Vairon
⏳ Drinking Window
Typically best enjoyed within 1 to 5 years from vintage release.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Choucroute garnie, roasted pork loin, soft cow's milk cheeses
✨ Technical Specifications
Named 'Vairon'—a French term meaning 'odd-eyed' or having eyes of different colors—this unique cuvée is a playful and poetic tribute to the diverse mutations of the Pinot family. The wine is crafted as a field blend of Pinot Auxerrois, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, and Pinot Noir (vinified as a white wine), all harvested from the estate's biodynamically farmed vineyards in Bergholtz. By co-fermenting these closely related yet distinct varieties in traditional large oak foudres using indigenous yeasts, Dirler-Cadé revives an ancient Alsatian tradition of field blending. This approach coaxes a multi-dimensional expression from the clay-limestone soils, combining the bright acidity of Pinot Blanc, the rich texture of Pinot Gris, the structural depth of Pinot Noir, and the soft fruitiness of Auxerrois into a singular, harmonious, and mineral-driven narrative.
🍾 About the Producer
Established in 1871 by Jean Dirler in the southern Alsatian village of Bergholtz, Domaine Dirler-Cadé took its modern form in 2000 following the marriage of fifth-generation vigneron Jean Dirler to Ludivine Cadé. Pioneers of ecological viticulture in the region, the family began converting to biodynamics in 1998 under the guidance of François Bouchet, attaining full Biodyvin and Demeter certification across their 18 hectares of vines. The estate's holdings are distinguished by prime parcels in four Grand Crus—Kessler, Kitterlé, Saering, and Spiegel—alongside celebrated lieux-dits such as Belzbrunnen, Bux, and Bollenberg. Here, steep slopes composed of Buntsandstein pink sandstone, volcanic conglomerates, and marl-limestone are worked by hand and horse-plowed. In the cellar, low-intervention vinification emphasizes gentle pressing, native yeast fermentations, and unhurried aging on fine lees in traditional neutral foudres and stainless steel. The resulting dry Rieslings, aromatic Pinot Gris, structured Gewurztraminers, and precision Crémants deliver intense mineral clarity, textural poise, and profound ageability.
🍇 Grapes
Pinot Auxerrois, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir
🍷 ABV
12.5% - 13.5%