Wines and spirits Haut-Rhin

Wine is not just a man's story, as evidenced by the Materne Haegelin winery, whose heritage and know-how are carried by women. 20 hectares in the heart of the vineyard, a beautiful diversity of terroirs and prestigious plots such as Le Bollenberg or Le Lippelsberg. Fine and elegant wines that respect the typicity and character of each grape variety. It is a passion that the women of the estate take pleasure in sharing and making discoveries.

Founded in 1959, this cooperative brings together nearly 80 winegrowers and 150 hectares of vines. Some plots are on the terroirs of the Grands Crus Ollwiller, Spiegel and Zinnkoepflé. The winery houses a museum and a shop stocked with regional products. The Soultz-Wuenheim wine trail and the vineyards of the Château d'Ollwiller are strong witnesses to the wine tourism developed here. The estate is undergoing organic conversion, with the first 2020 vintages!

In Greek, agape means "divine and unconditional love". Vincent Sipp has chosen to name his estate after this word because, he says, "wine is a link with the past and we are transmitters of emotions". The excellent work of this sympathetic winegrower has not escaped the eye of the critics: his wines are often cited in the leading wine magazines. His Riesling Expression is a little marvel of minerality. As for his Crémant d'Alsace Rosé Brut, its delicious aromas of raspberry currant can be enjoyed as an aperitif as well as with dessert!

This brotherhood is one of the oldest in France. It works to promote the knowledge of Alsatian wines. The headquarters of the Confrérie Saint-Étienne is located at the Château de Kientzheim. It includes an extraordinary wine library with the oldest vintages dating back to 1834! The Confrérie Saint-Étienne also issues the coveted "Sigille" label, guaranteeing the quality of the wines concerned. Throughout the year, it organizes thematic oenological events dedicated to amateurs and aspiring connoisseurs of Alsace wines.

The Bannwarth family has been harvesting the fruit of 16 hectares of vines for 4 generations. While all regional grape varieties are vinified, the estate has a predilection for Gewurztraminer "L'Expression du Terroir" and crémant. The grapes are harvested by hand, pneumatically pressed and vinified in stainless steel vats, followed by ageing on fine lees. A tasting session will provide you with information about the soils and their influence on the wine and its aromas.

It is a recognized and appreciated address in Alsace. More than 400^m2 of surface, with more than 2 000 references (wines, whiskies and rums) with magnificent petrus, beautiful series of old vintage Bordeaux. Accessible wines for all budgets but also some rarities including 2 very prestigious domains that only a few wine shops sell in France. Dugat and Jean-Louis Chave, for the connoisseurs. Our attention was also drawn to the hundred or so beer references, the hobby of Nicolas, a passionate brewer. It is difficult to summarize in a few lines the extent of the Relais des Vignes' range... The best is to go there directly and enjoy yourself!

HVE certified, this superb estate has been run from father to son for over 250 years. Hertz wines are made from grapes grown exclusively on the estate. Some cuvées (such as the fabulous Pinot Gris Grand Cru Rangen) are aged in the historic cellars of the Hospices de Strasbourg. Bruno will show you around his beautiful ^16th-century cellar, before you taste fine nectars such as this Sylvaner Hospices de Strasbourg 2020, awarded one star in the Guide Hachette. Guided tours of the vineyards in a 2CV or Mehari (3 pers) with picnic or lunch in a local restaurant!

The Freudenreich family have been winegrowers since 1730! The estate covers 8.5 hectares. Some parcels are located in the Bergweingarten area (renowned for its clay-limestone soils), and Côte de Rouffach. The vines are ploughed, and vinified using indigenous yeasts in wooden barrels. In the cellar, Christophe gives full expression to the identity of the terroir specific to each of the wines he crafts with inexhaustible passion. These are fine, elegant, well-balanced wines, always very fresh.

As a finalist in the Best Cellarman of France 2022 competition, Maxime masters his subject well when he advises his customers on wine, beer or whisky. At Hopla Vins, he offers more than 300 references in spirits and 400 in wines, including many organic and biodynamic wines. Maxime also organizes tasting evenings (available upon reservation) around various themes, always accompanied by cold cuts and cheeses... You can even privatize the place for private tasting evenings. We love it!

Dreamlike and poetic: a timeless feeling emerges in Stéphane's cellar, a space dressed with imposing blocks of Vosges sandstone and local limestone. The place exudes a subtle atmosphere of contemplation. In addition to venerable wooden barrels, one discovers qvevri, earthenware jars from Georgia that give birth to wines made from grapes brought to full maturity, revealing complex fragrances. Here, the welcome and advice are top notch!

