Domaine Exeterra - Florence Kachelhoffer

The estate was officially established in 2022. But it is the culmination of a 20-year dream nurtured by Florence and her husband Boris.

“I have worked for several Alsatian wine estates for more than 10 years. Two years ago, I had the opportunity to take over 1.5 hectares of vines (mainly located on the slopes of Rittersberg in Scherwiller in the Bas-Rhin), and this year, we had the chance to acquire in addition 1 hectare of old vines (70 years old) of Rielsing and Pinot Noir in Nothalten and Blienschwiller.
With the invaluable help of my husband, a vineyard manager with 20 years of experience in biodynamic winemaking (Domaine Marcel Deiss, Domaine Ostertag, etc.), the vines are cultivated organically and biodynamically. My goal is to nurture the vines so they produce high-quality grapes, as this is, for me, the essential foundation for making good wines. Nurturing the vines begins with getting to know them through observation. It then involves carrying out all the seasonal tasks, adapting each one to the specific climatic conditions of the vintage to support the vines and allow them to find their balance in all circumstances. Finally, it means creating an environment conducive to their flourishing, a vibrant ecosystem where plants and animals live in symbiosis. That's why, last spring, I planted around fifty nectar-bearing trees and shrubs and installed a beehive on my plot in Rittersberg. In the cellar, my goal is to intervene as little as possible to obtain expressive wines that reflect the vine from which they originate. I believe my role is to guide the wines as I guided the vines. This requires time and observation, a good dose of confidence in myself (and in them), and sometimes, as infrequently as possible, a very small dose of sulfur. Because I don't rule out this option if, despite all my care, a wine needs it.