Harjane - Haroon Rahimi

Haroon Rahimi: "I arrived in Paris, France, in March 2016 as an Afghan refugee."

I started my studies in catering and hospitality two days before Christmas (2016). I knew I was going to work in the vineyards and that one day I would make my own wine.

In 2018, I began my studies in agriculture, viticulture, and wine management as an apprentice at Château de l'Ou in the south of France. In 2020, I moved to Alsace. I was an apprentice at Laurent Bannwarth's estate, where in 2022 I produced my first two cuvées: 1- Pinot Blanc, Muscat, and cherries, 2- Riesling and cherries. That same year, I leased my first vineyard: 0.25 acres of 75-year-old Gewurztraminer vines.

It was in 2023 that I launched my first vintage (Gewurztraminer, 0.25 ares) and the same year I created my own estate in Niedermorschwihr (near Colmar). The name Harjane (in Farsi, meaning "Universal") is used for this purpose. I bought a large quantity of grapes from Stéphane Bannwarth to macerate, vinify, and age the wines in stoneware and terracotta jars at the estate. The recipe for my wines is: grapes, grapes... and more grapes!

In February 2024, after a three-year wait, I finally managed to lease 1.5 hectares on the slopes of Ammerschwihr and Niedermorschwihr. In the vineyards, everything is done manually, using a draft horse , and the harvest will always be done by hand. I have always worked according to biodynamic principles, using plant macerations and essential oil treatments to reduce the amount of copper and sulfur in the vines. In the vineyards, it's not just about caring for the vines; the most important thing is the life underground. I will receive Demeter certification in 2025. In the cellar, all the wines are made without sulfites or additives and without filtration.

This year 2024, I produced 4000 bottles, 80% of my wines come from stoneware, terracotta and Qvevris jars, the rest comes from barrels.

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