Organic wine producers in Alsace

Our family estate, managed by Raphaël (4th generation), has 20 hectares of vines located in the communes of Saint-Hippolyte and Rorschwihr. Enjoying an exceptional geographical location with 7 different terroirs, you can taste wines with unique characteristics where everyone will find something to their liking. We invite you to come and discover them!

Our winery

Organic vineyard in Alsace

The conversion to organic wine started in 2018, after more than 15 years of working with the principles of organic viticulture. This change was made by Raphaël due to a personal motivation. At that moment, we didn’t use any chemical products to take out the herbs, we already worked with seedlings in our rows and all the products we used were already organic.

Today, having the label organic is not the end but only one step ahead of this project.

The theory of fullness and not emptiness

Our aim is to stop labouring our soils and only to work with rolling or mowing. To be clear, instead of treating and deleting all kinds of mushrooms and bacteries (that are mostly positive for the vine), we wish to cultivate them with the help of natural compost tea. In this way, these bacteries will envelope the environment and they won’t allow the « bad » mushrooms to develop. Having an organic vineyard in Alsace means respecting the ecosystem.

More than an organic estate… Agroforestry

To begin with, our approach also continues to develop the ecosystem surrounding our plots. Indeed, if our plots grow diverse and abundant flora and fauna, we can also hope that nature will balance itself and thus prevent the vines from being ravaged by various insects. This principle, called agroforestry, has been implemented since 2019 by planting fruit trees, rose bushes, and hedges along our plot. But each year, we aim to plant more and more.

THE HISTORY OF THE WINERY

The beginning

It all began in 1932 when the first generation of winemakers in our family started their business in Saint-Hippolyte. At the time, most Alsatian wineries produced their own wine for personal consumption, combining grapevines, cereal crops, livestock, and market gardening. Joseph Fahrer was one of the first residents of Saint-Hippolyte to bottle his wine for commercial sale. He initially tried to sell about 600 bottles by placing a simple sign in front of the house that read “wine sales.” Moreover, since tourism at the time wasn’t what it is today, he continued to pursue his various occupations to support his family. However, despite the war and the difficulties of the time, he slowly developed his wine business.

Joseph and his wife Maria subsequently had two children: a son, Armand, and a daughter, Jeanette.

Armand was the driving force behind the development of the Fahrer estate, which was still just a farm at the time. Later, in 1954, he decided to stop growing and breeding animals in order to focus exclusively on producing AOC Alsace wines. With the help of his wife Liliane, and taking advantage of the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s, when tourism, wine sales, and consumption were booming, the couple, representing the second generation of Alsatian winemakers, developed the estate.

Together, they created a storage cellar, a winery, and a sales area, producing rich, fruity wines that gave the family estate its reputation.

Armand and Liliane gave birth to two daughters, Danièle in 1959 and Sylvie in 1963. Thus, the third generation arrived.

Sylvie was passionate about the world of wine from a very young age, a lover of nature, and preferred working outdoors to school. After Armand’s death in 1992, the two women, Sylvie and Liliane, managed the estate and continued to develop it.

New Generations

In 1998, Sylvie was joined by her partner Yvan. Together, they created five guest rooms directly on the wine estate.

Then, in 2011, Sylvie was joined by her son Raphaël, who today takes full responsibility for producing AOC Alsace wines, taking his family heritage and his role as an independent winemaker very seriously. He cultivates his vineyard with the utmost respect for the vine and the terroir.

To date, we produce organic wine in Alsace. The family estate has 20 hectares of vines located in the communes of Saint-Hippolyte and Rorschwihr. Enjoying an exceptional geographical location with seven different terroirs, you can taste wines with unique characteristics that will satisfy everyone. We invite you to come and discover them!

Generations

Noble grapes

Different soils

OUR WINES

GIFT CARD

GUEST ROOMS

WINE TOURS

THE TEAM

Discover the people behind our wines

Raphaël

The winemaker

The 4th generation of the estate, he has modernized the structure and brought several projects and vintages to life. A creative and passionate wine enthusiast. More than just a boss, he is always attentive and close to his team. Always with a smile, his welcome makes you feel at home. His specialty: aperitifs with his team!

Sylvie Fahrer

Young retiree

3rd generation of the Fahrer estate. A strong woman who had to assert herself in a male-dominated environment. She took over the family business in 1992 following the death of her father. 10 years later, she created the guest rooms and began wine tourism on the estate. After 45 years of living her passion, in 2023 she harvested her 60th harvest to make a well-deserved retirement. But her gaze will never be far from the cellar and the terroir.

Favourite wine: Pinot Noir

Patricia

Team vines

The oldest member of the team, tireless and always cheerful, she’s the one who pulls the strings of the outdoor manual labor. Having spent her entire career in the village’s vineyards, she has a special affection for the vineyard, which she cherishes almost as much as her husband, if not more.

Her favorite wine: Rouge de Saint-Hippolyte

Priscillia

Guest rooms

Arriving at the estate on Aurélie’s recommendation, she was initially there to help out with the guest rooms. But her dynamism and desire to grow with us quickly led her to diversify into tastings and welcoming customers. Today, she has even discovered vineyard work, but where will she stop?

Jean-Georges

Tractor driver

Arriving in September 2021 for the harvest, he has since covered many kilometers on his tractor to help the vines grow as smoothly as possible. Trained in all types of work, he also participates in all stages of vineyard management.

His favorite wine: “Je ne sais pas”

Claude

Team vines

The quiet strength of the team. Always smiling and cheerful, Claude joined us in early 2022. His calm and experience bring a great deal of serenity to his surroundings. He ensures the smooth running of much of our equipment. The man who whispered in the tractors’ ears.

His favorite wine: Gewurztraminer

Ronan

Team vines

The estate is a family affair. Ronan is Patricia’s grandson. He started working for us as a summer job and, after several years, is still part of the team. Thanks to his grandmother, he quickly acquired a love of the vineyard and a job well done. Today, he works with us part-time, participating in and learning all the vineyard work.

His favorite wine: the Rouge de Saint-Hippolyte

Aurélie

Guest rooms responsible

Sylvie arrived in 2015 when she was still managing the estate. She was initially hired to manage the guest rooms. She is now the longest-serving employee at the estate. She pampers our guests throughout their stay. She will introduce you to the wines, prepare your nights, and gently wake you up with breakfast.

Her favorite wine: 22 Shades of Grey

Natalia

Sales responsible

A South American sun, this Argentinian native joined us before the November 2020 lockdown by hopping on a train before being stuck in Bordeaux, where she previously worked. She speaks French better than many Alsatians, the English of Shakespeare, and her native Spanish. She will welcome you during our tours, advise you during tastings, and be the one you’ll meet all over the world representing us.

Her favorite wine: Amour Éternel – Rouge de Saint-Hippolyte