The Cattin family came from Switzerland and settled in the Alsace village of Voegtlinshoffen (about 10km to the south of Colmar) around 1720, and began growing grapes and other crops on their arrival. In the 1850s, Antoine Cattin decided to devote all his energy to winemaking. Antoine had two sons, Joseph and Théodore. Joseph became one of the pioneering Alsace winegrowers, and his vines were given the much desired award of Model Vineyard, while his brother, Théodore, turned towards food, working in La Cigogne restaurant in Paris, a centre of Alsace gastronomy. It became an excellent showcase for the Alsace wine made by Joseph, in France and overseas, and the Joseph Cattin brand was born.
In 1978, Joseph’s grandsons, Jacques and Jean-Marie, picked up the family baton and a new dynamic developed in the favourable economic situation of the 1980s and 1990s. In 25 years, the two brothers overhauled their winemaking plant entirely – two new winemaking and storage facilities, modern winery and packing equipment and vineyards that now extend to just over 50 hectares. The two brothers also developed a business involving the purchase of grapes from winegrowers who cultivate nearly 200ha.
The Joseph Cattin estate harvests grapes from all over the Alsace appellation area, even if its own vineyards of over 50 hectares are located in the Upper Rhine department. As a result, it benefits from all the qualities of the region and the combination of its terroirs, which include a large variety of soils of gravel, granite, marl, clay, limestone and sandstone. The influence of the ocean is stopped by the Vosges mountain range, so that rainfall is one of the lowest in France (500 – 600mm annually). Summers are hot and dry and the grapes ripen optimally. Because the vineyards lie on the foothills of the Vosges, the altitude of the plots varies from 200 to 400m. Most of the vineyards face the south-east and thus get maximum sunlight, which makes the grapes incomparably fruity.
NV Joseph Cattin Brut Crèmant d’Alsace
Gold Medal – Concours national des crémants de France 2009, General Agricole Contest of Paris 2010
A blend of hand picked Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Riesling and Chardonnay, this delicate bubbly is fresh, light and fruity, delightfully dry and delicate – an ideal aperitif.
Joseph Cattin Riesling
3 Gold Medals (2009 vintage) - General Agricole Contest of Paris 2010, Macon Contest 2010 and Grand concours des vins d’Alsace à Colmar 2010
Fresh with mineral, floral and citrus fruit aromas, the palate is wonderfully dry with minerally characteristics and white peach.
Joseph Cattin Pinot Blanc
Gold Medal (2009 vintage) - General Agricole Contest of Paris 2010
Fruity, delicate and round on the nose, following on to a light, soft, delicate and subtle palate.
Joseph Cattin Pinot Gris
2 Gold Medal (2009 vintage) - General Agricole Contest of Paris 2010 and Grand concours des vins d’Alsace à Colmar 2010
The golden coloured Pinot Gris has an intriguing, slightly smoky aroma with hints of apricot, leading on to a palate of cardamom, vanilla, cinnamon and myrrh notes mixed with light apricot and tangerine flavours, finishing lightly smoky. A slightly sweeter style than the Pinot Blanc and Riesling.
Joseph Cattin Gewürztraminer
3 Gold Medals (2009 vintage) - General Agricole Contest of Paris 2010, Macon Contest 2010 and Grand concours des vins d’Alsace à Colmar 2010
Rich gold in colour, this Alsace classic shows a complex blend of aromas of exotic spices, lychee, mango and rose. The palate is off dry, spicy and round.