The Irion and the Dopff families were already wine connoisseurs in the 16th century and have been closely involved in the fortunes of the village of Riquewihr throughout the ages. The firm of Dopff & Irion was established when Rene Dopff joined fortunes with the widowed Madame Irion. Rene Dopff was the first to have faith in the concept of “terroir,” the restructuring of the vineyard by dividing it into five “domains” or estates, and then planting each one with the most suitable grape variety.

Dopff & Irion believe that each of the terroirs should be studied and managed independently. Therefore, the grapes and the rootstock are planted according to the nature of the soil and the direction in which the vineyard is facing. These sites produce exceptionally distinguished, classy wines whose personality and pedigree are further enhanced by the complex flavors contributed by these incomparable terroirs.

The grapes at Dopff & Irion are picked by hand and carefully sorted. Everything possible is done to avoid crushing them before pressing. The grapes are pressed gradually in pneumatic presses, and only the juice from the first pressing will be used for the Domaine wines. Each wine produced at Dopff & Irion is made according to strict tradition, and the collection covers the whole range of Alsatian wines, from delightful varietals such as Riesling or Gewürztraminer to Estate Wines, and of course, the famous Vendanges Tardives and Selections de Grains Nobles.

Located in Riquewihr, the jewel of the Alsace vineyard, the village is an object of enchantment that has lasted for centuries. Its layout and structure have not changed since the Middle Ages, and the people who live here haven’t changed much either, with a lifestyle that revolves around the industry of wine making. The 68-acre vineyard worked by Dopff & Irion is extremely well-situated. With the different types of soil and the varied climate, the estate is able to produce rich, powerful and complex wines.