From a small cellar in the village of Dambach-la-Ville, Léonard Dietrich is making some of the most exciting wines in all of Alsace.
Though Léonard’s family have been growing grapes in the village for centuries, he is very much marching to a different beat. Immersed in wine from a young age, he has worked with his family in the vines for as long as he can remember and in recent years has continued to garner experience working alongside one of the region’s great teachers in Patrick Meyer.
Today he has carved out three hectares in and around Dambach, including small parcels in lieu-dits such as Breitstein, Frauenberg and the Grand Cru Frankstein. Like many young vignerons in Alsace, Léo is wary of monoculture and the effects of climate change. He has spent his first few vintages converting the vineyards to biodynamics and planting fruit trees among his parcels.
Despite his youth, in the cellar Léo displays a real lightness of touch. Favouring gentle presses and macerations and a proper élevage in large Alsatian foudres, he is able to harness the perfume of each variety and the pedigree of each site. His vibrant, nuanced expressions of these storied crus have announced him as one to watch in a region teeming with talent.