An ancient European variety, Sylvaner has fallen in and out of favor frequently over the last century. It is often misunderstood as simple and bland, but with careful site selection and controlled yields, Sylvaner transforms into a remarkably expressive grape that is extremely terroir-driven. Alsace vintners have begun to embrace the variety in recent years, and the result is some stunningly impressive examples of this once dismissed variety.
Domaine Bernhard & Reibel have tended their Sylvaner plantings for over 30 years in the gravelly Thannenkirch granite around Châtenois, and their take on Sylvaner is dry and fresh, with a surprising fullness.