Alsace AOC (Winzenberg granite lieux-dits)Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Sylvaner, Pinot NoirFounded 1956Metz family (Celine Metz)ORGANIC CERTIFIEDDambach-la-Ville
Blienschwiller family domaine certified organic, working the granite Winzenberg slope at the southern end of the Dambach-la-Ville cluster.
Tasting: Daily cellar visits and tastings at the Blienschwiller winery.
Signature wines: winzenberg-riesling, pinot-gris-blienschwiller, gewurztraminer-cuvee-celine
Alsace AOC and Alsace Grand Cru (Geisberg, Osterberg, Rosacker)Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris, Muscat, Pinot Blanc, Pinot NoirFounded 1626Trimbach familyWinemaker Pierre Trimbach (cellar) with Anne and Julien TrimbachRibeauville-Hunawihr-Bergheim
Thirteen-generation Ribeauville house founded in 1626, source of Clos Sainte-Hune Riesling from the Rosacker Grand Cru and a long-standing reference for bone-dry Alsace Riesling.
Tasting: Cellar visits and seated tastings by appointment at the Ribeauville maison; reservations through the family website.
Signature wines: clos-sainte-hune, frederic-emile, reserve-personnelle
Tip: Tastings are by appointment; allow time to walk up to the Rosacker hill above Hunawihr where Clos Sainte-Hune sits.
Alsace AOC, Alsace Grand Cru (Schoenenbourg, Sporen) and Vendanges Tardives / Selection de Grains NoblesRiesling, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris, Muscat, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Noir30 haFounded 1639Hugel family (Marc, Marc-Andre and Jean-Frederic Hugel)Riquewihr-Zellenberg
Founded in 1639, the 13th-generation Riquewihr house that led the 1984 reform giving Alsace its Vendanges Tardives and Selection de Grains Nobles laws.
Tasting: Cellar tours and seated tastings at the Riquewihr house; appointments preferred.
Signature wines: schoenenbourg, vendanges-tardives-gewurztraminer, gentil
Tip: The Hugel Schoenenbourg Riesling sits below the family's cellars; the village walking route passes the foot of the Grand Cru.
Alsace AOC (dry-style focus)Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris, Muscat, Pinot BlancFounded 1580Beyer family (Marc and Yann Beyer)Eguisheim-Husseren
Eguisheim winegrowers since 1580, the house that built the dry-style reputation of Alsace Gewurztraminer and Riesling and supplies many French three-star tables.
Tasting: Tastings by appointment at the Eguisheim house, central to the village ring.
Signature wines: comtes-d-eguisheim-gewurztraminer, comtes-d-eguisheim-riesling, cuvee-particuliere
Alsace AOC and Alsace Grand Cru (Kitterle, Kessler, Saering, Spiegel)Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris, Muscat, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Noir130 haFounded 1810Schlumberger familyBiodynamic PracticingORGANIC CERTIFIEDGuebwiller
Guebwiller estate spanning 130 hectares including 70 hectares of Grand Cru terraces on Kitterle, Kessler, Saering and Spiegel, a substantial Grand Cru holding under single ownership.
Tasting: Daily cellar visits and tastings at the Guebwiller estate; bookings via the website.
Signature wines: kitterle-riesling, kessler-gewurztraminer, saering-riesling
Tip: The Kitterle terraces above the cellar climb at angles up to 50 percent; the cellar visit walks part of the slope before tasting.
Alsace AOC and Alsace Grand Cru (Schlossberg, Furstentum, Mambourg)Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris, Muscat, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Noir31 haFounded 1898Faller family (Catherine, Eddy and Theo Faller)Demeter CertifiedORGANIC CERTIFIEDKaysersberg-Kientzheim-Sigolsheim
The Faller family's Clos des Capucins at the foot of Schlossberg in Kaysersberg, biodynamic since the 2000s and one of the touchstones for Alsace Riesling and Pinot Gris.
Tasting: Tastings by appointment at the Clos des Capucins; cellar visits run through the year.
Signature wines: schlossberg-riesling-cuvee-sainte-catherine, furstentum-gewurztraminer, altenbourg-pinot-gris
Tip: The walled Clos des Capucins surrounds the cellar; visits typically include a walk through the clos before tasting.
