Over the years we have experimented with, discovered or perfected our viticultural and vinification techniques in a constant endeavour to improve quality. Below are the key dates in the evolution of the Domaine Zind Humbrecht.
- 1959 Creation of the Zind Humbrecht Domaine in Wintzenheim. Construction of new cellars and premises
- 1970 End of pre-filtration of wines which are now kept on fine lees right up to bottling
- 1973 Expansion of stocking premises for wines in bottle
- 1975 First trimming (hedging) machine in Alsace
- 1977 Acquisition of the Clos Saint Urbain at Rangen de Thann.
- 1978 Acquisition of additional pieces of land in the Hengst, Brand and Heimbourg vineyards
- 1981 Installation of a temperature control system in our traditional oak vats
- (First Domaine in Alsace)
- 1983 Acquisition and planting of the Clos Jebsal vineyard
- 1983 Reduction in the spacing of wires to enable shorter pruning of our vines
- 1986 Construction of a new wine press room. Grapes of the entire harvest are pressed whole bunch. (Also introduced the first Grand Cru series Bucher wine press in Alsace imported from Switzerland)
- 1987 Acquisition of the Clos Windsbuhl vineyard
- 1989 Acquisition of a second Bucher wine press, and an increase in pressing time. Radical change in training of vines: vines trained in single plane, foliar surface increased
- 1992 Construction of new storage cellars and commercial buildings in the Herrenweg de Turckheim. Improvement in both the gravity concept and the maturation (élevage) of the wines. Fining techniques abandoned completely
- 1993 Chaptalisation (only rarely used) discontinued entirely
- 1995 Wines bottled later, after at least one year on lees
- 1997 First organic & biodynamic vine growing trials
- 1998 Acquisition of the third Bucher wine press.
- Pressing times increased to over 12 hours
- 1998 First year of conversion to organic culture for most of the Domaine (Ecocert)
- 2000 Year 3 of conversion to organic/biodynamic status.
- The entire Domaine has Ecocert certification
- 2002 Biodyvin biodynamic certification
- 2005 First animal traction used for ploughing of the soil by Nikita (Domaine Zind Humbrecht’s Ardennes workhorse)
- 2010 Acquisition of a vineyard parcel in the Sommerberg Grand Cru
