Wolfberger is a union of producers located in Eguisheim, south of Colmar in Alsace. The city was also the home of Pope Leo IX, the Reformer (Pope from 1048 – 1054 A.D.). The winery was founded in 1902 when a group of wine-growers in Eguisheim decided to join forces to create one of the first cooperatives in Alsace. The cave counts 450 members today. Wolfberger combines tradition and constant innovation to elaborate high quality wines and preserve their typicity.
Wolfberger comprises 1,200 hectares (2,965 acres), 500 of which are in and around Eguisheim. Their vineyards Sylvaner, Riesling, Muscat, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Noir, with Riesling as the top grape and Pinot Blanc second. Jerome Keller has served as winemaker since 2011.
The vineyards cover 13,000 parcels over 15 Grand Crus. Rangen is the most southerly vineyard in Alsace and belongs to the towns of Thann and Vieux-Thann. This mountainside vineyard ranges from 340 to 470 m in altitude, and its slopes are extremely steep (up to 85%), with dark, stony soil, where harvesting resembles mountain climbing because the grape-pickers work from top to bottom, secured with harnesses and ropes. The grapes are brought down on sledges.
Wolfberger distillery has a heritage stretching back over a century, to 1874. The company produces a wide selection of rich brandies, blending new and traditional skills in its constant search for new flavors. To ensure that only the finest fruits go into the brandies, they have planted a total of 1,000 hectares of orchards growing cherries, Williams pears and raspberries.
Wolfberger eaux-de-vie are made in strict accordance with traditional small-scale distilling methods, which have been handed down from generation to generation. The fruits are carefully selected to ensure the highest quality. They offer an impressive variety of 28 eaux-de-vie.
Total annual production, for wine and spirits, is around 1.1 million cases.
