Our history
Created in 1952 to revitalize the Couronne d'Or vineyard near Strasbourg, the Cave du Roi Dagobert can be proud of the progress it has made.
From 70 hectares at its origins, the cellar flirts today with a surface of almost 1.000 hectares developed by its 250 wine growers members, originating from about twenty communes located around the cellar, between Molsheim and Marlenheim.
The Cave du Roi Dagobert is today a major player in Alsatian viticulture. Thanks to the strong commitment of its winegrowers, it has been able to forge an image of professionalism and quality.
The name of Dagobert comes from its geographical position which follows the contours of the ancientdomain of the Merovingian palace located in Kirchheim, and the distribution of the 4 farms which welcomed in the 7th century the famous Roi Dagobert II and his court. The first written reference to the cultivation of vines in Alsace dates from this period at. Dagobert's domain was exploited by 4 royal farms located at the 4 cardinal points of the palace, which left their names to the current villages of Osthoffen in the east, Westhoffen in the west, Nordheim in the north and Soultz in the south. These farms already suppliedwith wine, the royal palace of Dagobert II.
Throughout the Middle Ages, the wines of our territory were honored on the best tables of Strasbourg, and well beyond, on those of the countries of Northern Europe. Thanks to the Rhine river corridor, this prosperous and generously taxed trade contributed greatly to the financing of the construction of Strasbourg cathedral.
Aware of this rich past, the winegrowers of the Cave du Roi Dagobert are keen to enhance this precious heritage by implementing sustainable viticulture, respectful of the environment and the terroirs.
The men
The Cave du Roi Dagobert claims to be a cooperative that brings together men and women who understand that together we can do better and go further than alone.
This motto, which was already the motto of the founding members of the winery in 1952, is still relevant today. Taking control of one's own destiny is the purpose of an economic organization such as the Cave du Roi Dagobert. All major decisions are taken collectively by a board of directors and a sovereign general assembly. This mode of operation, which gives substance and strength to the orientations taken, is shared by all.
In 1997, our winery was one of the first to develop its own internal specifications based on the principles of sustainable viticulture and development. By collective decision and with the aim of improving quality, it has set up plot selections which allow the classification of the vineyard plots before the harvest, and the vinification of the different qualities separately.
Moreover, aware of the need to pass on to future generations an efficient working tool, it has always favored investment in modernization over immediate remuneration, which today allows it to have a modern and functional winery.
Finally, the cooperative winegrowers are proud to showcase the fruits of their labor by hosting tastings in our cellar or at the places where our wines are sold.
Quality & Environment
Beyond what today sometimes seems like empty slogans, these terms are part of a commitment and a daily experience at the Cave du Roi Dagobert.They are the starting point and the qualitative base of our wines. They are the result of a careful viticulture, certified HVE or organic, and are the fruit of the attentive work of our wine growers. Each year, our ambition is to obtain healthy and ripe grapes likely to produce wines that fully express our grape varieties and our terroirs.
Everything is done to support the qualitative potential of the grapes: no crushing, slow pressing, static settling and controlled fermentations. Our modern equipment allows us to carry out precise vinifications respecting the grape varieties to produce clean and precise wines.
It constitutes the natural framework in which the winegrower evolves. When this environment is exceptional, he is all the more inclined to preserve it in order to transmit it intact to future generations. This is why our winegrowers have been committed to sustainable viticulture for over 25 years. This is based on the grassing of the vines, reasoned interventions in terms of treatment and the use of natural control methods. 80 hectares of vines are now managed according to the organic specifications.
Rigor, reactivity and reliability are the objectives that drive our Quality Assurance system. Our cellar is certified IFS FOOD. This certification ensures our customers a complete traceability from the vine to the glass.