Domaine Michel Fonné
Overview
Estate
Domaine Michel Fonné is a family estate based in Bennwihr, in the heart of Alsace's Kaysersberg valley, between Kaysersberg and Ribeauvillé, and close to Colmar. The Fonné family traces its winegrowing history to 1747. Michel Fonné took over the family operation in 1989, succeeding his uncle René Barth, and has developed the estate with a strong focus on terroir-driven Alsace wines. The estate currently farms 17 hectares across a diversity of Alsace terroirs and has been certified organic since the 2022 vintage.
Climate
Alsace's vineyards lie between the Vosges to the west and the Black Forest to the east. The Vosges provide a natural barrier that protects the vineyard from Atlantic weather systems and contributes to the region's relatively dry conditions. The local landscape is a succession of hills generally between 656 and 1,312 feet in elevation. Within the estate's sites, exposure is an important factor, with several parcels benefiting from south or south-eastern orientations and prolonged sunshine.
Soil
The estate works with a broad range of soils. Rebgarten in Bennwihr is predominantly granitic sand; Roemerberg, also in Bennwihr, is clay-limestone; and Vogelgarten above Sigolsheim is a sandstone-limestone terroir. The Grand Crus add further diversity: Mambourg is calci-magnesian, Mandelberg is marl-limestone, Marckrain is marl-limestone, and Schlossberg is granitic.
Vineyards
Michel Fonné currently farms 17 hectares of vines. The estate's vineyards include three named lieux-dits, Rebgarten, Roemerberg, and Vogelgarten, and four Grand Crus: Mambourg, Mandelberg, Marckrain, and Schlossberg. The estate works with the principal Alsace varieties and has a particular focus on Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris, and Pinot Noir, as well as Crémant production. Schlossberg is planted predominantly with Riesling; Rebgarten is dedicated to Riesling; Roemerberg is used for Gewürztraminer and Pinot Gris; and Marckrain is mainly planted with Gewürztraminer and Pinot Gris.
Cultivation
The estate's vineyard work is carried out throughout the year, beginning with double Guyot pruning after leaf fall. Spring and summer work includes bud removal, suckering, and manual trellising. Soil work has been carried out mechanically for about a decade, while natural grass cover is maintained every other row, allowing a diverse natural flora to develop and helping retain water. Harvest decisions are based on a balance among sugar, acidity, aromas, and tannins, and grapes are hand-harvested with careful sorting. The estate was previously Terra Vitis certified and has been certified organic (Agriculture Biologique) since the 2022 vintage.
Winery
Michel Fonné combines traditional Alsatian methods with techniques learned through international experience. White grapes are hand-harvested and carefully sorted before being gently pressed pneumatically. The must is held in stainless-steel tanks at low temperature and settled after approximately 48 hours. Fermentation relies on naturally occurring yeasts; some white wines may also undergo spontaneous malolactic fermentation. The wines are then aged on their fine lees. The estate's Grand Crus and Vendanges Tardives are aged in large wooden foudres. Pinot Noir is partially destemmed and undergoes maceration with alcoholic fermentation, generally for around 14 days. The Crémants are made using the traditional method, with a minimum of 12 months aging on lees in the bottle.
Family
The Fonné family has been involved in winegrowing since 1747. Michel Fonné took over the family operation in 1989 after his uncle René Barth. Today, the estate is being carried forward by Michel together with his three daughters. Since 2021, the two eldest daughters, Déborah and Sarah, have worked directly in the business: Déborah is responsible for vineyard management, while Sarah is a qualified oenologist like her father. The youngest daughter, Salomé, is studying business with the intention of eventually joining the family company.
Winemaker
Michel Fonné is a trained oenologist and graduated in Dijon. Before returning to the family estate, he acquired Champagne winemaking experience in Damery and worked a vintage in California. He brought these experiences back to Alsace, combining traditional knowledge with new techniques. Today, Sarah Fonné, Michel's daughter, is also an oenologist and works alongside him. Déborah leads the vineyard work.
Focus Point
• Family winegrowing history dating to 1747.
• Organic certification since the 2022 vintage.
• Hand harvesting and careful grape selection.
• Natural-yeast fermentation for the white wines.
• A new generation represented by Déborah and Sarah Fonné.
Marketing materials
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Domaine Michel Fonné logo
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