Christian Binner

Christian Binner, representing the 10th generation of his family's winemaking legacy, is a towering figure in the natural wine movement, not just in Alsace but globally. The Binner family has been farming in Ammerschwihr, Alsace, since 1770, and Christian has profoundly deepened their commitment to natural practices.

His philosophy is an uncompromising dedication to biodynamic viticulture (Demeter certified since 2020) and non-interventionist winemaking. He believes in fostering a vibrant, living ecosystem in his vineyards, which span 8 hectares of family-owned vines and 7 hectares from trusted biodynamic growers, including plots on prestigious Grand Crus like Kaefferkopf, Schlossberg, and Wineck-Schlossberg. In the cellar, Christian's approach is similarly purist: hand-harvested grapes, spontaneous fermentation with native yeasts, long aging on fine lees in old foudres or his unique anthroposophical bioclimatic cellar (built with natural local materials and curved lines to align with natural energies), and absolutely no fining, filtration, or added sulfur since 2013. He believes that sulfur inhibits a wine's true expression and longevity. Beyond his own wines, Christian also founded Les Vins Pirouettes in 2015, a collaborative project that mentors and markets natural wines from other organic and biodynamic Alsatian growers.

Christian Binner produces a diverse and highly sought-after range of Alsatian wines, including Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Muscat, and Pinot Noir. He is particularly renowned for his skin-contact (orange) wines, long-aged cuvées, and expressive Grand Cru bottlings. His wines are characterized by their purity, depth, vibrant acidity, and remarkable ability to age, truly reflecting the unique Alsatian terroirs.