Production places
Connections to water sources, peat places, maltings, cooperages, warehouses and maturation sites. Uncertain connections are labelled.
No documented production places are linked to this distillery yet.
History
METTE Distillery is a craft distillery located in Ribeauvillé, Alsace, presenting a portfolio of 88 eaux-de-vie and 32 liqueurs. According to the website, the passion was shaped into an art form, and the founders emphasize words such as quality, craft, tradition, and quintessence. Philippe Traber was a central figure in the distillery's history, and his statement that it is easy to make a good eau-de-vie if you pay attention to the details is set against a constant pursuit of quality. Timothée Traber, in his early 30s, has since taken over the well-known distillery in Ribeauvillé and continues to develop new aromas.
Production / Manufacturing
Distillation and Selection
Fruits and flowers are carefully selected and distilled in small copper pot stills of around 100 liters. The fruits undergo manual cleaning to remove impurities that could affect the expression of the distillate. The eau-de-vie is distilled twice to achieve balance.
Maturation and Expression
After distillation, the eau-de-vie is stored in stainless steel tanks to soften the alcohol's sharpness. The Alsatian microclimate contributes to complexity and finesse. Eaux-de-vie hors d’âge are stored particularly in 30-liter glass carboys, placed in an attic room to take advantage of temperature and light exposure.
Products / Range
The distillery offers 88 eaux-de-vie and 32 liqueurs. Examples of products include:
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Eaux-de-Vie: Abricot, Griotte, Kirsch, Kirsch hors d’âge, Coing, Poire Williams, Marc de Gewurztraminer Vendanges tardives, Marc de Riesling, Pêche, Quetsch hors d’âge, Reine-Claude, Prunelle Sauvage hors d’âge.
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Liqueurs: Liqueur de Fleur de Sureau, Hibiscus, Muscat, Crème de Quetsch, Liqueur de Banane, Sloe Gin and Gin (Dry Gin), as well as Marc de Pinot Gris.
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Other: Marc de Pinot Gris and other fruit-based distillates.
Visits and Experiences
The distillery is located in Ribeauvillé and has the following opening hours:
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Monday to Friday: 9:00–11:45 and 14:00–18:00
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Saturday: 14:00–18:00 in April–May and June; 16:00–18:00 in July–August; 14:00–18:00 in September–December
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Closed Sundays and public holidays
Outside opening hours, eau-de-vie can be purchased through partners La Bonne Bouteille and Ribo Délices in Ribeauvillé at the same price as at the distillery.
Philosophy
The core principles of METTE are quality, know-how, craftsmanship, tradition, and quintessence. The distillery emphasizes consistency across decades and a continual quest to preserve the distillery's signature expression through carefully selected fruits, flowers, and herbs, as well as double distillation and controlled aging, which give the product its character and finesse.