Loew

History of Domaine Loew

Heir to a family present in Westhoffen since the 18th century, Étienne Loew took over the winemaking tradition of his ancestors in 1996. Full of passion and ambition, and keen to preserve the best of the past's legacy, he quickly made a name for himself and elevated this estate to among the most compelling in northern Alsace. Together with Caroline, he carries with dedication the responsibility of perpetuating a solid family heritage, guided by a maxim: nothing is ever taken for granted — one must know how to evolve and move forward.

Convinced early on by a viticulture that respects living ecosystems, the couple committed the estate to biodynamics, now certified both Demeter and Biodyvin. Étienne Loew has also taken on a singular mission: the rehabilitation of Sylvaner, an underappreciated grape variety that finds in Westhoffen a perfectly suited terroir. Defending this somewhat secluded vineyard like a guard watching over its ramparts, he has fully immersed himself in the nuances of the area's soils, offering each year a range of remarkable consistency and regularity.

Terroirs and Vines of Domaine Loew

Established within the ramparts of the village, the estate cultivates terroirs of great variety, spread across five distinct villages: Westhoffen, Traenheim, Bergbieten, Balbronn and Scharrachbergheim. Its 6.5 hectares rest primarily on subsoils of marl — red, green and black — as well as sandstone, oolitic limestone, Muschelkalk and Keuper gypsum marl. The estate holds notably a plot on the Grand Cru Altenberg de Bergbieten, vines on the Grand Cru Engelberg and on the recognised hillside of Bruderbach. It is this geological richness that gives the wines their entire character.

All Alsatian grape varieties are represented here, from Sylvaner to Gewurztraminer, through Riesling, Muscat, Auxerrois, Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir. The vines are cultivated according to the strict principles of organic and biodynamic farming, with an in-depth knowledge of their ecosystem. Yields are deliberately restricted through bud removal and green harvesting, and the harvest is entirely manual, with grapes picked at perfect ripeness — a guarantee of irreproachable raw material.

Vinifications at Domaine Loew

The philosophy of the estate is built on a triptych: respect for the terroir, the vine and the wine. Respect for the wine means the commitment to vinify without oenotechnical artifice, allowing the grape to express itself. Fermentations are spontaneous, driven solely by indigenous yeasts, and parcel-by-parcel vinifications give rise to numerous micro-cuvées, faithful reflections of each soil and each exposure.

The ageing process, conducted with patience, can last several years in order to reveal the full depth of the terroirs. The Pinot Noir illustrates this approach well: a maceration of around fifteen days carried out with 95% whole clusters, pump-overs one to three times per day, then bottling straight from the vat, without filtration. This rigour, combined with minimal intervention and cuvées often crafted naturally, yields pure, authentic wines with a beautiful ageing potential.

The cuvées of Domaine Loew

Crémant d'Alsace: crafted using the traditional method in the purest biodynamic spirit, this crémant charms with its fine bubbles, freshness and elegance — perfect as an aperitif as well as at the table.

Sylvaner: Étienne Loew's flagship grape, the Sylvaner Westhoffen turns its back on conventions to become a wine of great stature. Dry yet endowed with richness, with a beautiful profile of cut grass and fresh hay with a lively freshness, it pairs wonderfully with warm goat's cheese or light vegetable starters.

Muscat Les Marnes Vertes: sourced from a terroir of green marls, this fresh and delicate biodynamic Muscat is an ideal companion for aperitifs, asparagus and shellfish, while offering richness and complexity.

Riesling: the estate expresses this flagship grape variety across several single-vineyard wines. The Riesling Muschelkalk and the Riesling Bruderbach Clos des Frères stand out for their freshness and citrus aromas, the Riesling Ostenberg for its minerality, while the Riesling Grand Cru Altenberg de Bergbieten offers a deeper and more distinguished expression.

Auxerrois and Pinot Blanc: these grape varieties yield supple and generous whites, including a remarkable Auxerrois Botrytis — a sweet wine with a luscious palate and a beautiful exotic finish, of exceptional balance.

Pinot Gris Bruderbach Clos Marienberg: sourced from the renowned Bruderbach hillside, this biodynamic Pinot Gris offers beautiful aromatic richness and an ample structure, in a style that is both generous and balanced.

Gewurztraminer: expressed across several cuvées, it reveals its finesse from the Gewurztraminer Westhoffen at the lieu-dits Les Cormiers and Ostenberg, through to the Grands Crus Altenberg de Bergbieten and Engelberg. Refined, spiced and perfectly balanced, these wines combine freshness and exoticism and pair ideally with foie gras, Asian cuisine and characterful cheeses.

Pinot Noir Westhoffen: sourced from black marl and Muschelkalk, this natural red wine vinified with whole clusters and bottled without filtration charms with its fruit and freshness, with notes of black cherry and kirsch. Generous and structured, it pairs wonderfully with red meats or a fine charcuterie and cheese board.

Pinots Barrique: this barrel-aged cuvée brings together the Pinot varieties in a harmonious and powerful wine, combining tradition and maturity, crafted to elevate indulgent meals.

Late Harvest and sweet wines: in years where nature allows, Caroline and Étienne Loew craft sumptuous sweet wines, from the classic Gewurztraminer Vendange Tardive to the more daring Riesling Grand Cru Altenberg de Bergbieten Vendange Tardive. Exceptionally well-balanced, they combine richness, controlled residual sugar and freshness with rare brilliance.