Domaine Ostertag

Domaine Ostertag was founded in 1966 when Adolphe Ostertag began working sloping parcels on the hills around Epfig, starting with just 20 ares (about 2,000 square meters) on the Fronholz terroir. He kept working as a driving instructor to help support the family while he built up the vineyard. His son Andre returned to the domaine and took over around 1980, at age 21, when Adolphe handed him the cellar keys, after Andre had completed winemaking studies in Burgundy. Andre converted the estate to organic (AB-certified) farming in 1997, continuing into biodynamic practice. Andre's son Arthur, born in Strasbourg, arrived at the domaine in 2015 after a business-school track, a trip to New Zealand where he met winemaker James Hilton, then a viticulture and oenology diploma in Beaune and an apprenticeship at Domaine des Comtes Lafon in Meursault. Arthur officially took over in 2018.

• Founded 1966 by Adolphe Ostertag in Epfig, starting from 20 ares on the Fronholz terroir
• Andre took over around 1980, at age 21, after winemaking studies in Burgundy
• Organic (AB) conversion in 1997, continuing into biodynamic practice
• Arthur arrived 2015 after a trip to New Zealand, studies in Beaune, and an apprenticeship at Domaine des Comtes Lafon in Meursault; officially took over in 2018

The domaine farms about 15 hectares split across roughly 88 small plots that the family calls "les jardins," spread over five villages: Epfig, Nothalten, Itterswiller, Ribeauville, and Albe. Farming has been organic since 1997 and has continued into biodynamic practice, with the estate carrying Demeter certification. Some horse work has been introduced for soil management, and under Arthur machinery use in the vineyards fell by about 35 percent over three years. The Muenchberg Grand Cru at Nothalten, an enclosed, south-facing amphitheater of sandstone soil with volcanic debris, was classified Alsace Grand Cru by the decree of 17 December 1992; Ostertag farms about 2.4 hectares there, including 1.75 hectares of Riesling across five parcels and a 0.4-hectare parcel of Pinot Gris. The Heissenberg at Nothalten is a south-facing slope of pink Vosges sandstone, gneiss, and a granitic underlay, where about 0.75 hectares of roughly 40-year-old vines produce Riesling. The Fronholz, four hectares on the plain at Epfig, is planted to Riesling, Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer, Muscat, and Pinot Noir. The Zellberg at Nothalten is an east-facing Pinot Gris site of about 0.5 hectares backing onto the Muenchberg. Clos Mathis, at Ribeauville, is part of the larger Hagel lieu-dit.

• About 15 hectares across roughly 88 plots ("les jardins") in five villages: Epfig, Nothalten, Itterswiller, Ribeauville, Albe
• Organic since 1997, continuing into biodynamic practice with Demeter certification; some horse work introduced for soil management
• Muenchberg Grand Cru (classified 17 December 1992): Ostertag farms about 2.4 ha, including 1.75 ha Riesling and 0.4 ha Pinot Gris
• Heissenberg (~0.75 ha, ~40-year-old vines, Riesling); Fronholz (4 ha, multiple varieties); Zellberg (~0.5 ha Pinot Gris); Clos Mathis (part of the Hagel lieu-dit)

The domaine organizes its range into three categories: Vins de Fruit, varietal-expressive wines from village plots outside the lieux-dits and the Grand Cru; Vins de Pierre, terroir-driven wines from the lieux-dits and the Muenchberg Grand Cru; and Vins de Temps, late-harvest wines that depend on the weather (le temps) for ripening. Fermentation and elevage are slow, running roughly 8 to 15 months. Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris are raised in barriques, with Arthur tending to avoid new wood; Arthur also carries out some maturation in amphora. Sulfur use is minimal, with about 2 grams added at bottling depending on the needs of each cuvee. The Muenchberg's 0.4-hectare Pinot Gris parcel produces the cuvee A360P, named after its cadastral map reference; the parcel was initially refused Grand Cru status for being atypical before the wider Muenchberg was classified in 1992.

• Three-tier range: Vins de Fruit (village plots), Vins de Pierre (lieu-dit and Grand Cru terroir wines), Vins de Temps (late-harvest, weather-dependent)
• Fermentation and elevage run about 8 to 15 months; Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris raised in barriques, largely without new wood; some amphora aging under Arthur
• Minimal sulfur, about 2 grams added at bottling depending on the cuvee
• A360P: Pinot Gris cuvee from the Muenchberg's 0.4-ha parcel, named for its cadastral reference; the parcel was initially refused Grand Cru status for being atypical

Andre Ostertag's wife, Christine Colin, is an artist who designs the labels used across the domaine's range. Under Arthur, the team includes two people working in the office and four in the vineyard.

• Christine Colin, Andre Ostertag's wife, is an artist and designs the domaine's wine labels
• Arthur's team includes two people in the office and four working the vineyard

The Revue du Vin de France has given Domaine Ostertag a 3-star rating, its top score. Andre Ostertag has been a member of ACT (Alsace - Association Crus et Terroir). In 2005, Andre also started a winemaking venture in Chile's Casablanca Valley, the Montsecano project, farming Pinot Noir biodynamically on a 21-hectare estate that began with 5 hectares planted.

• Revue du Vin de France has awarded the domaine its top 3-star rating
• Andre Ostertag has been a member of ACT (Alsace - Association Crus et Terroir)
• Andre started the Montsecano project in Chile's Casablanca Valley in 2005, biodynamically farming Pinot Noir

Primary source (producer's own site): https://domaine-ostertag.fr/. Secondary sources: Back In Alsace (backinalsace.com, reviewed August 2017, page updated through December 2022), iDealwine editorial blog (idealwine.info, 16 September 2021), Commune d'Epfig official business listing (epfig.fr), La Route des Blancs merchant feature (laroutedesblancs.com), French Wikipedia's Muenchberg entry citing the official 17 December 1992 classification decree and Guide Hachette des vins (fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muenchberg), and wineanorak.com. Last verified 2026-10-12. Where the producer's site is silent, facts are drawn only from secondary sources that independently agree with each other. Where sources conflict (for example on the exact year biodynamic certification began), the disputed detail is omitted rather than asserted.