In Württemberg we visited 4 wine producers on the Germany-East Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Art, Culture and History.
Weingut Fürst Hohenlohe Öhringen in Öhringen–Verrenberg, Württemberg with Winemaker Joachim Brand
Weingut Graf von Bentzel-Sturmfeder in Schozach, Württemberg with Kilian Graf von Bentzel-Sturmfeder
Weingut Wachstetter in Pfaffenhofen, Württemberg, with Rainer Wachtstetter
Weingut Herzog von Württemberg at Schloss Monrepos, Württemberg
In addition, we had lunch at the 1-star-Michelin Restaurant Schloss Monrepos Ludwigsburg, with Chef Ben Benasr.
At Weingut Fürst Hohenlohe Oehringen in Oeringen–Verrenberg, Württemberg, General Manager/ Winemaker Joachim Brand was our host. He greeted us with a glass of Weingut Fürst Hohenlohe Oehringen in front of the winery. With the Sekt glass in our hand, we briefly toured the monopoly vineyard Verrenberger Verrenberg, before proceeding to the winery, where we toured the winery and had a tasting with Joachim Brand.
Weingut Fürst Hohenlohe Oehringen in Oeringen–Verrenberg, Württemberg
As one of Germany’s oldest family owned businesses, the Hohenlohe-Öhringen family can look back to the year 1253 as the founding year of their viticulture history. The 27th generation is now at the helm and today they manage 42 acres of the solely owned site Verrenberger Verrenberg. The vineyard is panted with the traditional Württemberg varietals Lemberger, and Riesling, and also with Spätburgunder, some Weissburgunder and Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Franc. Since 2008 the vineyards have been cultivated according to organic guidelines. The goal is to produce distinctive wines that not only expresses varietal character, but also that of their origin. Their 2013 Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese was awarded the Gold Medal at the 2015 Decanter World Wine Awards.
This estate was the pioneer in creating cuvées in Württemberg. More than 20 years ago Siegfried Röll, their winemaker in those days, toured Bordeaux and on the long drive back home he began wondering why they did not produce a Bordeaux type blend at home. He blended the local variety Lemberger with traditional Bordeaux grapes Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot and voilà this cuvée came out beautifully. This was in 1986. They named the cuvée "Ex Flammis Orior" after the inscription on the family coat of arms.
Sekt Reception
We were received by Joachim Brand in front of the estate and started the visit with a Weingut Fürst Hohenlohe Oehringen Sekt.
Vineyard Tour
With the Sekt glass in our hands, we did a short vineyard tour.
Verrenberger Verrenberg
All grapes come from the monopoly site Verrenberger Verrenberg (17 hectares). Verrenberg is both the name of the vineyard surrounding the estate and the village close to the estate. In 1972, the village of Verrenberg became part of the town of Oehringen.
The vineyard is panted with the traditional Württemberg varietals Lemberger and Riesling, and also with Spätburgunder, some Weissburgunder and Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Franc.
Since 2008 the vineyards have been cultivated according to organic guidelines. The goal is to produce distinctive wines that not only expresses varietal character, but also that of their origin.
Jochen Brandt: Quality-oriented work in the vineyard, selective harvesting by hand and/or additional selection on a conveyor belt in the cellar all help ensure that only healthy, very ripe grapes are processed, and this, in an extremely gentle manner. The stated objective is to produce wine in harmony with nature. Since 2008, the vineyards have been cultivated according to organic guidelines. The goal is to produce distinctive wines that not only express varietal character, but also that of their origin.
Verrenberg Grosse Lage
As a VDP member, the association fo about 200 elite winemakers in Germany, Weingut Fürst Hohenlohe Oehringen follows the VDP classification guidelines. It produces Gutswein, Ortswein and Grosse Lage wine. Of course, all grapes come from the same vineyard, the Verrenberger Verrenberg. The Grosse Lage wines are from a specifically deliniated parcel of the vineyard and are also in line with all the other requirements for a Grosse Lage wine.
Cellar Tour
We then toured the wine cellar and sat down for an extraordinary tasting.
A new winery was constructed in 2007. The complete winery building, including the sales office, was rebuilt next to the historical “Wiesenkelter” press house. The winery is largely underground.
Bottle production is 120 000. Most of it is consumed in the region. Nothing is exported.
Tasting
The visit ended with an impressive tasting.
The Wines
2012 Weingut Fürst Hohenlohe Oehringen Crémant Brut Nature
2016 Weingut Fürst Hohenlohe Oehringen Riesling Sauvignon Blanc trocken (VDP.Gutswein)
2016 Weingut Fürst Hohenlohe Oehringen Verrenberg Muskateller trocken (VDP.Ortswein)
2015 Weingut Fürst Hohenlohe Oehringen Verrenberger Verrenberg Riesling GG (VDP.Grosse Lage)
2015 Weingut Fürst Hohenlohe Oehringen Chardonnay H.A.D.E.S. (H.A.D.E.S.)
2015 Weingut Fürst Hohenlohe Oehringen Verrenberg Spätburgunder trocken (VDP.Ortswein)
2014 Weingut Fürst Hohenlohe Oehringen Verrenberg Lemberger GG trocken (VDP.Grosse Lage)
2013 Weingut Fürst Hohenlohe Oehringen Ex flammis clarior H.A.D.E.S. (H.A.D.E.S. / edelsüss)
2013 Weingut Fürst Hohenlohe Oehringen Ex flammis orior H.A.D.E.S. trocken (H.A.D.E.S.)
2013 Weingut Fürst Hohenlohe Oehringen in senio H.A.D.E.S. trocken (H.A.D.E.S.)
H.A.D.E.S.
H.A.D.E.S. is an association of 5 winemakes that was established 30 years ago, It grew out of the „study group new oak barrel“, and it includes the wineries Fürst zu Hohenlohe, Öhringen, Graf Adelmann, Kleinbottwar, Drautz-Able, Heilbronn, Jürgen Ellwanger, Winterbach and the „Sonnenhof“ of the Fischer family. The name “H.A.D.E.S. ” was put together out of the first letters of the name of the 5 producers.
H.A.D.E.S. was a leader in introducing barrique aging to Swabia – and more generally – Germany. Initially, H.A.D.E.S. wines were rejected as “untypical” or “woody” and had to be sold as table wines. This has changed completely over the past 30 years. Using new wood has become a common tool in winemaking in Germany.
Schnaps
We finished the tasting with a Weingut Fürst Hohenlohe Öhringen apple-brandy.
Bye-bye
Annette and I bought a 6 liter bottle of the 2012 Weingut Fürst Hohenlohe Oehringen Ex flammis orior H.A.D.E.S. trocken (H.A.D.E.S.). (Imperial, equivalent to 8 standard bottles).
Postings: Germany-East Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Art, Culture and History (Published and Forthcoming Postings)
Germany-East Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Art, Culture and History
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