A Bergholtz family estate in the southern Haut-Rhin, working the Spiegel Grand Cru beneath Guebwiller's four Grand Cru slopes.
Tip: Bergholtz is a quiet alternative base south of Guebwiller; start with Loberger's Spiegel Grand Cru, then add the village Gewurztraminer.
Address: 11 Rue Principale, 68500 Bergholtz, France, Alsace
Demeter biodynamic Bergholtz estate working all four Guebwiller Grands Crus, one of the rare houses to vertically taste the climats side by side.
Tip: A Dirler-Cade vertical of Kessler, Saering, Spiegel and Kitterle in one sitting is one of the clearest Grand Cru-versus-Grand Cru contrasts available in Alsace.
Saint-Hippolyte family estate working serious Pinot Noir on granite below the Haut-Koenigsbourg, a long way from the wine route's Riesling spotlight.
Tip: Saint-Hippolyte's Pinot Noir reputation predates the modern Alsatian red boom by decades; ask for the Vieilles Vignes Pinot Noir to see why locals rate the village.
A 1732-founded Katzenthal grower estate, with Kaefferkopf and Wineck-Schlossberg Grand Cru holdings, well-regarded among local somms.
Tip: Katzenthal is a few minutes drive from Colmar but rarely visited; Meyer-Fonne is the appointment to make for serious mid-range Riesling in the Haut-Rhin.
Demeter biodynamic Bergholtz estate working all four Guebwiller Grands Crus, one of the rare houses to vertically taste the climats side by side.
Tip: A Dirler-Cade vertical of Kessler, Saering, Spiegel and Kitterle in one sitting is one of the clearest Grand Cru-versus-Grand Cru contrasts available in Alsace.
Wettolsheim Demeter biodynamic estate, early adopter of low-sulphur Alsace winemaking, with Hengst, Steingrubler and Pfersigberg Grand Cru holdings.
Tip: The Hengst Pinot Noir is one of the first wines to take advantage of the 2022 Alsace Grand Cru Pinot Noir decree; Barmes-Buecher is the producer to start the tasting.
A family biodynamic Hunawihr estate with Rosacker Grand Cru Riesling, far less hyped than the village's big names and the locals' value pick.
Tip: Ask for the Rosacker Riesling and the village Pinot Noir; Hunawihr is one of the prettiest stork villages on the route and a calmer base than Riquewihr.
Scherwiller's biodynamic natural-leaning estate in a striking straw-bale cellar, run by the Dietrich brothers from 2014 onward.
Tip: The straw-bale cellar is itself worth a visit; book a tasting and ask about the low-sulphur reds, a side of Alsatian Pinot Noir most visitors never see.
