A quiet Alsace variety transformed by genuinely old vines

Domaine Schoffit’s Chasselas Vieilles Vignes turns one of Alsace’s most understated varieties into something distinctive, graceful and quietly complex.

The fruit comes from a tiny parcel near Colmar, planted with old Chasselas vines dating from 1939, 1942 and 1954. Their age gives the wine unusual depth and texture without taking away the lightness and refreshing character that make Chasselas so easy to enjoy.

The nose is delicate and inviting, with pear, white peach, citrus blossom and wild herbs. The palate is dry, supple and savoury, finishing with almond, chalky minerality and clean acidity.

This is not an aromatic or showy white. Its charm lies in its subtlety: gentle fruit, fine texture and a mineral finish that becomes more expressive with every glass.

What is Chasselas?

Chasselas is a historic white grape grown in several parts of Europe, most famously around Switzerland, eastern France and parts of Alsace.

Unlike highly aromatic varieties such as Sauvignon Blanc or Gewürztraminer, Chasselas tends to express itself quietly. Its flavours are usually delicate, with pear, apple, white flowers, fresh herbs and a soft mineral quality.

The variety is particularly good at reflecting where it grows. In fertile sites it can produce simple, light wines, but old vines planted in well-drained soils can create something far more distinctive, with greater texture, savoury detail and length.

Chasselas has become increasingly rare in Alsace. Domaine Schoffit is one of the estates that has preserved the variety and demonstrated what it can achieve when grown in the right place.

Discover Vieilles Vignes

“Vieilles Vignes” means “old vines.”

There is no universal legal age requirement for using the term, but in this case it is entirely meaningful. The Schoffit family’s Chasselas vines were planted in 1939, 1942 and 1954, making them between approximately 70 and 85 years old at the time of the 2024 harvest.

Older vines generally produce fewer grapes. Their established root systems can reach deeper into the soil and continue ripening steadily through changing weather conditions.

The smaller yield brings greater concentration and texture, while the naturally restrained personality of Chasselas ensures the wine remains graceful rather than heavy.

The result is a white with the delicacy of the variety but considerably more depth, persistence and mineral character.

The vineyard

The grapes come from a tiny parcel of approximately 0.9 hectares near Colmar in Alsace.

The vineyard is planted on sandy, gravelly alluvial soils. These soils drain freely, encouraging the roots to travel deeper in search of water and nutrients.

Gravel also absorbs warmth during the day and releases it gradually as temperatures fall. This helps the fruit ripen evenly while retaining the freshness required for a balanced dry white.

The parcel includes both white and pink Chasselas vines, reflecting the traditional mixed plantings found in older European vineyards.

Its combination of ancient vines, low yields and well-drained soils gives the finished wine a density that is unusual for Chasselas, along with its characteristic chalky and gently savoury finish.

The Domaine Schoffit story

Domaine Schoffit is a family estate based in Colmar, in the heart of Alsace.

The Schoffit family has played an important role in preserving Chasselas in the region. During the 1960s, Robert Schoffit was among those who argued for the variety to remain included in the official Alsace grape register at a time when its vineyard area was rapidly declining.

That decision helped protect old parcels such as this one from being removed and replanted with more commercially familiar varieties.

The domaine is now known for producing expressive, site-driven wines across Alsace, including celebrated wines from the steep volcanic slopes of the Rangen de Thann Grand Cru.

Although this Chasselas is quieter than the domaine’s grand cru wines, it reflects the same philosophy: preserve valuable old vineyards, farm them carefully and allow the site to shape the wine.