 25% Pinot Gris, 20% Pinot Noir, 20% Pinot Auxerrois, 10% Gewürztraminer
25% Riesling, 25% Pinot Gris, 20% Pinot Noir, 20% Pinot Auxerrois, 10% Gewürztraminer (13% alc.)
The south-east facing and humid coteau of Rittersberg is located above the village of Scherwiller, just south of Dambach-la-Ville. It sits on the same granite ridge but differs from Dambach thanks to layers of silt and granitic sand – a deeper topsoil (one meter) which brings mouthfeel and density. This plot is harvested later than the others and the different varieties are pressed together over six to eight hours – extracting structure, texture and color. The usual lengthy fermentation as well as ageing took place in foudres. This is a great addition to the Beck-Hartweg line-up (first vintage 2018) – voluptuous and multi-layered, it stretches and expands thanks to polished tannins and granite-induced salivation. Bright tangerine color, peaches and cream on the nose, roses, tarragon and gentian on the palate, the bouquet graciously evolves from glass to mouth finishing long, complex and crystalline. A unique, characterful and exhilarating wine. For drinking now to 2030.
BUNGERTAL 2023
45% Riesling, 45% Gewürztraminer, 10% Sylvaner
45% Riesling, 45% Gewürztraminer, 10% Sylvaner (13% alc.)
The vines are located in the neighbouring village of Nothalten, they sit above the notorious Muenchberg GC on a south-facing slope. The soil is made of sandy volcanic deposits over a sandstone bedrock – a specific terroir that brings character and power to the wine. The grapes are crushed by foot and macerate for about 24 to 48 hours before pressing. Aged for 10 months on fine lees, this is 'baroque' in style (as Florian and Mathilde put it), tannic and spicy with an enticing savouriness.