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 harvested 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. Then, the juice is slowly extracted and sent to a wooden cask. The most important step then begins: the fermentation. This degradation of sugars into alcohol, accomplished by the natural yeasts contained in the grapes, takes place over several months. The wine thus obtained is then aged on fine lees until bottling.

Tasting notes

To the eye, this wine has a brilliant silver color. On the nose, it opens up with intense and clear perfumes of white flowers. On the palate, we appreciate a crisp wine with a persistent palate, tense with a beautiful vivacity. The impression of eating directly the grape is very present; typicality of the Muscat.

Food pairing

This semi-dry wine is very pleasant as an aperitif. Its delicate fruit aromas are a perfect accompaniment to asparagus dishes in spring. Also, this Muscat can be enjoyed outside of meals, simply a glass with a snack, to refresh yourself in summer.