Alsace loses one of its iconic figures with the death of Pierre Heydt-Trimbach

lsace wines has lost iconic winegrower and negociant Pierre Heydt-Trimbach, who died accidentally on 31 January near Ammerschwihr at the age of 69. His vehicle ended up on its roof in a ditch against a concrete column. Heydt-Trimbach died that evening. Since he returned to Alsace from a six-month stay in California in 1985, his name has been associated with the Frédéric-Emile Trimbach wine company in Ribeauvillé, which he managed and where he was the official winemaker.

A tireless promoter of Alsace wines, he had a strong, uncompromising personality which consumers could sense in his clean, dry wines. He made no bones about his formula for winemaking: “To make good wine, there are three requirements – balance, balance and balance!” He would often repeat this, so much so that it became the company’s mission statement, displayed on its website and in its day-to-day business. The Clos Sainte-Hune and Frédéric-Emile labels, which established the company’s reputation – in France but especially overseas – are the custodians of this philosophy.

A father to two daughters, Heydt-Trimbach was still the chairman of FE Trimbach which celebrates its 400th anniversary in 2026 with the thirteenth generation now at its helm. Heydt-Trimbach also chaired the French Wine Academy along with the Alsace producer and negociant group (GPNVA) – now Grandes Maisons d’Alsace – until 2023 after a thirty-year tenure.