At the recent 2014 Apfelwein Weltweit (2014 Apple Wine World Wide) event in Frankfurt am Main, I was surprised to spot among the apple wine, (hard) cider, cidre, sidra producers from Germany and other European countries Weingut von Racknitz, which is an up and coming wine producer, owned and run by the husband and wife team Louise von Racknitz-Adams and Matthias Adams. Indeed, Matthias Adam had brought to the event 4 of his excellent wines, made out of grapes, but he had also brought a lightly sparkling apple wine, made out of apples: NV Apfelperlwein Glasperlenspiel.
Weingut von Racknitz
Weingut von Racknitz is an up and coming winery in Odernheim in the Nahe Valley. It was founded in 2003 by the husband and wife team Louise von Racknitz-Adams and Matthias Adams. Louise von Racknitz-Adams is a winemaker by training (University Geisenheim) and she takes the lead in the cellar. Matthias Adams is a former business manager with a law degree and he takes the lead in the vineyard.
Weingut von Racknitz is the former winery of the famous Disibodenberg Monastery, where Hildegard von Bingen spent 40 years of her life. Hildegard von Bingen is the first representative of the German medieval mysticism. She was active in the fields of religion, cosmology, science, philosophy, music composition, poetry, botany and linguistics. For over 200 years, winery and monastery ruins have been owned by the von Racknitz family.
The vineyard area totals 15 hectares in the Rotenfels (Traisen), Königsfels (Schloßböckelheim), Kloster Disibodenberg (almost exclusive possession)(Odernheim), Hermannshöhle, Kertz, Klamm, Kieselberg (Oberhausen) and Rosenheck (Niederhausen). The heart of the vineyards is the Disibodenberg, where monks already grew vines 900 years ago. The Hermannshöhle is one of the best Riesling vineyards in Germany.
In the vineyard, Matthias Adams follows an organic approach. In the wine cellar, Louise von Racknitz-Adams follows the natural wine making approach. All wines are spontaneously fermented. The wines remain in stainless steel tanks on the lees until they are bottled.
Classification
The wines are grouped into 5 levels. Annual production is 4000 cases.
First, Gutsweine – entry level wines.
Second, Gesteinsweine – this is the second quality level where grapes are sorted according to the soil type of the vineyard: Schieferboden, Vulkangestein, Kieselstein - Slate floor, volcanic rock, pebble.
Third, Traditionsweine – going back to the old days; this group includes a Silvaner Trocken, Gemengelage Trocken, which is a field blend and Glasperlenspiel, which is the lightly sparkling apple wine that Matthias Adams presented at 2014 Apfelwein Weltweit.
Fourth, Edelsuesse Spitzen – noble-sweet top wines, including a Trockenbeerenauslese
Fifth, grand-cru Lagen Rieslings – ultra-premium dry wines from the top vineyards, including from the Niederhäuser Herrmannshöhle, which is considered to be one of the best Riesling vineyards in Germany.
In addition, sixth, Weingut von Racknitz also makes Sekt (extra brut).
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