Alsace producers to visit

I will be vacationing in Alsace in May and would appreciate suggestions on producers to visit. We will visit some of the larger, well known houses, but ideas on smaller, family operations would be especially of interest.

Eguisheim is a beautiful little town and is the home of Leon Beyer. I also love the medieval town of Riquewihr where the cellars and tasting room of Hugel are worth visiting. Nothing really to see at Kaysersberg, but Faller/Weinbach is there and definitely worth making an appointment at.

I would strongly recommend visiting Weinbach. A great visit. If Laurence is there English is fine, otherwise French or German needed.

Luis you are right, I forgot about Catherine. we met with Mama And it was all German or French.

I have heard several people rave about a Trimbach visit. I had an odd experience there, but look forward to going again, as so many people have really raved that I figure it was an aberration. I also really enjoy their wines

For an eclectic visit: Rolly Gassmann. A huge lineup, inexpensive, idiosyncratic wines that I enjoy often and slightly less often I do not enjoy. Fun surreal 50 wine tasting. I usually really like 4-5 wines, like 10-15 and the rest not so much, but it’s a cool weird visit.

I like Guy Wach in Andlau. You can just stop by there. Michael Lux turned me on to them several years ago, and I visit every time in Alsace now. Pure clean, inexpensive wines.

Hugel is a good visit. Sad that Johnny passed away as he was a joy to taste and talk with. If you can schedule a visit of the cellar with Etienne, it is very enjoyable. You can also just stop by the open cellar door for a quick taste of a lot of wines. I particularly enjoy their dessert Gewurz wines and there will be several aged bottles available for tasting and purchase at very fair prices. I think they do a very solid job top to bottom.

I had a relatively industrial visit at Z-H. Very nice people, but the lineup left me nonplussed.

Hope that helps.

Actually, Catherine’s English is more than good enough. It’s Madame Colette who speaks no English.

Hugel is a good visit. Sad that Johnny passed away as he was a joy to taste and talk with. If you can schedule a visit of the cellar with Etienne, it is very enjoyable. You can also just stop by the open cellar door for a quick taste of a lot of wines. I particularly enjoy their dessert Gewurz wines and there will be several aged bottles available for tasting and purchase at very fair prices. I think they do a very solid job top to bottom.

I had a meeting with Etienne and Lionel Rousseau first time I was there, but Etienne didn’t go through the cellar with us. He did give me several bottles as gifts though after a very generous private tasting. Such nice people. A few days after, as I was walking past their tasting room on my way somewhere else, Lionel saw me walking, came out and asked me if I wanted to taste even more. I would’ve if I could’ve. Great people at Domaine Hugel.

Albert Boxler - Niedermorschwihr
Schoffit - Colmar
Both great.

Marc Tempé - Zellenberg
Really fun, and terrific wines in an anti-Trimbach way.

Check out Muré for PN.

Florian Beck-Hartweg posts here, and his wines are well worth trying - nice welcome.

We had a bad experience at Trimbach (very rude), which is too bad because I like the wines.

One of my favorites is Albert Mann, Sylvie Spielmann is a special, interesting style.
For the vineyards, mainly the Grand Crus see Weinlagen (for iPhone as well, it’s fun when youre in the vineyard)

[quote=“Henry Kiichli”]A

Florian Beck-Hartweg posts here, and his wines are well worth trying - nice welcome.

I’m sure that Florian would be THRILLED to host you at his 16th century home/winery in Dambach l’Ville and also give you a tour of his Grand Cru “Frankstein” vineyards. If you check the archives from when he was a “Special Guest” answering questions, you’ll see that they (he, his mother Yvette and father Michel) employ some very interesting techniques.

PM me if I can be of further assistance!

A big +1 on visiting Florian. We had a great time in both the winery and the vineyard.

When did you visit, Rick? Btw, Florian is finally getting some well deserved distribution outside of Cali. Vertical Wine & Beer located right there in McMinnville has them now.

Marc Tempé - Zellenberg +1

His wife has a small wine shop in Colmar, adjacent to the main cathedral. Great place, great people.

La Sommelière
19 Place de la Cathédrale
Colmar
03 89 41 20 38

http://www.lasommeliere.fr

I have heard several people rave about a Trimbach visit. I had an odd experience there, but look forward to going again, as so many people have really raved that I figure it was an aberration. I also really enjoy their wines

Trimbach is very well known so they get the hoards of tourists who take the tour. If you show that you are knowledgeable about their wines, they’ll treat you well.

Um… not always.

I am a good customer, and a longtime buyer. I know the line-up, and like the style.

I admit that everyone has good and bad days, but the rude reception (twice), was a stunner.

I’m happy that many,many other have had good experiences.

The times I’ve been have been with Jean Trimbach. Once with Hubert. Maybe they’re even more overwhelmed than before.

Did you make the mistake of dropping Beaunehead’s name? [wink.gif]
(Sorry, Stuart…I couldn’t resist.)

It’s truly unfortunate that you had such a bad experience, Henry.

My one visit to Trimbach, in the 80s, was an experience I’ll never forget. I went with my mother, and I don’t recall which of the two brothers showed us around (it was the one who spoke English fluently) but we got a really nice tour and tasting when it became clear that I was somewhat knowledgeable about the wines of Alsace and Trimbach’s in particular. He personally called to L’ Auberge de L’ill and got us reservation on a day’s notice. My mother still recounts that story with reverence.

+1 on the recommendation for Eguisheim. If you favor a bone dry style as I do, Leon Beyer would be a good choice for a visit. Richness and tremendous minerality without the weight or sweetness found in many of the wines of the region. My particular favorite is the Riesling “Les Ecaillers.” Beyer’s Gewurztraminers are also favorites. In Eguisheim, I would also recommend a visit to Paul Ginglinger. His grand cru rieslings (Eichberg and Pfersigberg) are excellent.

– Garrett

A couple that haven’t been mentioned yet, both with a fantastic range of wines:

Andre Kientzler (Ribeauville)
Bruno Sorg (Eguisheim)

I also enjoyed Louis Sipp (Ribeauville) - often said to be inconsistent, but showed some older vintages than other houses, a chance to taste some lovely wines with a bit of bottle age on them.

Albert Boxler (Niedermorschwihr) is in a great location with friendly folks running it, but when I was there (September) they were sold out of almost everything at the Grand Cru level. Maybe you would have better luck in May.

I second the recommendations for Eguisheim - gorgeous little town, with beautiful walks through the vineyards and on to the three castles near Husseren if you don’t mind a bit of climbing. I also recommend the walk (along a quiet country road) from Kientzheim to Riquewihr and on to Ribeauville.

And the walk through the vineyards from Turckheim to Niedermorschwihr - lovely village, and the view from the top of the vineyards is pure storybook.

Thanks, everybody, for all the terrific suggestions.

That’s ok, Harry…I’ve had many terrific visits there, though I haven’t visited recently. [bow.gif]

Did Jean reveal that he was on commission then from the Haeberlains? The L’Auberge hit hard times in the '80s and rewarded wineries for referring Americans then…I think they even had seminars about how to pull it off skillfully. I only found out about this after we went on our honeymoon in '83, unfortunately.

George, We were there in late June last year. Great news on Vertical picking them up. Their warehouse is literally just on the other side of the railroad tracks from the Brewery.