Domaines Schlumberger

Domaines Schlumberger – Family tradition and Grand Cru depth from Alsace

To understand Domaines Schlumberger, one must begin on the steep slopes around Guebwiller. Here, in the southernmost corner of Alsace, lies one of France's most fascinating wineries: family-owned since 1810 , now in its seventh generation, and with approximately 140 hectares, the largest contiguous AOC vineyard in all of Alsace . What Nicolas Schlumberger once began as an offshoot of a textile factory with 20 hectares of vineyards, his grandson Ernest transformed in 1911, through the painstaking acquisition of over 2,500 abandoned parcels, into the estate we know today.

One family, seven generations, one place

The Schlumberger family originally hails from Swabia; Guebwiller has been their home for generations. The sixth generation left behind not only vineyards but also names: Cuvée Anne and Cuvée Christine , the estate's prestige late-harvest cuvées, bear the names of Ernest Schlumberger Jr.'s daughters – a subtle testament to how closely family and wine are intertwined here.

Today , Séverine and Thomas Schlumberger run the winery. Séverine returned in 2001 when her father, Eric, retired from active business; Thomas joined in 2010 , initially as export director, and is now the company's CEO. Two people, one mission: to preserve and develop a legacy that knows no shortcuts.

Four Grand Crus, one village

Guebwiller boasts a unique feature in Alsace: four Grand Cru vineyards lie within its boundaries. Awarded in 1983 , the classification encompasses the Saering, Spiegel, Kessler, and Kitterlé vineyards. Schlumberger cultivates all four – a total of 70 of its 140 hectares are classified as Grand Cru .

The vineyards stretch across elevations between 250 and 390 meters, on slopes with gradients of up to 50 percent , facing southwest, south, and southeast. The result is exceptional sun exposure and natural dryness – ideal conditions for concentrated, aromatically complex wines. However, this also creates an extreme risk of erosion: the family maintains over 50 kilometers of stone retaining walls to protect their terraces.

Craftsmanship without compromise

Domaines Schlumberger describes itself as a "100% harvesting winegrower" : only its own grapes are processed, no purchases, no exceptions. The consequences of this philosophy are noticeable. Tractors are hardly usable on the steepest plots – instead , specially bred draft horses are used. Annual production is 50 percent below the Alsatian average : legally, 160,000 cases per year would be permitted, but only 80,000 are deliberately produced.

In the cellar, Schlumberger relies on traditional wooden cask aging – over 120 casks, which are equipped with a modern thermoregulation system to precisely control the fermentation temperature. Here, traditional craftsmanship and contemporary cellar technology go hand in hand.

Les Princes Abbés – the classic face of the house

The Les Princes Abbés wine range is Schlumberger's flagship everyday wine. The name honors the Prince-Abbes of Murbach Abbey, who shaped the vineyards of Guebwiller for over 1,000 years – only the French Revolution ended their influence and allowed Nicolas Schlumberger to acquire the land. The range encompasses all seven classic Alsatian grape varieties and benefits from grapes sourced from the estate's Grand Cru vineyards. It is often compared to the concept of a "second wine" in the Bordeaux style: Grand Cru quality in an approachable, everyday form.

Above these are the Vendanges Tardives and Sélections de Grains Nobles – late harvest and berry selections, which are produced exclusively in the best vintages , always from grapes of the Grand Cru vineyards.

Schlumberger at Vinoscout

At Vinoscout you will find three wines from the Les Princes Abbés series by Domaines Schlumberger:

• Gewürztraminer Les Princes Abbés – aromatic, expressive, the leading variety of Alsace in typical Schlumberger style (€18.90)
• Pinot Gris Les Princes Abbés – full-bodied, spicy, with the depth of the Grand Cru terraces in the background (€16.90)
• Pinot Blanc Les Princes Abbés – fresh, easy to drink and versatile at the table (€16.90)

All three wines represent what Schlumberger has been known for for over two centuries: consistent origin, meticulous craftsmanship and a distinctive Alsatian temperament.