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  • Weather

    7° C Moderate rain
  • Time

    06:38 AM
  • Wine average?

    88 Tb
  • Country Ranking?

    913
  • Region Ranking?

    12
  • Popularity ranking?

    230

History

The Jean-Baptiste Adam family has been working relentlessly in the vineyards and in the cellar since 1614, which makes us one of the rare family estates who can claim 400 years of history in wine making.

Viticulture from father to son for 14 generations, the Jean Baptiste Adam estate cultivates the art of wine making and wine sales in Ammerschwihr, Alsace. The "Book of Gourmet" stands as a precious testimony to the pursuit of winemaking, one that Jean Baptiste Adam, the patriarch, still enjoys consulting.

1614 : foundation of the estate by Jean Baptiste ADAM, "gourmet-winemaker". At the time, restaurants came to Ammerschwihr to taste the wines of Jean-Baptiste Adam in order to find the perfect match for their meals. The “gourmet-winemaker”, expert and trustworthy, would serve as consultant, and broker, to guide them through the vineyards of Alsace. This official occupation, introduced during the Middle-Ages, only existed in the region of Alsace. Today, the occupation has disappeared, but the winemaking philosophy remains focused on gastronomic excellence.

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Vineyards

The winery owns 17 hectares (42 acres) and farms another 4 hectares (10 acres) of vineyards, all farmed biodynamically. The grapes from the vineyards they farm go into the les Natures and Le Grands Vins selections.

Their vineyards are well established as biodynamic, including the famed Grand Cru, Kaefferkopf. This vineyard sits on a steep slope just south of Ammerschwihr. From Kaefferkopf grapes, Adam makes a revered wine of elegance, balance and minerality with excellent aging potential. At 38 years of age, the 1976 was still drinking beautifully at the 400th anniversary. Adam’s finest wines come from the Kaefferkopf vineyard.

During the year 58 B.C., the Romans occupied the left bank of the Rhine River and planted vines for the first time in the region. During the middle Ages, Alsace wine, our “Vins d’Aussey” was very famous. They were widely exported towards northern Europe on the Rhine River. War and disease greatly affected the vines from 1870 to 1918, when Germany opted for a production policy of quantity over quality, but since that time every effort has been made toward producing wines of class. The vineyards gradually recovered from their destruction and were officially recognized by the I.N.A.O in 1962.

 

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Winemaking

With an annual average total production of 54,000 cases of still wine and 11,000 cases of Crémant, JB Adam offers a range of price and quality levels, Les Traditions, Les Réserves, Le Cuvées Jean-Baptiste Adam, les Natures, Le Grands Vins de Jean-Baptiste Adam, and Les Vendanges Tardives and Sélection Grains Nobles.

All grapes are hand harvested. Fermentations are all from naturally occurring yeast. In an effort to maintain the purity of the fruit in his wines, Jean-Baptiste discards the first and last parts of pressing the grapes, retaining only the juice from the cour (heart) of the pressing.

 

Our philosophy in winemaking bases on biodynamic practice.

"Without life in the soil, there cannot be a Terroir effect."

  • Biodynamic practice is a natural method inspired by antique viticultural techniques and brought back to life by rigorous viticulture. Influenced by cosmic and terrestrial currents, it balances the life of the soil which feeds the vines and gives a strong identity to the grapes. "Allow the vine grow to its final expression."
  • The new wines are planted in rows spread by 150 to 80 cm, which gives a density of 8300 vine/hectare. Because they have to compete for nutrition, the roots dig vertically in the soil to bring out the full expression of the terroirs.
  • Biodynamic viticulture considers vines as a living organisms. It strengthens their immune system to protect them from diseases, and parasites without using pesticides, insecticides, or any other chemical treatments.
  • Enemies of the vines are kept at tolerable level by developing of all living entities with natural herbal solutions. All through the year, Jean-Baptiste Adam and his team pays close attention to each individual vine parcel. The decision to harvest is made in collaboration with winemaker. In order to keep the berries intact, the grapes are directly placed into most modern pneumatic presses. The purity of aromas is therefore preserved. The vinification takes place at its own pace at controlled temperature.

We have chosen to produce racy wines, who give the most sincere expression of the terroir. Our vinification is custom made for each vintage.

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Inside information

In May 2014, Jean-Baptiste Adam and his family celebrated the 400th anniversary of their family being grape growers and winemakers in Ammerschwihr.

Throughout the centuries the family of Adam grew grapes, made wine, sold wine locally and sold wine in foreign lands. They survived the Thirty Years War (1618-1648), the Valois and Bourbon dynasties, the French Revolution, the Napoleonic wars, annexation by Germany and back to France, WWI, WWII, famine, disease, you name it. The family has a history of being leaders in their little hamlet, from nearly all of them serving on the town council to some of them elected Mayor of Ammerschwihr.

Taking the reins from his father, Jean-Marie, in 1996, Jean-Baptiste V began managing the winery. He started working at the winery in 1982, at the age of 21, after finishing studies of wine, enology, and marketing. Soon after taking charge of the company, he modernized the winery and expanded it to create a processing and storage facility for the production of Crémant. In 2003, he embraced the practices of biodynamic agriculture wholeheartedly. In keeping with the family tradition of leading, Jean-Baptiste is now considered one of the leaders of biodynamic farming practices in Alsace.

Jean-Baptiste’s daughter, Laure, is now the 15th generation to work in the family business. Armed with a BS in Viticulture and Enology, a Wine and Commerce license, and a Master’s degree in Wine Management & Marketing, she is an integral part of the business. She manages all things marketing for the winery.

Jean-Baptiste Adam produces wines of elegance, balance, minerality and longevity.

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14 different wines with 33 vintages

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