Weingut Winter

Stefan Winter grows five grape varieties in and around the village of Dittelheim, putting his distinctive stamp on wines that are a true reflection of their terroir. His spectacular debut in the early 2000s was one of the factors that helped to catapult the then unfashionable region of Rheinhessen to prominence.

Stefan took over his parents’ estate in 2000 at the tender age of 20. Within a short space of time, he transformed what was a very typical Rheinhessen winery into an internationally renowned top-tier producer with its own clear style and ethos. By his own admission, Stefan is a purist who strives for depth, authenticity and structure. He puts his own stamp on wines that are pure, complex, mineral-driven and imbued with delicate fruit.

Handcrafted with a sense of place

Stefan wants his wines, both still and sparkling, to express the cool, elevated, limestone and clay-marl terroir at his disposal. He has put his heart and soul and a lot of hard, skilled work into achieving this objective, farming all his vineyards organically and doing everything manually wherever possible. His wines dance to their own beat in the cellar, fermenting spontaneously and maturing for long periods before bottling.

Prime sites for Riesling, Chardonnay and the Pinots

Riesling accounts for 65% of the estate holdings, which cover 20 hectares and were planted around 50 years ago in some cases. Stefan also grows Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. His best plots are situated in the Geiersberg, Kloppberg and Leckerberg ‘Grosse Lagen’ (grands crus).

 “We are sustainable and holistic in our approach, attaching equal importance to the wines we make and the people who work for us.”

Stefan Winter

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