Alsace wine cooperative founded in 1957, with more than 300 hectares and Pfaff Black Tie, a Pinot Gris and Riesling blend.
The producer
La Cave des Vignerons de Pfaffenheim is an Alsace wine cooperative founded in 1957. More than 90% of its grape production is hand harvested, and chief winemaker Jerome Attard is exploring oak barrel ageing and extended lees ageing to differentiate the wines. Pfaff Black Tie Riesling Pinot Gris is a white Alsace blend of equal parts Pinot Gris and Riesling, with floral, honey, lime and pear aromas, discreet acidity and an opulent mouthfeel.
Known for
Alsace Pinot Gris and Riesling blend
Notable facts
Founded in Alsace in 1957 as a wine cooperative.
More than 300 hectares are cultivated across member properties.
More than 90% of grape production is hand harvested.
Pfaff Black Tie combines 50% Pinot Gris and 50% Riesling.
The story
The 1968 Merger
In 1968, the cooperative in Pfaffenheim merged with the cooperative in the neighboring village of Gueberschwihr. The merger expanded Pfaffenheim's terroir portfolio. It added the neighboring cooperative's vineyard properties to the collective base behind the wines, extending the number of places available to the organization. The event came eleven years after Pfaffenheim's founding as an Alsace wine cooperative. The result was a larger terroir portfolio within the same cooperative framework, with Pfaffenheim and Gueberschwihr joined under one organization.
From the atlas
La Cave des Vignerons de Pfaffenheim
An Alsace wine cooperative with hand harvested fruit and cellar trials in oak and extended lees ageing.
At A Glance
Field
Detail
Region
Alsace
Producer type
Wine cooperative
Vineyard area
More than 300 hectares across member properties
Main grapes
Pinot Gris and Riesling
Named wine
Pfaff Black Tie Riesling Pinot Gris, 2024
The Producer
La Cave des Vignerons de Pfaffenheim was founded in 1957 as a wine cooperative in Alsace. More than 90% of its grape production is hand harvested. Chief winemaker Jerome Attard leads the cellar work, with oak barrel ageing and extended lees ageing under exploration as ways to differentiate the wines.
Place
The cooperative's hilltop location south of Colmar has an almost Mediterranean climate, distinct from the rest of Alsace. The setting places Pfaffenheim in a warmer climatic pocket within the region, alongside the grape varieties and blends that define its wines.
Wines
The range uses both grape varieties and blends. Pfaff Black Tie Riesling Pinot Gris is a white Alsace blend made from 50% Pinot Gris and 50% Riesling. Its profile includes floral notes, honey, lime and pear, with discreet acidity and an opulent mouthfeel. The wine pairs with Asian cuisine and bites involving hot sauce.
Pfaffenheim is also exploring oak barrel ageing and extended lees ageing to differentiate wines. Lees ageing means leaving wine on its fine yeast sediment after fermentation.
Final Word
Pfaffenheim exports 40% of its production internationally, extending an Alsace cooperative's wines beyond its hilltop home south of Colmar.