Alsace wine producer: Charles Koehly, Rodern

The sleepy village of Rodern hosts one domaine with ambitions surpassing the majority of Rodern producers, Charles Koehly. The reputation of the domaine was built by Christian Koehly who tragically and suddenly passed away on New Years Day 2009. Christian Koehly was a true entrepeneur, a personality with a strong desire to develop all aspects of the business. But even more, he was as a generous and welcoming host who over the years developed a deep friendship with many lovers of Alsace wines.

Already at the age of 18, Christian Koehly bought is first piece of land and turned it into a first class vineyard on what was to become Grand Cru Gloeckelberg. A year later, in the difficult year of 1972, he took charge of the winemaking and produced wines that got a lot of attention. Furthermore, Christian Koehly took the decision to move the whole operation to ultra-modern facilities in Bergheim, close to the highway N83. This was a giant leap for a family domaine in Alsace, where the tradition is to maintain production and a 3-generation life style in the heart of the historic villages.

The wines of Charles Koehly are fully dry and their potential to age is phenomenal. The epitome is the Riesling Grand Cru Altenberg de Bergheim which, after 6-7 years of cellaring, offers a seductive, soft bouquet of oranges and a focused, yet velvety taste. As much as 85% of the production from 12 ha is exported. The Koehly domaine has been very successful in the USA and the "new" countries of EU, in particular the Baltic countries. However, each year new customers have to found for 30% of the production, a tough challenge even for an established and reputed producer.

Sale to passers-by is done from the premises in Rodern. This is a place to go for outstanding, gastronomic wines that are sold at perfect maturity at very modest prices in relation to the high quality.

In addition, the tiny, and lovely village Rodern is the home of a dozen winegrowers who make attractive wines, particulary from the Pinot varietals. While few speak of Riesling and Gewurztraminer, the main street is Rue Pinot Noir and in mid-July, 5 000 people invade Rodern for the Fêtes de Pinot Noir.

Facts

6 Rue de Pinot Noir, winery between Bergheim and N83 +33 (0)389 73 00 61 Riesling €6
Riesling Grand Cru Altenberg de Bergheim €11.50 Full, classic, racy wines. Very welcoming when received by Charles Koehly. Good English. Grands Crus: Altenberg de Bergheim, Gloeckelberg
Lieux-dits: -

Selected representative wines 2006

2000 Pinot Blanc Developed, aromatic, intense and smokey mature aroma. The taste is fresh, almost hard with clean fruit and harsch aftertaste. Made from 100% Pinot Blanc. 2002 Riesling St:Hippolyte An elegant, model aroma with mature fruit. Quite full taste with very pure character och fresh aftertaste. 1999 Riesling Grand Cru Altenberg de Bergheim Charming, developed aroma of oranges, a hint of petrol and complexity. Velvety, multidimensional taste with candied lemons, oranges and perfect balance. 2006 Riesling Grand Cru Altenberg de Bergheim Vat sample. A wine with vendange tardive-character, showing compact fruit with candied lemons, honey and wild flowers. The taste is quite dry, with zesty acidity and very, very long.