Domaine Clos des Rochers (Grevenmacher) and Domaine Mathes (Wormeldange), two historic houses in the Luxembourgish Moselle, have just concluded an alliance that will benefit both properties.
As from the 2022 harvest, Domaine Clos des Rochers (a family property of the Clasen family, who also run the Bernard-Massard cellars in Grevenmacher) will take over 5 hectares of vines previously exploited by Domaine Mathes, as well as 3 other hectares under lease.
A little history
The Clos des Rochers, created in the 19th century by the Clasen family, now cultivates 22 hectares, planted on the best vineyards in the northern half of the Luxembourg Moselle (Grevenmacher Fels, Grevenmacher Groärd, Ahn Palmberg, Wormeldange Nussbaum, Wormeldange Wäibour and, from this year, Wormeldange Koeppchen) The production objectives are extremely qualitative (small yields, attention to the soil, care of the vines, selections during the harvest, vinification in tuns and oak barrels…). These wines are the perfect expression of their terroirs.
Domaine Mathes was founded in 1907 by Jean-Pierre Mathes. In 1949, when he handed over the estate to his son Marcel, the vineyard area increased from 2.8 to 8 hectares, solely in the commune of Wormeldange. A pioneer of bubbles in the Grand Duchy, he produced the first bottles of Crémant the year the appellation was created, in 1991. His daughter, Paule, who was destined for a career in the hotel business, took over the estate in 1989. She was joined in 2005 by her husband Jean-Paul Hoffmann, a renowned chef who had worked in starred French restaurants.
Bringing the two estates together
It has been decided that Paule Mathes and Jean-Paul Hoffmann would continue the business of the estate with the marketing of the wines that were ready for sale and the vinification of those that were in the process of maturing. Subsequently, they have also agreed with Antoine Clasen (co-manager of Clos des Rochers and managing director of Bernard Massard) to develop a range of crémants specific to Domaine Mathes.
This decision also allows Domaine Mathes to ensure its durability. Paule Mathes had initiated this merger: “Our children did not want to take over the vines, so we took the time to look for a buyer who would respect this heritage as much as we do,” she emphasises. “We are very happy with the outcome of the negotiations because we have every confidence in Antoine, whose quality of work and commitment are no longer in question.”
The estate will also keep its trading activity, which has done particularly well during the health crisis. Mathes is the exclusive importer of Jägermeister in the Grand Duchy.
For Domaine Clos des Rochers, this strategic alliance represents an opportunity to establish itself on an emblematic site of the Luxembourg Moselle: the Koeppchen in Wormeldange. “Thanks to these vines (1.8 hectares), we are adding a prestigious terroir to the range of our estate,” says Antoine Clasen with satisfaction. The Koeppchen Riesling will complete the estate’s top-of-the-range range, which already includes the Groärd (Grevenmacher) and the Palmberg (Ahn).