Bestheim

What Bestheim does

Bestheim is an Alsatian cooperative winery (cave coopérative) headquartered in Bennwihr, France, bringing together approximately 300 winegrower families producing Crémants d'Alsace and still Alsace wines across two production sites: the headquarters in Bennwihr and a dedicated Crémant facility in Westhalten that played a founding role in the Crémant d'Alsace AOC. The product portfolio spans entry-level approachable wines (Chasseurs de Lune, ICE by Bestheim), mid-range varietal and Crémant cuvées (Brut Premium, Cœur de Lune), premium selections (Collection Exception, Grand Prestige), and Grand Cru wines from classified Alsatian terroirs (Zinnkoepflé, Schlossberg). Production is anchored in the méthode traditionnelle (second fermentation in bottle, aging on laths, dégorgement), with a novel Soléra perpetual reserve method applied to the Crémant Soléra (78 months on laths), cœur de cuvée selection for premium sparkling wines, and an agroforestry program (2,000 trees on 15 hectares since 2022) for sustainable viticulture.

The business model is primarily direct-to-consumer: Bestheim sells through its own multilingual e-commerce platform (bestheim.com, supporting French, German, English) with free France delivery for orders of €200 or more, a €5 first-order newsletter discount, and a physical boutique in Bennwihr. Pricing is publicly listed per bottle and per six-bottle case, ranging from approximately €7 for entry-level Muscat to €86+ for Grand Cru Riesling. A secondary revenue stream comes from oenotourism (vineyard visits, tastings, discovery packages) at the Bennwihr estate. Customer engagement is supported by content marketing including a recipe/wine-pairing blog, the 'Extra Brut' YouTube web series featuring winemaker Nicolas Rieffel, and active social media presence on Facebook and Instagram. The cooperative holds the 'Vignerons Engagés' sustainability label — the first Alsace cooperative to do so — and received the Verallia Solidarity Fund in 2024 to expand its agroforestry program.

Name

Bestheim

Legal name

Bestheim

Website

https://bestheim.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1946

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Bestheim is an Alsatian cooperative winery uniting ~300 winegrower families, producing Crémants d'Alsace and still Alsace wines via méthode traditionnelle and selling direct-to-consumer through bestheim.com, a Bennwihr boutique, and international shipping.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wine Production (Alsace Wines and Crémants)

NAICS

Wineries (31213), Wineries (312130)

akta.pro primary industry

Wine & Sparkling Wine Wineries & Brands (CRADAIAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wineries & Vineyards (Tasting Rooms) (THAFALAE), Wine Tastings & Vineyard/Winery Tours (THAJAGAD), Organic Vineyard & Wine Grape Farming (AFAGAKAI)

Keywords

• Alsace wine production
• Crémant d'Alsace
• French sparkling wines
• Cooperative winery
• Grand Cru wines

Headquarters

HQ city

Bennwihr

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Direct-to-consumer wine and Crémant sales: Bestheim sells its wines and Crémants directly to consumers through its own e-commerce platform (bestheim.com) and physical boutique in Bennwihr, offering home delivery in France and internationally. Revenue is generated through per-bottle sales, with pricing ranging from approximately €7 to €86+ depending on the cuvée.
2. Oenotourism and wine experiences: Bestheim offers wine tourism activities (œnotourisme) at its facilities, providing an additional revenue stream alongside direct product sales. Activities include vineyard visits, tasting experiences, and discovery packages.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Bestheim is an Alsatian cooperative winery that produces and sells its own Crémants d'Alsace (sparkling wines made using the traditional méthode traditionnelle) and still Vins d'Alsace across a portfolio spanning entry-level wines, premium Collection Exception, Grand Cru, and Vendanges Tardives offerings. The cooperative unites nearly 300 winegrower families and distributes primarily through its own e-commerce platform (bestheim.com) and physical boutique in Bennwihr, supplemented by wine tourism (œnotourisme) experiences.

Product overview

Bestheim is a cooperative winery producing Vins d'Alsace and Crémants d'Alsace through nearly 300 member winegrower families in Bennwihr. The product portfolio centers on two core categories: Crémants d'Alsace (sparkling wines using traditional Champagne method) and Vins d'Alsace (still wines). These are organized across multiple product lines including Chasseurs de Lune (core approachable wines), Rayons de Lune (premium blue-bottle range), Collection Exception (high-end parcel-selected wines aged in oak), and Grands Crus (wines from classified vineyards). Premium offerings include Grand Prestige Crémants and the innovative Soléra Crémant. The ICE by Bestheim sub-brand targets the ready-to-drink-over-ice market segment.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Chasseurs de Lune: Signature range of Alsace wines and Crémants from Bennwihr, the historic home of the 'Chasseurs de Lune' winegrowers.
• Rayons de Lune
• Collection Exception
• ICE by Bestheim
• Crémants Prestige / Grand Prestige
• Grands Crus

