Gertwiller, 1778: when wine becomes a total experience
There are hundreds of cellars to visit in Alsace, dozens of tastings to be enjoyed. But there is only one that projects an immersive 180° film onto century-old oak barrels while you taste a Grand Cru Riesling aged in those very same barrels. This experience — unique in France — takes place in Gertwiller, twenty minutes from Strasbourg, in the cellars of Maison Zeyssolff, founded in 1778 by Jean-Daniel Zeyssolff and passed from generation to generation down to Yvan Zeyssolff, who has reinvented it without betraying it.
It is one of the addresses that Adopte une Conciergerie reserves for its most discerning members — those who have seen everything, and for whom the authenticity of a family estate transmitted across ten generations is worth infinitely more than an anonymous luxury hotel.
The cellar: a living heritage since 1850
The Zeyssolff family cellar dates to 1850. It houses around twenty oak barrels, some in continuous use for over 120 years — including the celebrated 1897 barrel, made for the Paris Universal Exhibition and still used today to produce the estate's Pinot Gris. These casks are not decorative objects: they are alive, impregnated generation after generation with the tannins and indigenous yeasts that give Zeyssolff wines their inimitable character.
Since the domaine's organic conversion in 2018, Yvan Zeyssolff has entirely renovated his cellars and installed a scenographic space with a 180° immersive projection onto the barrels — a technical and artistic achievement that elevates the visit far above any conventional tasting.
The experience: three acts for a complete immersion
Act I — The cellar and the first tasting
The experience begins in the tasting room, where Yvan Zeyssolff or one of his expert guides receives you. The first glasses are poured: an introduction to Alsace's emblematic grape varieties (Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris, Sylvaner) that prepares the palate and the eye for what follows.
Act II — The 180° film on century-old barrels
This is the pivotal moment of the visit. In the chai, you take your place facing the ancient oak casks. Then the film begins: projected at 180° onto the barrels themselves, with a sound design that envelops the space, it tells the story of the winemaker's personal journey, his philosophy of work, the organic conversion of the domaine, and the bond between the Alsatian terroir and the wines it produces. The mapping technique used on certain sequences creates a visual immersion that few wine tourism experiences in Europe can match.
Act III — The Alsatian meal with wine pairings
The complete experience concludes in the new immersive tasting space, with a traditional Alsatian meal — soup, tourte, dessert — where each course is accompanied by a carefully selected estate wine. Images are projected on the walls, lounge music fills the space: the boundary between the meal and the artistic experience dissolves entirely.
The wines: organics in the service of excellence
All of Alsace's grape varieties are represented in the Zeyssolff range — Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Muscat, Pinot Noir and Crémant d'Alsace. Since the 2018 organic conversion, the domaine works in coherence with the philosophy underpinning the entire visit: each wine is the direct expression of a plot, a soil, a vintage. For our members interested in acquiring Alsatian vineyard parcels — a growing trend among family offices and technology entrepreneurs — this visit offers an incomparably rich introduction to the Alsatian wine landscape.
How Adopte une Conciergerie curates this experience
The public visit is already remarkable. The private version, orchestrated by Adopte une Conciergerie, goes further still. We organise privatised sessions outside public hours for our members, with the possibility of tasting unreleased cuvées, a wine-paired meal conceived with an Alsatian chef, premium transfer from Strasbourg in a prestige vehicle, and an evening extension — a gastronomic dinner at a starred restaurant on the Route des Vins, a night at a characterful property nearby. Gertwiller is just 20 minutes from Strasbourg's main station by direct train: remarkably simple logistics for an experience of rare depth.
FAQ — Zeyssolff cellar and premium wine tourism in Alsace
What makes the Zeyssolff experience unique compared to other Alsatian cellars?
It is the only cellar in France to offer a 180° immersive projection onto century-old oak barrels using mapping techniques. Beyond the technical achievement, it is the coherence of the experience — family history, organic conversion, exceptional wines, integrated Alsatian meal — that makes it structurally different from a conventional tasting.
Is the visit available in English and German for international groups?
Yes. Maison Zeyssolff offers its visits in French and English depending on the time slot. For German-speaking groups or other languages, Adopte une Conciergerie can coordinate the presence of a bilingual specialist guide or interpreter.
Can the entire cellar be privatised for a group?
Yes, subject to availability and in direct coordination with the estate. Adopte une Conciergerie facilitates these privatisations for groups of 6 to 30 people, with the possibility of adapting the programme, the wines presented and the meal served.
How do you reach Gertwiller from Strasbourg?
By direct train from Strasbourg's main station (line towards Barr/Sélestat) to Gertwiller station, 7 minutes on foot from the estate. By car, the journey is approximately 20 minutes via the A35 motorway. Adopte une Conciergerie arranges premium vehicle transfers from Strasbourg or Basel on request.
Are Zeyssolff wines available to purchase after the visit?
Yes. The "Au Péché Vigneron" shop is open following the visit and offers the full range. For clients wishing to order cases for delivery at home or abroad, Adopte une Conciergerie coordinates the shipping logistics.
Is the experience accessible to those with no prior wine knowledge?
Absolutely. Yvan Zeyssolff's approach is designed to be accessible at every level, from the curious novice to the seasoned connoisseur. Technical aspects are presented in a clear and non-ostentatious way, and the immersive film is suitable for a family audience including children.
Can this visit be combined with other Route des Vins experiences?
This is precisely what we orchestrate. A typical day might include: premium transfer from Strasbourg in the morning, private Zeyssolff visit with integrated meal, afternoon exploration of the Route des Vins (Obernai, Barr, Andlau), and dinner at a gastronomic Alsatian restaurant before the return. Adopte une Conciergerie manages all logistics.
Are there prestige or off-menu cuvées available outside the public catalogue?
Certain Alsatian estates produce confidential cuvées not listed in their public catalogue — available only on direct request or through trusted intermediaries. Our concierge network provides access to these allocations for members with a serious interest in exceptional Alsatian wines.
Ready to experience Gertwiller differently? Contact Adopte une Conciergerie to organise your private visit to Maison Zeyssolff and build the Alsatian day that follows it.