DOMAINE ZUSSLIN VALENTIN

What DOMAINE ZUSSLIN VALENTIN does

Domaine Valentin Zusslin is a family-owned biodynamic winery based in Orschwihr, Alsace, France, founded in 1691 by Swiss winemaker Jodocus Cislé and currently operated by the 13th generation, Marie and Jean-Paul Zusslin, who took over in 2000. The estate cultivates 16 hectares of vineyard — including plantings on the Grand Cru Pfingstberg and the family's Clos Liebenberg monopole — and produces approximately 90,000 bottles per year of Alsace AOC wines, Crémants d'Alsace, and estate-distilled eaux-de-vie. Vinification follows a deliberate minimal-intervention philosophy: hand-harvested grapes, wild-yeast fermentation, transfer via a half-story gravity-flow cellar, and extended aging (12 to over 24 months, in some cases 20+ years) in Vosgian oak foudres, with limited or zero sulfur additions.

The estate has been farmed biodynamically since 1997, when Jean-Marie Zusslin converted the entire property, and is certified by ECOCERT, BIODYVIN (SIVCBD), and Renaissance des Appellations. Supporting practices include agroforestry, beekeeping, birdhouses, sheep grazing, and animal traction with a Comtois draught horse introduced in 2012. Biodiversity infrastructure and these certifications are explicitly used as part of the brand narrative and have been cited by French wine publications including Revue du Vin de France, Bettane et Desseauve, Paris Match, and Le Monde.

Revenue is generated through direct-to-consumer channels: a dedicated e-commerce shop (shop.zusslin.com, launched in 2020), downloadable PDF order forms, and on-site visits and tastings by appointment at the Orschwihr estate. Pricing is not publicly disclosed on the website and is handled through quote-based interactions with individual consumers, collectors, and the hospitality trade. The company is privately held by the Zusslin family with no external investment, no institutional ownership, and no public listing. Headcount is approximately five employees, including the two principals.

Name

DOMAINE ZUSSLIN VALENTIN

Legal name

Domaine Valentin Zusslin

Website

https://zusslin.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Domaine Valentin Zusslin is a 13th-generation family biodynamic winery in Orschwihr, Alsace, producing ~90,000 bottles/year of Alsace AOC wines, Crémants d'Alsace, and estate spirits, sold direct-to-consumer via online shop, order forms, and on-site visits.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Winery / Alsace Biodynamic Wine Production

NAICS

Wineries (31213), Distilleries (31214), Beer, Wine, and Liquor Retailers (445320)

akta.pro primary industry

Wine Production & Winemaking (AFAFAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wine & Sparkling Wine Wineries & Brands (CRADAIAB), Wineries & Vineyards (Tasting Rooms) (THAFALAE), Wine Tastings & Vineyard/Winery Tours (THAJAGAD)

Keywords

• Biodynamic winemaking
• Alsace AOC wines
• Crémants d'Alsace
• Grand Cru Riesling
• Estate eaux-de-vie

Headquarters

HQ city

Orschwihr

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Direct Wine Sales: The winery generates revenue through direct sales of Alsace wines and Crémants d'Alsace to consumers, collectors, and the hospitality trade via their e-commerce shop and order forms.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Domaine Valentin Zusslin is a biodynamic Alsace estate producing ~90,000 bottles per year from 16 hectares in Orschwihr, including Alsace AOC still wines (notably Riesling from Grand Cru Pfingstberg and wines from the Clos Liebenberg monopole and Bollenberg lieu-dit), Crémants d'Alsace, limited Pinot Noir cuvées such as Harmonie, and estate-distilled eaux-de-vie. The estate sells these products directly to consumers via shop.zusslin.com, order forms, and on-site visits/tastings, with the winemaking philosophy centered on hand-harvesting, wild-yeast fermentation, gravity-flow cellar handling, Vosgian oak foudre aging, and minimal sulfur use.