Products and services

• Crémants d'Alsace Sparkling wines produced using the traditional méthode traditionnelle (second fermentation in bottle, aging on laths, dégorgement). Available in Brut, Extra Brut, Demi-Sec, Rosé, and premium Prestige cuvées for individual wine consumers.
• Vins d'Alsace (still wines) Still wines from Alsace including Sylvaner, Pinot Blanc, Riesling, Muscat, Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer, and Pinot Noir, organized by grape variety and product range for individual wine consumers.
• ICE by Bestheim Crémants specifically elaborated to be enjoyed over ice, combining freshness, sweetness, and aromatic intensity. Designed for festive moments on terraces, beaches, or summer evenings. Targets consumers seeking ready-to-drink sparkling wines.
• Chasseurs de Lune range Core wine range named after the 'Mondfänger' (Moon Hunters) of Bennwihr. Includes still wines from various Alsace grape varieties with a focus on approachable, character-driven wines for everyday consumption.
• Rayons de Lune range Exclusive wine range presented in distinctive blue bottles, inspired by the story of Bennwihr villagers. Features still wines with unique packaging and a narrative connection to the moon theme, providing recognizable visual identity.
• Collection Exception High-end wines from select parcels, aged in oak barrels or concrete egg vats. Includes Sylvaner Exception, Riesling Exception, Pinot Gris Exception, and Pinot Noir Exception for premium wine consumers.
• Vins d'Alsace Grands Crus Wines from classified Grand Cru vineyards including Zinnkoepflé, Schlossberg, and Kaefferkopf. Represents the highest expression of Alsace terroir for collectors and connoisseurs.
• Vendanges Tardives & Sélections de Grains Nobles Late harvest and noble rot wines from Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris, and other varieties, produced in sweet styles with extended grape maturation for dessert wine and special occasion consumption.
• Crémant Grand Prestige Top-tier vintage Crémant from the best parcels on the Strangenberg limestone plateau. Made exclusively from Pinot Blanc heart cuvée, aged minimum 40 months on laths. Targets premium sparkling wine consumers.
• Crémant Brut Premium Signature Crémant from Pinot Blanc and Auxerrois, composed entirely of heart cuvée. Aged 18 months minimum on laths, featuring fine bubbles and generous elegance for everyday celebration consumers.
• Crémant Brut Bio Organic Crémant from rigorously selected parcels and organically grown grapes. Vinified in stainless steel without malolactic fermentation, aged 18 months minimum on laths. Targets organic-conscious wine consumers.
• Crémant Soléra Innovative Crémant using the Soléra method with perpetual reserve. Base of 100% Pinot Blanc from 2017-2018 vintages, with 78 months aging on laths. Received 1 star from Guide Hachette 2026. Targets prestige sparkling wine consumers.
• Crémant Grand Prestige Rosé Rosé Crémant exclusively from Pinot Noir, crafted from selected parcels on argilo-calcareous soils. Produced via assemblage of press rosé and saignée rosé, aged 12 months minimum. Targets premium sparkling wine consumers.
• Wine tourism experiences (œnotourisme) Wine tourism activities at the Bennwihr estate including vineyard visits, tasting experiences, and discovery packages. Provides an additional revenue stream and direct engagement with wine consumers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Recognized as 'Meilleur effervescent du monde' (Best sparkling wine in the world) in 2016
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Vignerons Engagés (Committed Winegrowers label)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBestheim is the first Alsace wine cooperative to obtain the 'Vignerons Engagés' label, demonstrating its commitment to sustainable viticulture practices. The label, in partnership with Verallia, also awarded Bestheim the Solidarity Fund in 2024 for its agroforestry project.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Henkell Freixenet: International sparkling wine group spanning Champagne (Alfred Gratien), Prosecco, Cava, and own-label brands. Comparable to Bestheim as a multi-brand sparkling wine operator targeting similar on-trade and retail occasions.
• Nicolas Feuillatte: France's largest Champagne cooperative, with a multi-grower structure analogous to Bestheim's. Comparable as a cooperative-led sparkling wine brand operating at much larger scale and with broader international distribution.
• Champagne Moët & Chandon (LVMH): Global Champagne incumbent under LVMH with vast international distribution and marketing budget. Relevant to Bestheim as the dominant competitor in the premium sparkling wine occasion that Crémant d'Alsace competes for.

Direct peers

• Hugel & Fils: Family-owned Alsace wine producer with a prestigious portfolio of Rieslings, Gewurztraminers, and Vendanges Tardives from Grand Cru terroirs. Directly comparable to Bestheim on Alsace terroir range, Grand Cru offerings, and premium export focus.
• Domaine Zind-Humbrecht: Premium biodynamic Alsace producer with leading Grand Cru and Vendanges Tardives range. Relevant to Bestheim as a peer operating at the high-prestige end of Alsace terroir-driven wines, sharing biodynamic/organic sustainability positioning overlap.
• Cave de Ribeauvillé: Historic Alsace wine cooperative based in Ribeauvillé, producing Crémants d'Alsace and still wines from member growers. Direct peer to Bestheim in cooperative structure, Crémant focus, and Alsatian terroir sourcing.
• Albert Boxler: Highly regarded Alsace family domaine focused on terroir-expressive still wines and Grand Crus. Comparable to Bestheim on Alsatian terroir story and premium price positioning, albeit as a smaller family-run operation.
• Dopff au Moulin: Alsace producer historically credited with introducing the Champagne method to the region and a longstanding Crémant d'Alsace specialist. Comparable to Bestheim in méthode traditionnelle Crémant production and Alsace premium positioning.
• Maison Trimbach: Long-established Alsace wine house famous for dry Rieslings and Grand Cru wines. Comparable to Bestheim as a benchmark Alsace producer with international distribution and premium tier offerings.
• Pfaffenheim: Alsace wine cooperative with a similar multi-family grower model producing Crémants and Alsace varietal wines. Closest structural analog to Bestheim's cooperative scale, DTC and touristic activities, and Crémant-led portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/bestheim
• Facebookfacebook.com/Bestheim
• Instagraminstagram.com/bestheim
• Xx.com/bestheim

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Bestheim