Office de Tourisme de la Vallée de Munster

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Wine tourism

in the Munster Valley

History of the vineyard by Gérard LESER

Gregory I, known as the Great, became the 64th Pope of Christendom in 590. A Doctor of the Church, he was one of the four Fathers of the Western Church, along with Saint Ambrose, Saint Augustine and Saint Jerome. His influence during the Middle Ages was considerable. 

According to legend, it was Irish monks, disciples of Saint Gregory the Great (+604), who founded the first monastic settlement around 634 at Schweinsbach, near the present-day commune of Stosswihr. Around the year 660, the monks transferred the monastery to the confluence of the two branches of the Fecht, where the town of Munster now stands. From then on, the monastery was known as monasterium ad confluentes, the Germanised form of which gave the name of the town Münster/Mìnschter/Munster. The valley itself took the name Val Saint-Grégoire or Gregoriental in German, in homage to the great pope, patron saint of the abbey.

The town of Munster obtained the status of imperial town in 1235. In 1287, it joined forces with nine other villages to form the Val Saint Grégoire community, an original institution in Alsace, as it lasted until 1847. Since 1287, this community has had its own seal, which gave rise to the Munster coat of arms after 1847. It is clearly visible above the entrance door of the Munster town hall, built in 1550.

WINE-GROWING HISTORY

‘Val Saint Grégoire’ is the historic name of the Valley of Munster, following the establishment of a Benedictine abbey in Munster on the orders of Pope Gregory the Great in 634. 
The name ‘Vallée de Munster’ did not appear until after the Protestant Reformation, around 1540.

The wines of the Val Saint Grégoire have long been renowned.
In Wihr-au-Val, vines were planted by the monks of Munster Abbey and remained their property until around 1085, when the Lord of Ribeaupierre took over the town of Wihr-au-Val. All the old writings about the Wihr-au-Val vineyards mention ‘Die Edlen Weine von Weier im Sankt Gregorien Tal’.
What’s more, the ‘Val Saint Grégoire’ appellation for the wine dates back to at least 1893, as evidenced by a bottle of the 1893 vintage in the possession of a restaurant owner in the Valley.
In 1871, the Alsatian poet Jean Bresch wrote: ‘At the foot of the Sonnenberg, crowned by a small chapel, rises Wihr-au-Val, which is justly proud of its red wine called “Prince Max ”*, which, according to gourmets, is hardly inferior to Brand de Turckheim, such is its fire and bouquet’. (* This ‘Prince Max’ cuvée was dedicated to Prince Maximilien de Habsbourg, owner of the Château de Wihr-au-Val and vineyards in the Linsenberg area).

TERROIR AND LOCAL AOC

TERROIR AND AOCThe ‘Val Saint Grégoire’ district, located in the communes of Turckheim, Zimmerbach, Walbach and Wihr-au-Val, was recognised on 25 October 2011 as a complementary geographical denomination to the ‘Alsace’ AOC for its white wines made from pinot blanc, auxerrois and pinot gris grape varieties. These communes are located on the northern side of the mouth of the Munster Valley, and their vineyards are generally south-facing, which means that they develop earlier than the rest of the valley and the grapes ripen earlier. Planted on granite soils, the main character traits of ‘Val Saint Grégoire’ are freshness, finesse and elegance.C COMMUNALE

VINEYARD TOURS

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CELLAR TOUR AND TASTING AT DOMAINE SCHOENHEITZ

www.vins-schoenheitz.fr

In July and August, every Thursday at 9.30am, visit of the Munster Valley vineyards with the winemaker, cellar tour and wine tasting – free. 

Awarded the ‘Christmas cellar’ label in 2006 – organises cellar tours and wine tastings in a Christmas decor – offers events on the theme of Christmas in Alsace.
Awarded the national ‘vignobles & découvertes’ label in 2012.

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Alsace wines Schoenheitz

1 rue de Walbach
68230 Wihr au Val
Tel. 03 89 71 03 96
This estate produces wines of character, structure and rare finesse on the granite slopes of the valley. Free tasting and sales. Many activities...

Estate wines and local cheese pairing

Domaine Schoenheitz à Wihr-au-Val
1 rue de Walbach
68230 Wihr au Val
Tel. 03 89 71 03 96
In a friendly and relaxed atmosphere, discover the great combinations of Alsace wines and cheeses. Reception and tasting in French and English.

The Turckheim winery

16 rue des Tuileries
68230 Turckheim
Tel. 03 89 30 23 60
The Turckheim winery is located 400m outside the town of Turckheim. We invite you to discover our grape varieties through our specialities, lieux...

Visit and tasting at the TAAL Brewery - New!

Brasserie TAAL
68230 Wihr au Val
Tel. 03 89 77 31 80
Dive into the heart of the Taal craft brewery!

Gourmet snacks at Domaine Schoenheitz - New!

Domaine Schoenheitz
68230 Wihr au Val
Tel. 03 89 77 31 80
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