Weingut Karthäuserhof, Germany

It is the eighth oldest winery in the world and has been the cradle of world-famous Rieslings for centuries. It was founded in 1335 by Carthusian monks who received the estate as a gift from Elector Baldwin of Luxembourg and ran it as a winery until secularization. The Karthäuserhof has been owned by the family since 1811, now in its seventh generation. Mathieu Kauffmann, Technical Director and Alsatian native is responsible for the vineyard care and vinification of the wine and his belief in an ecological approach to farming is going to shape the philosophy of Karthauserhof into the future.

Viticulture

The reason for the exceptional quality of the wines from the Karthäuserhof is the legendary Karthäuserhofberg location, at the foot of which the winery is located combined with their ecological and biodynamic approach to farming. Its unique "terroir" - the interplay of soil, microclimate and other characteristics both natural and man-made - creates wines of incomparable character and immense aging potential that enchant wine lovers around the globe. The soils along the Ruwer are characterized by reddish and bluish slate from the Devonian period, around 400 million years ago. They provide exactly what the vines like best: barren lightness without too much water storage capacity, which would make the soil heavier.

Winemaking

After a gentle pressing, there is a slow fermentation of the must. Using only natural yeasts found in the vineyards, this preserves the characteristics of the terroir. This is where the typical nuances of the Karthäuserhof are created. For maturation, Mathieu makes an individual selection to choose the right barrel for each wine. The most important aspect is aging potential. During this time, the acidity, the flavour composition and tannins all come together.