Historic Wine Cellar of Strasbourg Hospices

Located on beautiful terroirs dominated by limestone in the communes of Hunawihr, Ribeauvillé and Riquewihr, the cellar Winery of Hunawihr’s philosophy is to vinify its production in the purest respect for the richness and diversity of its terroirs. With harvests coming out at 100% of our vineyards, Anthony Bondon, our oenologist, produces a full range of great wines of Alsace recognized by the press worldwide.

From the vine to the glass

The harvest is mainly manual: 100% for Grands Crus and Lieux-dits, more than 60% for the rest of the range. The reception of the grapes is done in whole harvests to preserve the most delicate aromas. After pressing the grapes, the juice (must) is stored in thermo-regulated stainless steel vats according to the grape variety and the plot of origin. We then proceed to settling by flotation, then the fermentation is triggered. Once fermentation is complete, the wine is aged on lees for 4 to 6 months. It is tasted regularly by our oenologist to decide the frequency of batonnages. Then, the wine is filtered through a tangential filtration to be raised again in vats. The wine will only be bottled at the time of marketing, 12 to 18 months after harvest (except for rosés, Muscat and Crémants). The soils and micro-climate of Hunawihr are among the coolest and the slowest in Alsace. Our wines need time to develop their aromas. We always favor tank culture rather than bottling.

Our range

Following a very strict quality policy, we offer a wide range of wines: “Réserve” (Edelzwicker, Sylvaner, Pinot Blanc, Riesling, Pinot Gris, Muscat, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Noir): these are wines to appreciate on their freshness. “Wines awarded” (All seals): it’s a selection of wines that have won gold or silver medals at the main national competitions (Concours Général Agricole de Paris, Concours de Maçon, Concours de Colmar); “Places called” (Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Pinot gris): these wines come from parcels selected for the specificity of their terroir. The production and winemaking criteria are stricter than for other ranges in order to respect the expression and the authenticity of each locality. “Grands Crus” (Riesling, Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer): This name is attributed to wines that meet many quality criteria: strict delimitation of terroirs, more limited yield, specific rules for the management of vines, minimal natural wealth, tasting 51 vineyards delimited according to strict geological and climatic criteria constitute the mosaic of Grands Crus d’Alsace. “Crémants”: (Brut, Rosé, 100% Chardonnay, White of Blacks). “Vendanges Tardives and Selection de Grains Nobles” (Riesling, Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer): sweet wines.

Our history

After the war, the wine trade in Alsace was totally disorganized. In 1954 the vine growers of Hunawihr put their efforts together to vinify and sell their own production. Aware of the richness of their terroirs, the winemakers spent their days working in the vineyards … And their nights building the cellar buildings in which we continue to perpetuate their know-how. Grand Cru Rosacker (Riesling, Pinot gris), Hunawihr grand cru, ambassador of our cellar, its calci-magnésic soil offers a heavy texture and a great acidity to the wines.