Loew

History of Domaine Loew

Heir to a family present in Westhoffen since the 18th century, Étienne Loew took over the viticultural tradition of his ancestors in 1996. Full of passion and ambition, and committed to preserving the best of the legacy of the past, he quickly made a name for himself and elevated this estate to among the most exciting in northern Alsace. Together with Caroline, he carries with dedication the responsibility of perpetuating a solid family heritage, guided by one maxim: nothing is ever guaranteed — 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 Demeter and Biodyvin. Étienne Loew also set himself a singular mission: the rehabilitation of Sylvaner, an underappreciated grape variety that finds in Westhoffen a perfectly suited terroir. Defending this somewhat isolated vineyard like a guard watching over its ramparts, he has come to fully understand 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 red, green and black marls, but also sandstone, oolitic limestone, Muschelkalk and Keuper marls with gypsum. The estate notably holds a plot on the Grand Cru Altenberg de Bergbieten, vines on the Grand Cru Engelberg and on the recognized Bruderbach hillside. It is this geological richness that gives the wines their entire personality.

All Alsatian grape varieties are represented, from Sylvaner to Gewurztraminer, including Riesling, Muscat, Auxerrois, Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir. The vines are cultivated according to the strict rules of organic and biodynamic farming, with a thorough 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.

Winemaking at Domaine Loew

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

The aging process, patient by nature, can last several years in order to reveal the full depth of the terroirs. The Pinot Noir illustrates this approach well: maceration of around fifteen days carried out with 95% whole clusters, pump-overs one to three times per day, followed by bottling straight from the tank, without filtration. This rigor, combined with minimal intervention and cuvées often crafted as natural wines, yields wines that are pure, authentic and with a beautiful aging potential.

The cuvées of Domaine Loew

Crémant d'Alsace: crafted using the traditional method in the purest biodynamic spirit, this crémant captivates with the finesse of its bubbles, its freshness and its elegance, perfect as an aperitif or at the table.

Sylvaner: Étienne Loew's workhorse, the Sylvaner Westhoffen turns its back on standards to become a wine of great constitution. Dry yet endowed with richness, with a beautiful profile of cut grass and fresh hay with a crisp edge, it pairs wonderfully with warm goat's cheese or light vegetable starters.

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

Riesling: the estate expresses this king of grape varieties 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, more refined expression.

Auxerrois and Pinot Blanc: these grape varieties yield supple and indulgent 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 indulgent and balanced.

Gewurztraminer: expressed across several cuvées, it reveals itself with finesse from the Gewurztraminer Westhoffen at the lieux-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 character cheeses.

Pinot Noir Westhoffen: sourced from black marl and Muschelkalk, this natural red wine vinified with whole clusters and bottled without filtration captivates with its fruit and freshness, on notes of black cherry and kirsch. Indulgent and structured, it will pair wonderfully with red meats or a beautiful platter of charcuterie and cheeses.

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

Late Harvest and sweet wines: in years where nature permits, 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. Of exceptional balance, they marry richness, controlled residual sugar and freshness with rare brilliance.