Meyer-Fonné Crémant d'Alsace Brut NV

Domaine Meyer-Fonné (also written Meyer Fonné) is an Alsace wine producer based in the village of Katzenthal in Haut-Rhin, France. The winery and family home are in Katzenthal, a village associated with granite soils. The family’s winemaking history in Alsace dates to the late 19th century, and the domaine is led by Félix Meyer, the third generation. Meyer took over in 1992 and modernized the winery while developing export sales. The estate farms about 18.5 hectares spread over several communes—Katzenthal, Ammerschwihr, Ingersheim, Riquewihr, Kientzheim, Colmar, and Bennwihr—giving access to varied exposures and geology typical of Alsace.

Meyer-Fonné focuses on Alsace’s core varieties and appellations, releasing wines labeled by grape under Alsace AOC as well as Crémant d’Alsace. Crémant d’Alsace is Alsace’s official sparkling-wine AOC category. The portfolio includes Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc (often incorporating Auxerrois), Muscat, and Pinot Noir. The domaine also bottles wines from classified vineyards, including Alsace Grand Cru Kaefferkopf, where it produces Riesling and Pinot Gris. Vineyard notes for Katzenthal cuvées cite granite with mica and calcareous marl, while notes for Kaefferkopf cite sandstone marl.

In the cellar, Meyer-Fonné assembles cuvées from multiple parcels and uses traditional élevage methods, including aging on fine lees. Specific bottlings are racked shortly after fermentation and kept on lees until spring bottling, and some are matured in large, neutral oak foudres; several releases list François & Félix Meyer as winemakers. In the vineyard, the domaine is described as practicing organic farming, avoiding synthetic fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides, and using cover crops. Some bottlings list farming as “Organic (practicing),” and regional tourism information reports that the estate began an organic certification process in 2019.

Alsace stands as one of France's most distinctive wine regions, nestled in the northeastern corner of the country between the Vosges Mountains and the Rhine River. This picturesque area produces some of the world's most aromatic and food-friendly French wines, with a winemaking tradition that dates back to the Roman era. The region's unique position along the French-German border has shaped both its cultural identity and viticultural practices, creating wines that balance French elegance with German precision.

The Vosges Mountains create a crucial rain shadow effect that makes Alsace one of France's driest wine regions, providing ideal conditions for ripening grapes while maintaining natural acidity. This semi-continental climate, characterized by warm summers and cold winters, allows the region's signature grape varieties to develop remarkable aromatic complexity. Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris, and Muscat thrive in Alsace's diverse soils, which range from granite and sandstone to limestone and clay.

Alsace's wines are classified under three main appellations: Alsace AOC, Alsace Grand Cru AOC, and Crémant d'Alsace AOC. The Grand Cru designation includes 51 exceptional vineyard sites, such as Schlossberg, where producers like Christian Binner craft remarkable Rieslings that showcase the granitic terroir. These wines express intense minerality and concentration, representing the pinnacle of Alsatian winemaking.

The region has become a stronghold for natural and biodynamic viticulture, with pioneering producers practicing minimal intervention in both vineyard and cellar. Jean-Marc Dreyer exemplifies this approach with his skin-contact wines that undergo extended maceration, creating distinctive orange wines with remarkable depth. Similarly, Bruno Schueller continues his family's legacy with biodynamic farming that produces vibrant, mineral-driven wines.

Alsace's commitment to organic farming extends across multiple generations of family estates. Producers like Domaine Brand & Fils and Jean Ginglinger have achieved Demeter certification, adhering to strict biodynamic principles while crafting wines without filtration or added sulfites. The collaborative spirit of Alsatian winemakers manifests in projects like Les Vins Pirouettes, which unites independent growers dedicated to natural winemaking methods.

Alsace wines pair seamlessly with diverse cuisines, from Asian spices to rich charcuterie, making them versatile choices for wine enthusiasts seeking food-friendly bottles with authentic terroir expression.