Wine
To celebrate the cooperative winery’s 80th anniversary, Bestheim has produced an extra-brut crémant that stands out for the complexity of its aromas, the uniqueness of its ‘reserve éternelle’ and its harmonious character. Only 7,800 bottles have been produced.
Latest edition : 27 April 2026
IDENTITY
This Crémant Soléra is crafted from a blend of several vintages, based on 100% Pinot Blanc (primarily 2017 and 2018). Each bottling is enriched with a small proportion of older wines — a process that gives this cuvée a consistent, deep and distinctive character, where the vintages interact and complement one another.
VINIFICATION
The principle of perpetual reserve allows the style to be standardised by incorporating, year after year, a proportion of older wines. The cuvée was then aged for 78 months on racks, giving the wine a fully developed aromatic complexity.
DEGORGEMENT AND DOSAGE
Dosage: extra-brut (< 4 g/l), highlighting the purity of the Pinot Blanc and the depth provided by the reserve wines.
Appearance
A pale gold colour supported by a string of fine bubbles, refined by time.
Nose
Distinct notes of almond and hazelnut, typical of the Solera method and its long ageing.
Palate
A generous, full-bodied texture, supported by a lovely, structuring acidity that balances its natural richness. The wine lingers in a long, delicately briny finish, affirming its gastronomic character.
Food and wine pairing
Scallops, risotto, light poultry dishes and contemporary vegetarian creations
Bestheim, the Alsatian cooperative, is celebrating its 80th anniversary. In 1946, its founding members were nicknamed the ‘moon hunters’ for attempting to realise a project deemed completely unrealistic. Imagine this: after six years of war, with the villages of Alsace in ruins, the 32 winegrowers from the hamlet of Bennwihr, north-west of Colmar, decided to build a communal wine storehouse together to house their harvest. They organised themselves into a cooperative and joined forces to produce and market their wine. The mayor of Bennwihr, Charles Becker, was the first president of this organisation, which symbolised resilience and solidarity. The ‘moon hunters’ replanted the devastated vineyard plots and modernised the facilities. Moreover, more and more winegrowers joined them. By 1949, the cooperative already had 149 members, and their numbers continued to grow over time.
The spirit and passion of the pioneers are still very much alive. Subsequent generations have carefully tended several Alsace Grand Crus (Schlossberg, Mambourg, Zinnkoepflé, Kaefferkopf, Vorbourg), remaining at the forefront of Alsatian viticulture. In 1976, they played a part in the emergence of the Crémant d’Alsace appellation.
Far from fierce individualism, the sense of community endures and new partnerships emerge: mergers with the Westhalten cellars, the Heim estate, the Obernai cellar and the Kioentzheim-Kaysersberg cellar. This pillar of Alsatian viticulture now brings together 280 cooperative members and a team of 90 employees.
Across 1,447 hectares of vineyards – 60% of which are HVE 3 certified – 10 grape varieties thrive: Auxerrois, Chardonnay, Gewürztraminer, Klevener, Muscat, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Riesling and Sylvaner.
As the first wine cooperative in Alsace to be awarded the Vignerons Engagés label in 2024, Bestheim is committed to a certified sustainability approach based on 12 guiding principles, covering a range of social, environmental, regional and quality issues.
“Bestheim’s cooperative model is part of a sustainability strategy, where the consequences of our actions are considered over the course of several generations. This is the case, for example, with the vitiforestry project, launched in 2023 and aimed at improving water management and enhancing biodiversity whilst increasing the vines’ resilience to droughts, which are expected to become more frequent and severe due to climate change. “The effects will not be immediate but will unfold over several decades: our commitment, however, stems from our responsibility as winegrowers to pass on to our children and grandchildren a sustainable vineyard that allows for the continuation of a profitable viticulture that respects both people and the environment,” says Agostino Panetta, Managing Director.
Alcohol abuse is dangerous for health. To consume with moderation
Crémant Soléra, Bestheim, 25 €
Boutique Bestheim, 3 rue du Général de Gaulle, 68630 Bennwihr, tél. 03 89 49 09 29
https://www.bestheim.com