Domaine Brand was originally founded in 1956 by Lucien Brand. As well as grapes, he originally farmed wheat, tobacco, and pastures for livestock. However, over the years he began to specialise more in viticulture, and increased the size of the vineyards. With time, Lucien’s son Charles became more involved in the vineyards and winemaking, and eventually formed a reputation with locals for the quality of his wines. In 2001, he began converting all the vineyards to organic, and gained certification after 3 years. In 2006, Charles’ son Philippe joined his father, and they renamed themselves as Domaine Brand & Fils. As with the natural evolution and progression of things, Philippe turned to biodynamics, and gained certification from Demeter in 2015. And it was also at this point in time that he began to make natural wines.

The Domaine is 10 hectares in size, with vineyards located in the communes of Ergersheim, Osthoffen and Wolxheim – all at the northern most-part of the Alsace wine region, about 20km west of Strasbourg. The vines average around 40 years in age (with some up to 70 years old), and are grown predominantly on clay and limestone, with some gray marl. Everything is done manually in the vineyards – no shortcuts, just lots of hard work! The wines are vinified with their natural yeasts, and no additions are used at all, including sulfites. There is no fining or filtration, and élevage is either in tank, or in old barrels and old foudre of various sizes.

The wines themselves are extremely clean and pure, mineral and direct. They are expressive, and very well balanced. I’m absolutely thrilled to be working with Philippe, and to have his wines as part of my portfolio – a great recommendation from Romain Chapuis, who’s wines I also import.