Gewurztraminer Vendanges Tardives
⏳ Drinking Window
2025 - 2040
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
foie gras, strong blue cheeses like Munster or Roquefort, spicy Thai or Sichuan cuisine
✨ Technical Specifications
Domaine Dirler-Cadé's Gewurztraminer Vendanges Tardives represents the pinnacle of Alsatian sweet winemaking, born from a tradition of patience and deep respect for nature's cycles. The term 'Vendanges Tardives' refers to late-harvested grapes left on the vine to concentrate their sugars, often kissed by Botrytis cinerea, or noble rot. Sourced from the estate's meticulously tended biodynamic vineyards—frequently utilizing parcels in prestigious Grand Cru sites like Kessler or Spiegel—the grapes are harvested by hand in successive passes. The soils of Bergholtz, rich in sandstone and clay, impart a structural minerality that beautifully balances the natural opulence of the grape. Historically, late-harvest wines in Alsace were reserved for special family celebrations and visiting dignitaries; Dirler-Cadé honors this heritage by producing a wine of breathtaking aromatic complexity, showing classic notes of lychee, rose petal, ginger, and honeyed apricot, underpinned by a vibrant, life-giving acidity.
🍾 About the Producer
Established in 1871 in the southern Alsatian village of Bergholtz, Domaine Dirler-Cadé represents the union of two historic winegrowing families, merged in 2000 following the marriage of Jean Dirler and Ludivine Cadé. A pioneer of biodynamic viticulture in Alsace, the estate converted its vineyards to biodynamics in 1998 to respect natural biodiversity and preserve soil vitality. Their prime vineyard holdings encompass historic Grands Crus—including Kessler, Kitterlé, Saering, and Spiegel—alongside distinct lieux-dits such as Belzbrunnen and Schimberg. Dirler-Cadé is globally renowned for its bone-dry, terroir-driven Rieslings, vibrant Pinot Gris, aromatic Gewurztraminers, and finely textured Crémant d'Alsace sparkling wines.
🍇 Grape Varieties
Gewurztraminer