Alsace cooperative making white wines from member growers, including organic Riesling, Pinot Gris Réserve and organic Pinot Blanc.
The producer
Cave de Turckheim is an Alsace cooperative at the mouth of the Munster Valley. It produces wine exclusively from member growers' grapes, and Michel Lihrmann is its senior winemaker. The range includes organic Riesling, Pinot Gris Réserve and organic Pinot Blanc. Riesling ferments in stainless steel tanks, and the still whites receive a smaller French oak component during ageing. Organic farming began when a number of winegrowers committed to rigorous standards.
Known for
Alsace white wines from member vineyards
Notable facts
Founded in 1955.
Cave de Turckheim works with 180 partners.
Organic conversion began in 2008.
Michel Lihrmann has served as senior winemaker for 25 years.
The story
The Cooperative Vote
Cave de Turckheim was one of the first cooperatives in Alsace to develop a certified organic wine programme across its member vineyards. A cooperative's economics make this an unusual move: the cost of conversion — lower yields, higher hand-labour, a three-year gap before any plot qualifies for organic labelling — falls on each individual grower, not on the organisation that will eventually sell the bottled wine. The board brought the proposal to the membership, each of whom farmed their own parcels and would absorb the change independently. The motion passed. Across the following years, a significant portion of the cooperative's 310 hectares moved to certified organic farming, including parcels on the Brand Grand Cru, and Cave de Turckheim began labelling wines under organic certification — a category that, at that point, very few Alsace cooperatives had entered.
From the atlas
Cave de Turckheim
Cave de Turckheim is an Alsace cooperative at the mouth of the Munster Valley. Some of its member vineyards are farmed organically.
At A Glance
Field
Detail
Region
Alsace
Producer type
Cooperative
Founded
1955
Partners
180
Member vineyard area
400 hectares across Alsace
Organic vineyard area
Around 30 hectares, certified in 2011
Grape varieties
Riesling, Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc
Featured wine
Organic Riesling
The Producer
Cave de Turckheim makes wine only from grapes grown by its member growers. Michel Lihrmann has been senior winemaker for 25 years. The house style is dry and fruit forward.
Organic farming is part of the cooperative's vineyard work. A number of winegrowers committed to the rigorous standards of organic viticulture. Certified organic farming covers part of the holdings.
Place
Cave de Turckheim lies at the mouth of the Munster Valley in Alsace, while its member vineyards reach across the region.
Wines
The still white range includes organic Riesling, Pinot Gris Réserve and organic Pinot Blanc. Organic Riesling has fresh lemon and grapefruit, a racy bouquet, a crisp taste and a long fruity finish. Pinot Gris Réserve has a lovely flush of pink colour, a rich, full, perfumed palate and a long, slightly smoky finish. Organic Pinot Blanc has a fresh and fruity nose with hints of white flowers, a well balanced palate with good weight, and a crisp and supple feel with aromas of apples and lemon.
Riesling ferments in stainless steel tanks at 19°C. For each of the three still whites, 75% is handled in stainless steel, with up to 25% in barrel for 6 months. The barrel portion uses mostly second or third use French oak 300L barrels. Stainless steel keeps primary fruit and acidity clear, while barrel ageing exposes part of the wine to gentle oxygen and can add texture.
Final Word
Cave de Turckheim has one of the largest holdings of organic vineyards in Alsace. Natural fertilizers made from nettle, horsetail, comfrey and dandelion are used to fortify the vines and increase their natural resistance. The cooperative's environmental philosophy covers economic sustainability and the conservation of the natural environment and heritage.