Cut the Riesling Grand Cru bunches alongside the winemaker, lunch in the estate courtyard.
The golden autumn of Alsace: the most magical moment of the wine year
There is a moment, between mid-September and the end of October, when the Alsatian vineyard is transformed. The leaves of the vines change from green to gold, to purple, to copper. The low morning light draws long shadows between the rows. The air is heavy with the sweet scent of ripe grapes. It's harvest time — and it's the time we've chosen to offer our customers one of the most authentic experiences in our catalog.
Adopt a Conciergerie organizes private harvest days every fall at 3 exceptional wine growers on the Wine Route. A total immersion in Alsatian wine-making know-how.
The progress of a day of private harvest
7:30 a.m. — Welcome to the estate
Coffee and pastries in the courtyard of the estate. The winegrower presents the plot of the day, explains the grape variety, the terroir, the state of maturity of the grapes. Distribution of pruners and hoods.
8:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m. — Manual harvest
You are integrated into the team of harvesters. Cutting bunches of Riesling Grand Cru Schlossberg or Gewurztraminer Goldert — depending on the estate and date. The winegrower explains the actions, the selection of the bunches, the difference between classic harvest and late harvest. Adapted pace: you participate at your ease, without pressure.
12:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m. — Winegrower’s lunch
Table set in the courtyard of the estate or in the cellar. Gastronomic Alsatian menu matched to the estate's wines: Munster tarte flambée, revisited baeckeoffe, iced kouglof with Gewurztraminer. The winemaker opens rare vintages from his personal cellar.
2:30 p.m.-4:00 p.m. — Visit and technical tasting
Visit of the cellar: pressing, fermentation, aging. Technical tasting of 6 to 10 wines in the company of the winemaker. You discover the vintages currently being produced — an absolute exclusivity.
4:30 p.m. — Your personalized vintage
Possibility of reserving your own barrel (300 bottles) with personalized label, delivered 12 months later. An exceptional gift for a birthday, wedding or corporate event.
The 3 partner domains
- Domaine A (Kientzheim): Grand Cru Schlossberg and Furstentum. Winegrower family since 1639. 100% manual harvest, natural vinification.
- Domaine B (Gueberschwihr): Grand Cru Goldert. Demeter certified biodynamics. Their Gewurztraminer is ranked among the 10 best in the world by Wine Advocate.
- Domaine C (Ribeauvillé): Grand Cru Geisberg and Kirchberg. Specialist in Late Harvests and SGN. Historic cellar from the 16th century.
- Period: mid-September to end of October (exact dates communicated 15 days in advance depending on maturity)
- Group: 2 to 8 people maximum
- Price: from €450 / person (full day, lunch and tasting included)
- Personalized vintage option: from €3,200 (300 bottles, custom label)
- Transport: transfer by vehicle with driver from Strasbourg, Colmar or the Vosges
FAQ: Private harvests in Alsace
Do you need prior experience in viticulture?
None. The winegrower and his team will supervise you with kindness. The cutting gesture is simple and the rhythm is appropriate. Even children (from 8 years old) can participate.
What should you wear?
Comfortable and durable clothing (grape juice stains). Adopt a Conciergerie provides canvas harvest aprons, gloves andboots if necessary. A hat and sunscreen are recommended.
Can we choose the grape variety harvested?
We plan the dates according to the ripeness of the grape varieties. The Crémant is harvested at the beginning of September, the Riesling in mid-September, the Gewurztraminer at the end of September-October, the VT in October-November. We orient towards the desired grape variety as much as possible.
Is the experience possible in a corporate group?
Yes. We organize harvest days for companies (team building, seminar) for 8 to 25 participants. The estate is privatized for the occasion. Ideal for a management committee or management team.
What happens to the harvest we participate in?
Your bunches are vinified with the entire plot — your work really contributes to the vintage of the year. If you opt for the personalized vintage, a barrel is identified and specifically monitored for 12 months.
Do domains sell directly during the visit?
Yes. Most of our partner estates offer cellar sales at the end of the day, with preferential rates for participants. Adopt a Concierge can organize home delivery (France and international).
Can we extend it with a stay in the region?
Of course. We put together complete oenological stays of 2 to 5 days: grape harvests, estate visits, Alsatian cooking classes, night in a wine château. Each stay is tailor-made.
Why entrust this experience to Adopte une Conciergerie?
Because we select estates with absolute requirements: quality of the wines (minimum 92 Parker/WA points), personalized welcome, authenticity of the place. And because our personal relationships with winegrowers guarantee access that cannot be sold at any price.
