Altenberg de Bergbieten

🇫🇷 France

Grand Cru Rare find

Pope Leo IX vineyard from 1050 AD - UNIQUE gypsum terroir creates sinuous, saline Rieslings.

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Region profile

History

Mentioned as early as 1050 in archives relating to Pope Leo IX, native of Alsace who became pope. Belonged to Strasbourg bishopric before 1789. Roland Schmitt family sole remaining producer since 17th century; Roland killed in 1993 car accident, wife Anne-Marie and sons continue.

Climate
Clayey brown calcareous soil over Keuper gypsum, dolomite and evaporites from ancient salty lagoon; southeast slopes at 235-265m
Signature wines
Domaine Roland Schmitt Riesling Altenberg de Bergbieten Vieilles Vignes (~$40) - ONLY producer; organic since 1999; 93 points Wine Enthusiast
What sets it apart
Pope Leo IX archives 1050 AD - nearly 1,000 years documented; ONLY single-producer Grand Cru village; gypsum from prehistoric salty lagoon; roots need 7 years to reach terroir

Facts

  • 29.07 hectares
  • documented 1050 AD in Pope Leo IX archives - nearly 1,000 YEARS of history
  • ONLY single producer village - Domaine Roland Schmitt
  • vines need 7 years to reach gypsum

Region profile from the Wine Memories wine-data corpus · verified January 2026