Louis Sipp

During World War I, while her husband, Louis, was fighting on the Eastern Front, pioneering matriarch Louise Sipp acquired the first plots to build her family’s Alsace vineyard. The land she purchased, part of Kirchberg Hill, is today recognized as one of three Grand Cru near the town of Ribeauvillé. 

Due to a combination of the ample sunlight on the mountainside and the rich clay and mineral composition of the alpine soil, Kirchberg wines are renowned for their exceptional richness and ripeness. Therefore, it is not surprising that the Sipp House quickly rose to prominence in the region. With the help of their son, Auguste, Louise and Louis continued to grow their estate and began receiving distinctions and awards for their wines in the 1920s. 

Some 85% of the vineyard, comprising a total of 32 hectares and an additional 5 hectares of rented land, is situated on the edge of the town of Ribeauvillé. The remainder is located on the borders of nearby villages of Bergheim and Hunawihr. All the vines are planted at high altitude and 80% of them are on the steep slopes of Kirchberg and the surrounding hills, ensuring they all benefit from the unique microclimate created between the Vosges Mountains and the Rhine River. 

The Estate produces Gewurztraminer, Riesling, Muscat, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir, and continues to harvest each grape by hand as they have done for over a hundred years.

Today, a team of 20 people—led by Etienne Sipp, grandson of Louis and Louise—continues the tradition and works daily to create wines that capture the true nature of Ribeauvillé vineyards.