The story begins in 1747 with their ancestor, who decided to invest in a piece of land to work the vine. With great fascination and curiosity, he cultivated the vine to harvest its fruit, the grape. This passion has been passed on from generation to generation until today. Seven generations later, the Domaine works 13 hectares of vines, spread over 5 communes and a hundred or so plots. Today, Michel Fonné has been at the head of the estate since 1989. He himself took over from his uncle René Barth, a winegrower, by adding the land of his parents, winegrowers.

Grand Cru

Marckrain is one of the 51 Grands Crus recognized today in Alsace. Located above Bennwihr, it covers 53.35ha with an east-facing exposure. This vineyard receives the radiation of the rising sun, which allows it to keep a great acidity in the grapes.

Winemaking

The work in the vineyard is spread out over the whole year and starts with pruning (double Guyot), followed by the descent of the woods, arching, green work (de-budding) and manual tying-up. At the same time, work the soil is done and the grass is mown regularly while limiting soil compaction. Grapes are usually picked in October. The harvested fruits are introduced into a pneumatic press where the juice is left for a few hours in contact with the skin (which contains the aromas) for maceration; a process used for aromatic grape varieties. The juice is then slowly extracted and sent to a wooden cask. The most important stage then begins: fermentation. This degradation of sugars into alcohol, accomplished by the natural yeasts contained in the grapes, takes place over a few months. The wine thus obtained is then matured on fine lees until bottling.

Tasting notes

To the eye, this wine has a beautiful golden yellow color. On the nose, we find a great richness and aromatic complexity. On the palate, one appreciates aromas of lychee, mango and peach. The palate is ample, rich, which balances wonderfully the acidity marked by the terroir.

Food pairing

This semi-dry wine can be enjoyed as an aperitif. Well known to accompany foie gras, it can also be served with spicy dishes as well as sweet and sour dishes. The Gewurztraminer Grand Cru Marckrain sublimates sweet desserts and more particularly those with chocolate.