Product overview

Domaine Valentin Zusslin is a biodynamic Alsace winery operating since 1691, now managed by the 13th generation (Marie & Jean-Paul Zusslin). The estate covers 16 hectares in Orschwihr, producing a portfolio of Alsace AOC wines, Crémants d'Alsace, and fruit spirits (eaux-de-vie). The core offering spans multiple named products: Grand Cru Pfingstberg Riesling (the village's only Grand Cru), Clos Liebenberg still wines and Crémant (a ~4 ha family monopole), Bollenberg AOC wines (the main terroir), and Premier Cru-level wines from the Luft and Neuberg sub-plots. Pinot Noir is produced in limited quantities including the acclaimed Harmonie cuvée. Since 2014 the estate also produces spirits via a Holstein still. A dedicated online shop (shop.zusslin.com) was launched in 2020 for direct-to-consumer sales. All products share a minimal-intervention winemaking philosophy: hand-picked grapes, natural yeasts, aging in Vosgian oak foudres, and minimal sulfur use.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Alsace AOC Wines Range of Alsace appellation still wines produced across the estate's multiple terroirs (Bollenberg, Clos Liebenberg, and Grand Cru Pfingstberg), including Riesling, Pinot Noir, and other Alsatian varietals, vinified with minimal intervention using natural yeasts and aged in Vosgian oak foudres.
• Crémants d'Alsace Sparkling wines produced using traditional Champagne-method fermentation, sourced from plot selections on the Bollenberg and Clos Liebenberg. Available in standard and sulfur-free (no added sulfur) versions.
• Grand Cru Pfingstberg Riesling Single-terroir Riesling from the only Grand Cru of Orschwihr, aged 10–20 years before full expression. South-east orientation at ~300m altitude on marl, limestone and sandstone soils.
• Bollenberg Wines Wines produced from the Bollenberg lieu-dit, the estate's main terroir, including multiple varietals and a plot-selection Crémant. Soils are glacial Oligocene deposits, coastal marl, and loess on limestone.
• Clos Liebenberg Wines A ~4-hectare family monopole at the top of Pfingstberg hill (~380m altitude), surrounded by wild hedges and forest. Produces still wines and Crémant with a distinctive tension and elegance from cool sandstone terroir. Since 2018, a Crémant without added sulfur is offered.
• Premier Cru – Luft & Neuberg Wines Wines from two specific sub-plots within the Bollenberg hill, developed in anticipation of the Premier Cru appellation in Alsace. Luft (west-facing limestone with 80cm clay) produces a limited Pinot Noir; Neuberg (dry limestone, <40cm clay) produces Riesling and Pinot Noir in very limited quantities.
• Eaux-de-Vie (Spirits) Estate-distilled fruit brandies and spirits produced on-site via a Holstein still purchased in 2014.
• Pinot Noir – Harmonie Cuvée Pinot Noir wines produced from the estate, with the Harmonie cuvée receiving notable press acclaim. Grapes are sorted three times during picking and processing. Available in sulfur-free versions since 2018.

Quantifiable outcome

• Described as 'the most beautiful qualitative progression in all of Alsace in the last fifteen years' by wine critic Philippe Bidalon

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Local Farmers (Compost Collaborations)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborations with local farmers for compost production to support biodynamic viticulture practices. These agricultural partnerships support the estate's sustainability and biodiversity goals.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Domaine Josmeyer: Biodynamic Alsace producer in Wintzenheim, making natural Rieslings, Gewürztraminers, and Crémants since the late 1990s conversion; closely comparable on biodynamic transition, range, and on-trade presence.
• René Muré Clos St-Landelin: Family-run biodynamic Alsace estate in Rouffach (next to Orschwihr) operating since 1648, including the historic Clos St-Landelin monopole and Crémants; directly comparable on family multi-generational heritage, biodynamic practice, and Grand Cru/monopole holdings.
• Domaine Marcel Deiss: Historic biodynamic Alsace producer in Bergheim (Alsace) making terroir-driven Alsace and Grand Cru wines from biodynamic vineyards; directly comparable on appellation, biodynamic practice, and DC distribution model.
• Domaine Albert Boxler: Low-intervention Alsace producer in Niedermorschwihr (near Orschwihr), making terroir-expressive Rieslings and Pinot Noirs with critical acclaim; comparable on Alsace geography, low-yield craft approach, and DTC focus.
• Domaine Ostertag: Biodynamic Alsace producer (Andlau) making organic/biodynamic wines from sandstone and granite terroirs including Grand Cru; direct comparable on biodynamic Alsace production and portfolio breadth.
• Maison Boesch: Small family Alsace producer in Westhalten (neighboring village to Orschwihr) focused on low-intervention Riesling and Crémant d'Alsace; comparable on micro-scale, Alsatian terroir focus, and family ownership.
• Domaine Zind-Humbrecht: One of the most acclaimed biodynamic Alsace estates (based in Turckheim), making single-vineyard Riesling and Gewürztraminer from biodynamic vines with extended barrel aging; direct comparable on Alsace biodynamic production and Grand Cru focus.

Emerging players

• Champagne Selosse (Jacques Selosse): Pioneering biodynamic/natural-method Champagne house renowned for oxidative, terroir-driven wines from single parcels; an adjacent (not direct) comparable on biodynamic philosophy, scarcity-driven cult status, aging potential, and collector-driven pricing.

Broad incumbents

• Hugel et Fils: Long-established Alsace producer (founded 1639) with broader global distribution in retail and on-trade; comparable on Alsace appellation, multi-generational family ownership, and dry Riesling and Pinot Noir, but at materially larger scale and broader market reach.
• Maison Trimbach: Major Alsace house (Ribeauvillé) with longstanding international presence and iconic Clos Sainte Hune Riesling; comparable on Alsace terroir-driven Riesling and tradition-focused identity, but broader and older export distribution.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/zusslin_marie
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/earl-domaine-zusslin-valentin-et-fils

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about DOMAINE ZUSSLIN VALENTIN