Jean and Ludivine Dirler-Cade work all four Guebwiller Grands Crus, Kessler, Saering, Spiegel and Kitterle, Demeter-certified biodynamic since 2007. The house is one of the rare ways to taste a single biodynamic producer across all four climats.
Tip: A Dirler-Cade four-Grand-Cru flight is the cleanest biodynamic side-by-side of Guebwiller's climats; production is small so book ahead.
Address: 13 Rue d'Issenheim, 68500 Bergholtz, France, Alsace
Gustave Lorentz of Bergheim has farmed its estate vineyards organically since 2012, with Ecocert certification. The house bottles Altenberg de Bergheim and Kanzlerberg Grand Cru alongside its value Reserve range, all from certified-organic fruit.
Tip: Lorentz organic certification covers only the estate vineyards, not the negociant fruit; ask which cuvees carry the certification when buying.
Vincent Stoeffler in Barr has farmed organically with Ecocert certification since 2010, on the Kirchberg de Barr Grand Cru. With Pinot Noir admitted to that Grand Cru in 2022, the estate bottles certified-organic Alsatian Pinot Noir at Grand Cru level.
Tip: The Kirchberg de Barr Pinot Noir is now Grand Cru-eligible following 2022; this is the certified-organic bottling to chase.
Felix Meyer farms his 1732-founded Katzenthal estate organically with Ecocert certification, on the Kaefferkopf and Wineck-Schlossberg Grands Crus. The range is a respected mid-tier organic line-up on the wine route.
Tip: Meyer-Fonne's Vieilles Vignes Pinot Noir is the certified-organic gateway; the Kaefferkopf Riesling is the climbing-on step up.
Mittnacht Freres in Hunawihr has farmed organically with Ecocert certification since 2010 and works biodynamic preparations on the Rosacker Grand Cru. The house bottles certified-organic Riesling and Pinot Noir at accessible prices.
Tip: The Rosacker Riesling and a village Pinot Noir are the bottles to start with at this Hunawihr family estate.
Sylvie Spielmann's Bergheim estate has farmed organically with Ecocert certification since 2008 and works biodynamic preparations, with parcels in the Altenberg de Bergheim Grand Cru.
Tip: The Altenberg de Bergheim Grand Cru is a singular Alsace, planted in a permitted field blend; Spielmann's bottling is the value entry to the climat.
Pierre and Jean Dietrich rebuilt their Scherwiller estate as Domaine Achillee in 2014 in a straw-bale cellar, Demeter biodynamic and making low-intervention native-yeast wines with minimal sulphur, a recognised Alsace natural-wine address.
Tip: The straw-bale cellar is itself worth a visit; ask for the low-sulphur Riesling and Pinot Noir cuvees to taste Achillee's natural-wine end of the range.
