THE BROTHERHOOD OF SAINT-ETIENNE D'ALSACE
History
The Confrérie Saint Etienne is now considered one of the oldest in France. Doesn't its rules of procedure, still in use, date from 1561? After a long prosperous period, it suffered a slow decline after the French Revolution and died out in 1848. Under the impetus of a group of winegrowers and friends of Alsace wine, led by Joseph DREYER, its founding receiver, it was resurrected in its current form in 1947 with the aim of making Alsace wines known and loved. In 1973, it established its headquarters at Kientzheim Castle, near Kaysersberg. Since then, major transformations have taken place within its walls, including the development of a magnificent cellar where tens of thousands of bottles are stored: the famous Œnothèque de la Confrérie whose oldest vintages date back to 1834.
Degrees
1st Degree Brother / Sister Apprentice
2nd Degree Brother / Sister Companion
3rd Degree Brother / Sister Master
4th Degree Brother / Sister Seneschal
5th Degree Brother / Sister Winemaker
6th Degree Honorary Brother / Sister of Honour
7th Degree Oenophile Confrere
Regalia of the order
1st Degree Brother / Sister Apprentice collarThe Apprentice Brothers and Sisters, wearing the azure blue ribbon, with medal and barrel, holders of the diploma of their degree, then become true ambassadors of the quality and typicality of the great wines of Alsace, and prove their attachment to all the pleasures of gastronomy. They become full members of the Brotherhood; they can enjoy its tastings, animations, trips and chapters, and, why not, invite in turn new lovers of Alsace wines
|
Brother / Sister MasterThe highest rank in the Brotherhood, you can become a Brother or Sister Master and earn the green ribbon. After at least one year at the rank of Companion, the test necessary for this admission consists of a blind tasting of 3 Alsace wines, whose candidate must identify the grape varieties and vintages.
|
Brother / Sister SeneschalCreated in 1999, the rank of Seneschal symbolizes a common commitment of the Confrérie Saint Etienne d'Alsace and Gastronomy professionals in the service of the promotion of the great wines of Alsace and quality products of our terroir. The rank of Seneschal is only awarded during the Solemn Chapter of the Food Trades, organized every year in November under the sign of gourmet friendship and conviviality. To become a Sénéchal, the candidate must pass the wine test of blind identification of the grape varieties and vintages of 3 sigillated Alsace wines, for which he must suggest gastronomic pairings Inducted during a solemn session of the Grand Council in Saint-Etienne uniform, the new Seneschaux brothers and sisters take an oath of fidelity to Alsace wines and gastronomy, and their search for a certain degree of requirement, symbolized by the Sigille des Vins d'Alsace awarded by the Brotherhood, rewarding both the quality and typicity of the wines.
The rank of Seneschal allows to participate in the chapters, animations and trips of the Brotherhood, and to invite friends, partners and customers. It also gives the right to benefit from preferential conditions to enjoy the prestigious setting of Kientzheim Castle.. |
Brother / Sister WinemakerInducted exclusively during the Chapter of Winegrowers held in January each year to honor their profession, the Brothers and Sisters Winegrowers wear their special medal the gold and red ribbon, the two colors of wine. By becoming members of the Confrérie, winegrowers can enjoy for themselves and for their customers and professional partners the prestigious setting and wine and gastronomic activities of the Chateau de Kientzheim. Above all, they can offer their best wines to Sigille, a distinction that the Confrérie Saint Etienne d'Alsace awards every year, and from which they can participate in blind tasting juries. Once Sigillés, the wines of the Brothers and Sisters Winegrowers go down in history by obtaining the right to appear in the famous Œnothèque kept at the château.
|
Honorary Brother / Sister of HonourTo pay tribute to remarkable actions in favor of the great wines of Alsace and the image of wine, gastronomic, and cultural quality of our region, the Grand Council can distinguish Brothers and Sisters of Honor (or Seneschals of Honor according to their profession). After arguing their preference between two wines, they receive the green and red ribbon, and have the privilege of "communing" in the Loyala, a traditional barrel reserved for Grand Councillors.
|
Oenophile ConfrereThe Grand Council of the Confrérie Saint Etienne awards the distinction of Brother and Sister Oenophile (friend of wine) or Gastronome (according to their profession) to personalities working for the influence of the great wines of Alsace and embracing the ideals of quality and gastronomy of the Brotherhood. The Oenophiles wear a purple ribbon, obtained after arguing before the Grand Councillors their preference for one of the two wines offered to them by the Echanson.
|