Domaine Simonis
Among the Vosges foothills in the heart of the Alsace region, lies this beautiful biodynamic vineyard. Started in the 17th century in a small town called Ammerschwihr; today it covers seven hectares with vines located on both Kaefferkopf and Marckrain grand cru terroir. Immersed in the world of wine since birth, Etienne Simonis took over the management of the vineyard in 1996 when his father René retired. Combining know-how passed on by earlier generations and experience acquired during his studies in Beaune, he made the decision to increase his plot areas while reducing their yield, as a means of achieving excellence.
Domaine Simonis is one of the biodynamic pioneers in Alsace, eliminating chemicals over 20 years ago. The switch to organic wine growing is one way of keeping the soil "alive", helping vine roots dig deep to find the minerals they need to thrive. This style results in better quality and flavourful grapes, reflecting the type of the soil on which they grow. In order to obtain the wine's full potential and character, Etienne Simonis never uses oenological additives, never adds sugar and exclusively uses the yeasts naturally present in the containers and on the grapes. More than twenty different wines are produced at the property including red, white, rosé and orange wines.
