Jean Ginglinger

Pfaffenheim, Alsace, France

An unsung pioneer of Alsatian natural winemaking, Jean-François Ginglinger converted his father's Pfaffenheim domaine to organic in 1997. His 6.5 hectares of vines - of which two parcels sit in Grand Cru vineyards Steinert and Zinnkoepfle - posses both Ecocert organic certification (1999) and Demeter biodynamic certification (2001).

Since vinifying his Pinot Noir Steiner in 2003 without sulphites, Jean François has pursued this ideal for all his wines, with no added sulphites in any of his cuvées. Having abandoned mechanical tools in the vineyard, Horses tend to the domaine rooted in a mix of various limestones, including calcareous sandstone.

This minerality is expressed in his sharp, lively and dry expressions of Alsace's best known varietals: Sylvaner, Riesling, Muscat d’Alsace, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris and Gewurtztraminer, as well as Pinot Noir. At once elegant and powerful, Jean Ginglinger's wines are some of the purest expressions of terroir in the region.