When Sophie Schaal reached out to us directly to talk about representing her and her husband's wines, we were beyond flattered. Alsace is a region built on legacy, with vineyards and cellars typically passed down through generations, leaving little room for newcomers to break in. So it says something that Julien and Sophie, without any family land or name behind them, have spent the last decade and a half quietly earning their place among the region's most respected growers.

They founded the estate in 2011 and settled in Hunawihr, a small village recognized as one of the most beautiful in France. The Vosges Mountains rise just to the west, casting a rain shadow that keeps the growing season dry and lets the grapes ripen slowly and evenly. Hunawihr is also home to Rosacker, a single Grand Cru site built on limestone and dolomite bedrock that's long been prized for the purity it brings to Riesling.

When asked about their approach, Sophie and Julien shared:

"We started from scratch, driven by our passion for wine, our dreams, and the desire to build something of our own. From the very beginning, our ambition was to seek out exceptional vineyards and terroirs and allow them to express their individual identities through our wines. Being first-generation winemakers has given us the freedom to build the winery in our own way, combining respect for the extraordinary history and traditions of Alsace with our own contemporary vision of the region."

That belief in letting the site speak led to a firm decision: the Grand Cru range, released under Julien's name, works exclusively within the Alsace Grand Cru appellation. The lineup moves through several of the region's most distinct terroirs, the limestone of Rosacker, the granite of Brand and Sommerberg above Turckheim, the gypsum and marl of Schoenenbourg outside Riquewihr, the blue marl of Furstentum near Kientzheim, and the volcanic soils of Rangen above Thann, with each wine built to carry its own soil's signature rather than a house style.

In the cellar, the philosophy is equally simple: the less intervention, the better. Grapes are hand-harvested and given a long, gentle whole-bunch pressing before fermenting naturally and resting as long as they need. On the Rieslings, Julien and Sophie generally skip malolactic fermentation, a choice made to protect freshness and precision rather than soften it.

Alongside that Grand Cru work, the Sophie Schaal range offers a different entry point: approachable, contemporary bottlings made with the same care in the vineyard and cellar, still rooted firmly in place. Together, the two lines capture what Julien and Sophie set out to do from day one, honoring Alsace's traditions while giving the region a voice that feels current.

We're grateful Sophie and Julien chose us to represent their wines, and just as glad to help a couple who built everything themselves find the audience their wines deserve.