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Schieferkopf Riesling Lieu-Dit Berg 2021 is a single-vineyard Alsace Riesling from one of the most celebrated parcels in the village of Bernardvillé – and one of the most significant Riesling discoveries of recent years.
In a recent panel tasting published in The Wine Merchant magazine, the three Schieferkopf Lieu-Dit Rieslings ranked 1st, 3rd and 5th from a world-class field of twelve. Berg took 3rd place – a remarkable result that reflects its position as the most classically structured and minerally precise of the trio.
Buy Schieferkopf Riesling Lieu-Dit Berg 2021 at Fareham Wine Cellar and discover why M. Chapoutier’s Alsace project is turning heads across the wine world.
Berg sits at the highest elevation of the three Schieferkopf Lieu-Dits, planted on the ancient Precambrian blue schist subsoils that run beneath the village of Bernardvillé in Alsace. The altitude moderates the ripening process, extending the growing season and preserving the natural acidity that gives Berg its distinctive mineral finesse.
The combination of slope, aspect, and soil depth at this site produces a Riesling that is at once lifted and grounded – the tension between citrus fruit brightness and stony minerality is precisely what gives this wine its character and its exceptional ageing potential.
Schieferkopf, which means “schist-head” in Alsatian dialect, is the Alsace wine project of Michel Chapoutier, whose family domaine in the northern Rhône has been applying the principles of biodynamic viticulture and single-site winemaking for decades. The Bernardvillé project brings the same philosophy to Alsace’s blue schist terroirs, producing a range of single-vineyard Lieu-Dit wines that express the specific character of individual parcels with extraordinary precision. The Lieu-Dit series – Berg, Buehl, and Fels – are three of the most compelling single-vineyard Rieslings produced anywhere in France.
Maison Chapoutier has grown into one of the largest and most recognisable producers of Rhône wines. The company dates back to 1808 when Michel Chapoutier’s distant ancestor, Polydor Chapoutier, bought a parcel of vines in the Rhone Valley. Today they have vineyards in many of the famous appellations including Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Hermitage, Côte-Rôtie and Gigondas.
Michel is committed to making the best wines whilst respecting the environment. Chapoutier now owns the largest biodynamic vineyard in Europe. It is his personal conviction that “the complexity in a wine comes from the level of microbiological activity around the vine roots”.
As with all Chapoutier’s wines, the label also features a description in Braille.
Schieferkopf Riesling Lieu-Dit Berg 2021 is a pale golden colour with a luminous clarity.
The nose is precise and detailed – citrus blossom, green apple, and fresh lemon zest over a cool, stony mineral core. Unlike most Alsace Rieslings, Berg undergoes full malolactic fermentation, which softens the acidity slightly and adds a creamy, rounded texture without compromising the wine’s inherent tension and focus.
On the palate, it is balanced and elegant, with stone fruit, citrus, and a persistent mineral finish that builds slowly and lingers long after the glass is empty.
The wine’s mineral precision and citrus-led freshness make it an excellent match for grilled sea bass, scallops with a citrus butter sauce, Alsatian tarte flambée, and soft washed-rind cheeses such as Munster. Also superb with lightly spiced Asian dishes where its mineral backbone and gentle richness both play a role.
Schieferkopf Berg Riesling — Frequently Asked Questions
What does Lieu-Dit mean in Alsace wine?
Lieu-Dit translates literally as “named place”, a specifically named vineyard site or parcel. A Lieu-Dit tends to be typically smaller than a Grand Cru and is chosen for its distinct terroir character.
Schieferkopf’s three Lieu-Dits – Berg, Buehl, and Fels – are single-parcel selections from Bernardvillé, each planted on blue schist subsoil but producing meaningfully different wines due to differences in elevation, slope, and soil depth.
Why does Schieferkopf use full malolactic fermentation for Riesling?
Malolactic fermentation converts the sharper malic acid in wine to the softer lactic acid, producing a rounder, more textured palate. Most Alsace Riesling producers avoid MLF to preserve bright acidity.
Schieferkopf’s use of full malolactic fermentation is a deliberate choice that softens and adds complexity to the wines without sacrificing their terroir expression.
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