Certified organic since 2018, this 13 ha estate is undoubtedly a historic estate in Eguisheim since it exists since the ^17th century! For 20 years, Michel Ginglinger and his wife have been leading it with a master's hand to offer more and more authentic and divine wines, from perfectly managed parcels for a ripe and healthy grape! In the cellar, bright, subtly mixing the charm of the old building mixed with the bar and contemporary furniture, taste without hesitation the Gewurztraminer Grand Cru Pfersigberg 2020, fruity and elegant!

The Belvedere of the Maison Joseph Cattin is absolutely sublime! On the first floor, the tuns and barrels of the cellar can be seen through impressive glass walls. On the first floor, a superb wine bar is surrounded by an immense vegetated terrace that offers a 360° view of the vineyard, the Alsace plain and the Black Forest. Here, wine tourism is very popular: cellar visits, tasting of good wines accompanied by local products, "food and wine pairing" workshops, vineyard tours on foot, by bike or in an all-terrain electric gyropod!

Denis Wurtz has a degree in oenology and manages his beautiful 10 ha estate. He produces wines that are highly appreciated for their straightforwardness. Some good wines to taste during your visit: Pinot Noir (excellent wine for ageing in oak barrels), Héphaïstos (100% pinot blanc, gris and noir), Gewurztraminer Vendanges Tardives (racy, powerful and concentrated). Note that the Domaine de la Vieille Forge has a very picturesque gîte that can accommodate 5 guests in complete comfort.

Emeritus oenologist Thierry Scherrer masterfully manages his family estate, which is HVE (Haute Valeur Environnementale) certified. His talent is regularly acclaimed: his Pinot Noir 2022 is included in the selection of the Guide Hachette des Vins. His Muscat Cuvée Bernard 2022 and his Gewurztraminer Grand Cru Kaefferkopf 2018, with their delicious aromas of apricots zested with citrus fruit, are also highly appreciated.Thierry Scherrer can welcome small groups of around ten people to present his estate. A tasting in the cellar between the barrels completes the visit!

The roots of the Braun family go back to 1583. In 1978, Camille Braun passed on the torch to her son Christophe who cultivates the family estate in an ecological, organic and biodynamic way (certified Bio and Demeter since 2005). The vines are grown on various terroirs: the Grand Cru Pfingstberg and the Grand Cru Kaefferkopf as well as on the Bollenberg hill, the Lippelsberg, the Buchrod and around Uffholtz. The family has set up 2 rural gîtes at the foot of the Bollenberg.

Seven generations have lovingly cultivated the 130 hectares of the Domaines, shaping the hillsides of Guebwiller. The use of Franc-Comtois horses to plough the steepest plots, the 50 km of terraced walls, and the vinification in century-old tuns all bear witness to the desire to combine tradition with the latest technology. Anxious to share their vision of a respectful and responsible viticulture, the managers have developed a wine tourism offer which is worth the detour: visit of the vineyards, the cellars and tasting of the wines of the exploitation.

Since 2014, Jean-Guillaume has run this 25-hectare family estate in the company of his oenologist wife, Céline. Working the soil is paramount for him, who is keen to develop his wines, which have been certified organic since 2021. The estate's terroirs - Grands Crus Kirchberg, Altenbgerg and Grossberg - are highlighted by wines of undeniable quality. Try the Pinot Noir Osmose, aged 12 months in oak barrels, with its lightly woody nose and silky mouthfeel, or the Pinot Gris Clos Ribeaupierre, with its fine, mineral nose and rich, fresh mouthfeel.

HVE-certified, this family-run estate is run by Julien and Aurélie, who are deeply committed to preserving first-rate winemaking traditions. To discover during your visit: Riesling Gand Cru Schoenenbourg 2017 (rated 93/100 by Swedish sommelier Andreas Larsson), Pinot Gris Grand Cru Mandelberg 2019 (2* Hachette des Vins), Crémant d'Alsace Rosé (1* Hachette des Vins). Aurélie and Julien welcome you to their Gîte du Vigneron, a comfortable apartment for 2-6 people.

Right in the heart of the Riquewihr vineyards, the Bra'V microbrewery has been nestled since 1998. Here, classic beers such as Pale Ale, Amber Ale and Weizen blend with more daring and atypical offerings such as whisky- or wine-barrel-aged beers, smoked beers, crémant beers and the Black Page with its coffee and dark chocolate aromas. You can drop by the boutique, book a tour of the brewery or enjoy a convivial moment in the biergarten on summer evenings.