Laurent Bannwarth

The Bannwarth family have been making wine since 1950 when Laurent Bannwarth, together with his wife Suzanne, began farming in the village of Obermorschwihr in the Haut-Rhin of Alsace, an area bordering Germany and Switzerland. Their son Stéphane joined the business in the late 80s and now makes wine together with his sister Régine and his wife Geneviève. Since 2004, the family have engaged biodynamic principles to preserve the terroir and the health of their vines.

The vineyards lie between the Vosges mountains and the Rhine river, with a southern exposure that is beneficial for the grapes. 10 hectares are planted with traditional Alsatian varieties such as Pinot Gris, Gewürztraminer, Riesling, Sylvaner and Pinot Noir, most of which grow in loess soil. The wines produced here, however, are not all typical of the region.

The Bannwarth family produce three different lines: wines made with traditional vinification methods; natural wines; and a small percentage which are made using Georgian amphorae, aka qvevri. While remaining a great expression of Alsatian terroir, these alternative vinification methods bring these wines into their own category.