Ruhlmann

The Ruhlmann vineyard is located in the commune of Dambach la Ville, in the Bas Rhin department of the Grand Est region. It produces two Alsatian Grands Crus: Frankstein and Muenchberg.

The history of the Ruhlmann vineyard

The first Ruhlmann to settle in Dambach la Ville and plant vines was a Hungarian knight who arrived there in 1688. His house on rue du Maréchal Foch still exists.

Three centuries later, in 1960, Jean-Charles Ruhlmann and his wife Marthe intensified vine cultivation and began making their own wine. It wasn't until 1971 that they marketed their first bottles.

To expand his estate, Jean-Charles Ruhlmann ploughed his neighbors' land with his horse, in order to set aside the necessary funds. By 1980, the Ruhlmanns were no longer cultivating wheat fields and raising livestock, but instead devoted themselves to viticulture and winemaking.

When Jean-Charles died in 1993, the Ruhlmann estate passed to his son, André, who had already been working with his parents for some time. In 1994, André's children Laurence Ruhlmann, Christine and Jean-Victor Schutz left their respective professions to work on the estate, which became Domaine Ruhlmann-Schutz.

In 1997, the estate expanded with the purchase of vines in the heart of the Grand Cru Frankstein. Today, Ruhlmann owns three and a half hectares of vines in the Alsace Grand Cru appellation.

Jean-Victor Schutz set about developing international distribution. Today, more than a third (35%) of production is sold abroad, in over 25 countries.

The Ruhlmann vineyard

The Ruhlmann vineyard culminates at an altitude of between 175 and 420 meters, on the slopes of the Vosges mountains. Its soil is complex and varied, due to its location on a geological fault. It is composed of granite, marl, mica, volcanic rock, sandstone and limestone.

Alsace's vineyards have the lowest rainfall in France, as the Vosges mountains form a natural barrier to the west, stopping the humid oceanic flow.

The Ruhlmann vineyard extends over 40 hectares of vines around Dambach la Ville, as well as four nearby communes. It produces two Grands Crus, as well as Lieux-dits with marked geology.

The estate is run in the traditional way. Thanks to its work on biodiversity and respect for the environment, Domaine Ruhlmann now benefits from Level 3 HVE (High Environmental Value) certification.

The Ruhlmann vineyard is planted with Chasselas, Auxerrois, Gewurztraminer, Muscat, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Riesling and Sylvaner.

Ruhlmann wines

Domaine Ruhlmann offers two Grands Crus.

Grand Cru Frankstein
Grand Cru Frankstein is one of the most prestigious in Alsace. Its vines are located at an altitude of 300 meters, facing south-east, in the commune of Dambach la Ville.

The terroir is composed of mica and granite, giving the wine its distinctive flavor, perfect harmony and characteristic minerality.

Grand Cru Muenchberg
Grand Cru Muenchberg - also known as Coteau des Moines - comes from Nothalten vines. These grow on soil made up of volcanic rock, Vosges sandstone and sediment.

South-facing, they are protected from wind and rain by the imposing Ungersberg massif.