Eaux de vie in Alsace

Eau de vie or "schnapps"

Throughout the summer and spring, one picks fruits in the orchard and let them ferment until the winter, the season for distillation. Formerly, each house in Alsace had its still and until 1954, each person could distil their own harvest and benefited from a franchise for 10 litres which the home distiller did not pay. Nowadays, the heirs still distil but by paying fees.

Among the vast range of eaux de vie, you will find plum brandy, cherry brandy, greengage brandy, dark red plum brandy, apple brandy, pear brandy which all must mature at least for three years in bottles before being tasted.