Gourmet products local specialties and wines Barr

Gaëlle and Christophe dust off the spirit of Pépé's bitter beer! Three years ago, these Alsatian liquorists launched their first orange bitter, 100% local, artisanal and natural. Thanks to word-of-mouth, they went from the stage of confidential sales to the opening of a store in the historic center of Barr. Gaëlle and Christophe took the opportunity to expand their S'Amer range, which now includes liqueurs and a spritz that, when combined with beer or white wine, lend themselves to the game of inventive and offbeat aperitifs!

This domain is a family story since Vincent Stoeffler manages with his son Adrien 16 ha of vineyards. Vincent has been running his estate organically for 20 years and has been offering a range of natural wines (without added sulfite, filtration or residual sugar) for 10 years. His Crémant Chardonnay has been awarded 17.5/20 in the 2021 ranking of Alsace crémants by the German magazine VINUM. Another nugget to discover: The Beurot Nature, a wine made from a pinot gris rosé maceration, fruity and greedy.

Created in 1824 by Martin Klipfel and developed by the late André Lorentz (an insatiable promoter of Alsace wines who was a member of the Académie des Vins de France), this beautiful wine house is now run by the Helfrich family. This family business has about 40 hectares of vines, including 15 hectares on the Kirchberg Grands Crus of Barr, Kastelberg and Wiebelsberg in Andlau. Since 1830, it has been the sole owner of the fabulous Clos Zisser. As early as 1921, the House of Klipfel produced Vendanges Tardives and Sélection de Grains Nobles, long before these mentions were made official. It is also one of the pioneers in the Burgundian barrel ageing of Pinot Noir. The estate's marvellous oenotheque contains wines from the beginning of the 20th century. A visit to the cellar and the museum is very interesting as it allows you to discover the life of the vine and wine with a beautiful collection of tools and objects amassed over time. Tasting visits and tasting initiations are organised all year round, by appointment. As for the wines, the choice is Cornelian, as the Klipfel range is so rich in excellent vintages. Some beautiful nuggets to discover during your visit: Sylvaner Côtes de Barr 2016, Rouge d'Ottrott Cuvée Louis Klipfel 2017 (pinot noir), Muscat Grand Cru Kirchberg de Barr Clos Zisser Domaine André Lorentz 2018.

Few winemakers in Alsace do not know the cooperage Baumert. For in a vigneron life, there is always a time when you need to redo a strap, guarantee the waterproofing, change a room to break on a drum. Contrary to what might be believed, the activity of cooper is therefore not limited to making the drums and selling them, but to come on site, with the vine grower to carry out repairs. Maintenance is therefore essential for wine growers who sometimes use dozens of drums each year whose state must obviously be impeccable. The Baumert house works 90% with the Alsatian winemakers. Of course, it manufactures new barrels, on demand, with a capacity of 800 to 3 000, or even 4 000 L. Wood used is exclusively oak in the Vosges, guaranteeing optimum quality.

Since 1997, Joëlle Bachert vinifies the grapes produced on the family estate of 8 ha, of which 2 ha are located on the Grand Cru Kirchberg of Barr. This charming winegrower produces nice still wines from the 7 Alsatian grape varieties as well as Klevener from Heiligenstein and Crémants d'Alsace (Brut, Rosé, Dosage Zéro). In addition to a gîte for 6 people and 5 guest rooms for 2 to 4 people, Noëlle offers you an original accommodation formula: a comfortable cabin (2 people) installed in the branches of a venerable oak tree!

The House of Charles Wantz is a family business with family roots dating back to 1742. The Wantz family have been winegrowers from father to son for generations and the estate has some twenty hectares of vines around Barr. Taken over by Eliane, Charles Wantz's daughter, and her husband Erwin Moser, the estate now meets the requirements of sustainable viticulture. It offers unique wines that are exported to nearly 25 countries. Made from the pink Savagnin grape variety, the Heiligenstein klevener is particularly renowned for its remarkable personality. To be discovered at the Cellier Saint-Marc, the tasting cellar of the House of Charles Wantz, which houses the excellent vintages of the estate, but also wines from French and foreign vineyards.

The Hering family has been producing wine in Barr since 1858. Certified AB, their 12-hectare vineyard extends over the whole of the communal area in the foothills of the Vosges. It includes vines on the limestone soils of the Kirchberg de Barr Grand Cru, on the Clos de la Folie Marco (sheltered from the north winds), on the Clos Gaensbroennel (favourable to gewurztraminer) as well as on the so-called Krug and Rosenegert sites (where the estate practises complantation). The Hering family alternates mowing and ploughing to encourage pollination. The grapes are harvested by hand, after which the juice is extracted by pneumatic pressing at low pressure. Fermentation in Vosges oak tuns takes place without exogenous yeasts. The estate offers days or half-days to discover the various aspects of the Alsatian vineyard, from vine to wine (ask at the estate). A pleasant gîte (2-4 people) is set up as a duplex in a beautiful Alsatian house with a view of the Kirchberg vineyard. Some good wines to discover in the superb tasting room at the foot of the Kirchberg de Barr or in the pretty shop at the entrance of Domaine Hering: pinot noir Cuvée du Chat Noir 2018, Lieu dit Rosenberg (organic complantation) 2018, riesling Grand Cru Kirchberg de Barr 2018, crémant Blanc de Noirs Cuvée Prestige 2016 organic.

Since 1896, Maison Willm has been offering a varied range of fine wines, Grands Crus and Crémants d'Alsace, from soils with a predominance of granite and clay-limestone, including Clos Gaensbroennel, on the terroir of the Kirchberg Grand Cru. The estate practices a subtle marriage of tradition and modernity. The Grands Crus, the Reserve Wines and the Late Harvest Wines are aged in oak tuns. But Maison Willm is also the art of distilling: 9 varieties of brandies and liqueurs made from the fruits of its orchards and elaborated according to tradition. The heating is done in copper stills in a water bath. A skill and experience that gives rise to excellent quality spirits.

Au Comptoir Gourmand is a newcomer to Barr that's already promising a lot! Having tested it from the very first day it opened, we can tell you that there's a good chance you'll quickly become a regular! First and foremost, you'll find a delicatessen stocked with fine bottles of local wines and beers, as well as charcuterie and lots of little surprises. It's also a caterer offering tasty dishes made to order, which are a pleasure to enjoy at home. Last but not least, it's a friendly place where small-scale catering has all the makings of a big one!

For those who care about their well-being and the environment, La Source is the ideal place to shop. Natural and organic products are king here, whether for food, hygiene, beauty or even dietary supplements. You'll find a friendly atmosphere and excellent advice, all at very reasonable prices for both you and the producers, who receive fair remuneration. Regional produce is given pride of place, as are animal welfare and independence.