Dopff & Irion cultivate 27 hectares of vines at Riquewihr, which is a relatively large estate in view of the fragmented structure of the vineyards in Alsace, with some 60% of producers farming less than one hectare. The climate lends itself perfectly to slow ripening of the grapes. To the west, the Vosges mountains minimise the oceanic influence whilst, to the north, the famous Schoenenbourg ridge offers protection from the cold north winds.
The fabulous diversity of geological formations makes Alsace one of the most complex wine growing regions in the world. Riquewihr's vineyards sit on one of the principal geological fractures in Alsace. The vast mosaic of soils and subsoils (marl, limestone, gypsum, clay, sandstone) allow multiple expressions of terroir in the wines.
