It is crucial to know when the harvest should start. Mélanie Pfister is very attentive to the maturity of her vines. Tasting the grapes, deciding to let them soak up a little more of the minerals in the earth, all this requires know-how that can only be acquired over time. His favourite grape variety, Riesling, thrives on sandy and stony soils. It is a robust variety that can withstand the region’s harsh winters. However, Riesling does not do well in hot weather. Some of Pfister’s parcels are harvested late, depending on the amount of noble rot (Botrytis cinerea) on the grapes.