Domaine Bott-Geyl
Where it all began to current day…
The Bott-Geyl estate was born from a meeting between two winegrowing families who had long been established in the heart of the Alsatian vineyards. Settled between Colmar and Riquewihr, their destinies linked to the world of wine have followed one another, crossed paths, intertwined and of course united.
Let's start with the Botts, a family from Ribeauvillé who, from father to son, cultivated a passion for the divine nectar by practicing various professions: David Gaston Bott sold wine in Ribeauvillé, his brother was a landowner, while Frédéric Paul Bott, born at the very end of the 19th century, cultivated vines.
A stone's throw away, the Geyls were working on the hillsides overlooking the small village of Beblenheim. Jacques Edouard Geyl, a fine gourmet, cultivated vines there, the continuity of his ancestor Jean-Martin Geyl who was already producing his wine at the end of the 18th century. The Geyl sisters Suzanne and Andrée were born a little over a century later, the second would seal the destiny of these two families by marrying Frédéric Paul Bott on October 27, 1926.
The newlyweds, in love, settled in Ribeauvillé and had two boys, Pierre and Édouard. Suzanne, for her part, took over the family business in Beblenheim alone. With two years of viticultural studies in Beaune and a year in Strasbourg under her belt, Édouard joined his aunt, thus founding the Domaine Bott-Geyl.
On April 18, 1959, a large table overflowing with bottles, provisions and exuding good humour celebrates the union of Edouard Bott and Annette Schmidt, daughter of Riquewihr winemakers. The bottles of the two families danced on the table, stories are told, combining time spent in German cooperages for the bride's grandfather, episodes in the life of the brewers that the Botts were in 1775.
In 1993, Jean-Christophe Bott returns from abroad, having travelled both hemispheres, backpack on his back, a far-reaching gaze, and winemaking in the most prestigious regions...
Don’t they say that travel broadens the mind? For the 24-year-old, the encounters that have punctuated this long journey are in Burgundy (Domaine des Comtes Lafon – Burgundy), in Germany (Théo Luckert – Franconia), and even further afield, in the New World (Rolf Binder Veritas Winery – Barossa Valley, Australia / Koopmanskloof – South Africa).
After only 3 vintages, he was named "Winemaker of the Year" by the famous Gault & Millau guide and continues without deviating from the philosophy of his ancestors: high standards, precision and perseverance.
He is also fully aware of being a passer-on in charge of a heritage acquired over the years by his family. He watches over the estate's vines, keeping in mind that new chapters are to be written at Domaine Bott-Geyl: Pierre-Antoine, his eldest son, has just joined him; the youngest Arnaud is currently pursuing general studies.
Today, the Estate has 18 hectares including 6 Grands Crus, 3 Lieux-Dits (Grafenreben, Kronenbourg, Schloesselreben) and 1 historic Clos (Le Clos des 3 chemins).
