How well do you know Trimbach, Zind-Humbrecht, Weinbach, Hugel and Marcel Deiss? Check out our auction rankings drawn from 2022 hammer prices.

The highest hammer prices in Alsace dominated by five producers: four of them are partner wineries at iDealwine!

Trimbach was founded in Alsace in 1626, so its local and international reputation is well established. The estate is at the top of the ranking with its famous late harvest Clos Sainte-Hune (1989 vintage).

Zind-Humbrecht is a disciple of biodynamic and organic farming, with certifications since 1998. Olivier Humbrecht, France’s first Master of Wine, and his father run this estate with a masterful hand, and their 1994 pinot gris Heimbourg selection de grains nobles ranks second.

Domaine Weinbach comes in third place with its 1989 Guintessence de Grains Nobles de Pinot Gris. A truly magical place, Clos des Capucins is completely surrounded by vines in Kaysersberg. One to visit if you ever get the chance!

Family-owned Domaine Hugel is in fourth place with its Gewurztraminer Selection de Grains Nobles 1989. The 11th and 12th generations of winegrowers continue the legacy of the late great André Hugel, in Riquewihr on 26 hectares of vines.

In fifth place, Marcel Deiss takes the spotlight with the Grand Cru Schœnenbourg 1995 (late harvest). Jean-Michel Deiss is an outstanding winegrower and winemaker who stands out in the Alsatian landscape with his methods, particularly for certain vintages, of planting mixed grape varieties side by side (called complantation, and there is no sorting at harvest time either).

Very fine dessert white wines versus fine dry white wine

Of the 20 most expensive Alsatian wines in the first half of 2022, 13 are sweet, including 12 old vintages (from 1988 to 2001). This proves once again the immense potential of Alsace in its dessert wines: late harvests, or Selections of Noble Grains are honoured in the best vintages. Alsatian white wines are also capable of standing the test of time, and have the particularity, especially Riesling, of keeping an exceptional freshness even with age.

As for the most represented grape varieties, Riesling won the battle with almost half of the lots (nine to be precise). Pinot Gris accounted for six wines in this ranking.

The future of Pinot Noirs in Alsace?

Did you spot an interloper in the rankings below? A single bottle of red has slipped into the rankings of the kinddom of white wine, in this case a bottle of Pinot Noir Grand P 2008 from Albert Mann which went under the hammer for €138. On May 13^th, 2022, two terroirs – Kirchberg in Barr (Bas-Rhin) and Hengst in Wintzenheim (Haut-Rhin) – were awarded the coveted Grand Cru classification. A seismic moment in Alsace, this bodes well for the future of Pinot Noir, with appropriate terroirs and a warmer climate that allows for better ripening!

Some very fine Alsace estates such as Marcel Deiss and Weinbach have already been making great Pinot Noir wines for years, not yet recognised as Grand Cru, like the magnificent Cuvée S (from the Schlossberg grand cru) from Weinbach.