Emmanuelle Milan & Mathieu DeissThe Dreamer's Vineyard
Daughter of Henri Milan (Provence) and son of Jean-Michel Deiss (Alsace)—together they break the rules, move walls, and prove that anything is possible in 7 hectares of biodynamic dreams.
A union of Provence and Alsace—when two winemaking dynasties dream together
Mathieu Deiss grew up in the legendary Domaine Marcel Deiss in Bergheim, where his father Jean-Michel pioneered biodynamic complantation and terroir-focused winemaking. Emmanuelle Milan is the daughter of Henri Milan, the iconic natural winemaker of Provence's Domaine Milan. Their union brought together two of France's most visionary winemaking families [^182^][^197^].
In 2011, Mathieu inherited vineyards from his maternal uncle Cassien Mischler and grandfather in Bennwihr, just outside the valley of Kaysersberg. By 2013, they had founded Vignoble du Rêveur (The Dreamer's Vineyard)—a name that captures their philosophy of breaking boundaries and reimagining what's possible in Alsace [^178^][^182^].
Mathieu continues to work alongside his father at Domaine Marcel Deiss, while Emmanuelle brings her Provence upbringing to their Alsatian project. Together, they converted the estate to biodynamics (Demeter certified since 2013) and began exploring skin-contact wines, amphora aging, and innovative blends that challenge Alsace conventions [^182^][^185^].
"All his life, my grandfather fought for his independence, for true freedom! Working his vineyards today is my homage to his fight, to his idealistic dreams, and I intend to continue his battle. It's time to take back the right to dream, to build a future without limits, to reinvent wine and its definition, to break the rules, move walls and open our eyes, to decide that anything is possible!"
Today, their 7 hectares in Bennwihr represent a laboratory of innovation—co-planted vineyards, 8-month amphora macerations, and cuvées that blur the lines between orange, red, and white wines [^178^][^185^].
"It's time to take back the right to dream"—co-plantation, skin contact, and breaking the rules
Emmanuelle and Mathieu practice the same co-plantation philosophy as Domaine Marcel Deiss—mixing grape varieties in the vineyard rather than planting single varieties. "We've chosen not to accentuate any particular grape, but rather the texture, consistency, depth, and minerality of the wine," Mathieu explains [^182^].
Their winemaking pushes boundaries: 8-month amphora macerations, carbonic co-fermentations, and innovative blends like Pinot Noir macerated on Gewurztraminer juice. They work with 13 Alsatian grape varieties, driven by intellectual curiosity and a desire to explore forgotten techniques [^178^][^182^].
Everything is done with minimal intervention—native fermentation, no filtration, minimal sulfur. The focus is on creating wines that tell a story and provoke discussion. "I want people to ask themselves questions and for that to generate discussion. I like wines to tell a story and for people to be stirred up," Mathieu says [^184^].
- Co-plantation
- Biodynamic
- Amphora aging
- Skin contact
- Native yeast
- No filtration
Bennwihr—7 hectares of Quaternary stone where dreams take root
7 Hectares
Vignoble du Rêveur comprises 7 hectares of vines inherited from Mathieu's maternal uncle and grandfather. Located in Bennwihr, just outside the valley of Kaysersberg, 40km southwest of Strasbourg [^178^][^182^].
Quaternary Stone
The parcels sit on relatively young soil of Quaternary stone—a dynamic terroir that contributes to the wines' minerality and freshness. The 40-year-old vines have deep roots in this unique Alsatian soil [^183^].
Biodynamic
Converted to organic and biodynamic agriculture immediately upon taking over. Received Demeter certification in 2013. The natural environment is the ultimate guide for their viticultural practices [^182^][^183^].
From 8-month amphora macerations to carbonic co-ferments—dreams in liquid form
Un Instant sur Terre
A profound 8-month maceration in clay and sandstone amphora of 50% Pinot Gris, 40% Gewurztraminer, 10% Riesling. Deep hazy orange, intense and full yet with amazing salinity and freshness. Notes of bergamot, white tea, mineral salts, honeycomb, and apricot with firm, fine tannins. Bottled without filtration or sulfur [^185^].
8 months amphora
Zero sulfur
Rien ne Bouge
A very pale red/orange wine made from whole bunches of Pinot Noir macerated in direct-pressed Pinot Gris/Pinot Blanc juice. This revolutionary technique creates something between a red and an orange wine—light, fresh, and completely unique. The flagship of their boundary-pushing approach [^178^].
Macerated in white juice
Revolutionary
Singulier
Carbonic maceration co-ferment of Riesling and Pinot Gris with 10 days skin contact. Native fermented in large oak barrels without additions. Slightly hazy deep gold with grippy apricot, peach skin, orange blossom, and exotic florals. Textural, savory, and utterly distinctive [^185^].
10 days skin contact
Large oak barrels
Pierres Sauvages
A blend of Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, and Pinot Noir from 40-year-old vines. Direct-pressed and native fermented in foudre, rested on lees for one year. Round and elegant, very intense yet well-structured, saline and fine with grip. Absolutely digestible and highly stimulating [^185^].
Foudre aged
1 year lees
Vibrations
From 40-year-old Riesling vines. 10% macerated on skins for 10 days, then blended back with the direct-pressed juice. Native fermented in foudre with one year on lees. Bottled with light filtration and minimal sulfur. Textural, aromatic, and vibrant [^185^].
10% skin contact
Foudre elevage
La Vigne en Rose
An off-dry blend of Gewurztraminer and Riesling. 10% of the Gewurztraminer was macerated on skins for 10 days, then blended back. Native fermented in stainless steel with lees aging. Light filtration and minimal sulfur at bottling. Floral, spicy, and delicately sweet [^185^].
Off-dry style
Stainless steel
Artisan
An orange wine of Gewurztraminer and Pinot Gris from 40-year-old vines. Native fermented in stainless steel with one year on lees. Light filtration and minimal sulfur. Aromatic, textured, and showing the potential of Alsatian varieties with skin contact [^185^].
1 year elevage
Stainless steel
Breaking the Rules, Moving Walls
Emmanuelle and Mathieu represent the new generation of French natural wine—children of legends who refuse to rest on family laurels. Their union brought together the terroir-focus of Alsace (via Domaine Marcel Deiss) and the natural wine sensibility of Provence (via Domaine Milan) [^182^][^197^].
Through Vignoble du Rêveur, they've created a laboratory for innovation—proving that Alsace can produce boundary-pushing skin-contact wines, that amphora aging has a place in cool climates, and that Pinot Noir macerated on white juice can create something entirely new. Their work demonstrates that "anything is possible" when you combine two winemaking dynasties with a shared dream [^178^][^183^].
- Daughter of Henri Milan (Provence)
- Son of Jean-Michel Deiss (Alsace)
- Founded Vignoble du Rêveur 2013
- 7 hectares Bennwihr
- Demeter biodynamic certified
- Co-plantation philosophy
- 8-month amphora macerations
- 13 Alsatian varieties
- Carbonic maceration
- Skin contact specialist
- Rien ne Bouge innovation
- Zero sulfur (many cuvées)
- 40-year-old vines