History of the regional associations

A résumé of the regional associations’ beginnings and original objectives.

VDP Rheingau - Rheingauer Traditionsweingüter

Founded in 1897: Vereinigung Rheingauer Weingutsbesitzer
Joined the national association in 1910

Objectives: The association developed from a need to conduct auctions more efficiently by consolidating numerous individual auctions into joint, regional auctions. Membership was limited to “Weingutsbesitzer” (wine estate owners) who regularly sold their wines at auction, and who did not purchase grapes or wine from other producers on a commercial basis. Members had to guarantee that their wines were produced exclusively from their own grapes and that they were “unadulterated” (not chaptalized).

Chairmen:
1897-1905 - Philipp Josef Krayer, Johannisberg
1905-1907 - Philipp Alexander Graf von Ingelheim, Geisenheim
1907-1915 - Josef Burgeff, Geisenheim
1915-1928 - Ulrich von Stosch, Oestrich
1928-1932 - Bernhard Grimm, Johannisberg
1932-1946 - Maximilian Ritter und Edler von Oetinger, Erbach
1946-1952 - Domänenrat Christian Labonte, Johannisberg
1952-1972 - Wolfgang Michel, Hochheim/Main
1972-1984 - Rentmeister Egon Mauer, Eltville
1984-1993 - Gerko Freiherr zu Knyphausen, Eltville
1993-1999 - Stefan Ress, Hattenheim
since 1999 - Wilhelm Weil, Kiedrich

VDP Rheinhessen - Vereinigung Rheinhessischer Rieslinggüter

Founded in 1900: Verein der Naturweinversteigerer in Hessen
Joined the national association in 1910

Chairmen:
1900-1924 - Carl Gunderloch, Nackenheim
1924-1942 - Oberstleutnant Fritz Liebrecht, Bodenheim
1942-1945 - Dr. Franz Usinger, Nackenheim
1948-1977 - Fritz-Rudolf Schulz, Gau-Bischofsheim
1977-1995 - Dipl.Ing. Friedel Waldeck, Nierstein
1995-2005 - Dr. Heinz von Opel, Ingelheim
since 2005 - Philipp Wittmann, Westhofen

Grosser Ring VDP Mosel-Saar-Ruwer 

Founded in 1908: Trierer Verein von Weingutsbesitzern der Mosel-Saar-Ruwer
Joined the national association in 1910

Objectives: To promote sales by emphasizing quality. Membership was limited to owners of estates with holdings in the region’s finest vineyard sites.

Chairmen:
1908-1935 - Oberbürgermeister Albert von Bruchhausen, Trier
1935-1963 - Alfons Claessens, Wawern
1963-1984 - Werner Tyrell, Trier-Eitelsbach
1984-2004 - Wilhelm Haag, Brauneberg
2004-2008 - Eberhard von Kunow, Oberemmel
since 2008 - Egon Müller, Wiltingen/Saar

Verein Pfälzer Prädikats- und Qualitätsweingüter

Founded in 1908: Verein der Naturweinversteigerer der Rheinpfalz
Joined the national association in 1910

Objectives: To promote and preserve the qualities associated with “Naturweine” – natural, pure, unchaptalized wines.

Chairmen:
1908-1910 - Emil Bibel, Forst
1910-1913 - Leopold von Winning, Deidesheim
1913-1932 - Theodor Wand, Neustadt
1932-1939 - Dr. Albert Bürklin, Wachenheim a.d.W.
1939-1949 - Adam Kölsch, Ruppertsberg
1949-1963 - Dr. Albert Bürklin, Wachenheim a.d.W.
1963-1967 - Franz Schädler, Ruppertsberg
1967-1999 - Wolfgang Siben, Deidesheim
since 1999 - Hans-Jörg Rebholz, Siebeldingen 

VDP Nahe / Ahr

(VDP members in the Ahr affiliated with VDP Nahe in 1994)

Founded in 1951: Versteigerungsring der NaheweingüterJoined the national association in 1972

Objectives: To promote and protect members’ interests with regard to scheduling and regulating auctions, joint advertising, and provide a forum for an exchange of ideas on vineyard practices, winemaking techniques and wine marketing.

Chairmen:
1951-1990 - Egon Anheuser, Bad Kreuznach
1990-1991 - Michael Prinz zu Salm-Salm, Wallhausen
1991-1993 - Egbert Graf von Plettenberg, Bad Kreuznach
since 1993 - Armin Diel, Burg Layen

VDP Franken 

Founded in 1955: Vereinigung Fränkischer Naturweinversteigerer
Joined the national association in 1955

Objectives: To promote and protect members’ interests with regard to viticulture, and to use wine auctions and joint advertising to foster sales of members’ “Naturweine” – natural, pure, unchaptalized wines.

Chairmen:
1955-1958 - Karl Nägler, Würzburg
1958-1972 - Albrecht Fürst zu Castell-Castell, Castell
1973-1981 - Dr. Heinz-Martin Eichelsbacher, Würzburg
1981-1989 - Johann Ruck, Iphofen
1989-1993 - Rudolf Frieß, Würzburg
1993-1998 - Wolfgang Graf zu Castell-Castell, Castell
1998-2004 - Ferdinand Erbgraf zu Castell-Castell, Castell
2004-2007 - Carl Friedrich Erbprinz zu Löwenstein, Wertheim
since 2007 - Karl Martin Schmitt, Randersacker

VDP Württemberg 

Founded in 1975 and joined the national association in the same year.

Predecessor: Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Weingüter Württemberg - Baden, founded in 1959 by Graf Neipperg.
1959-1969 - Graf Neipperg, Schweigern
1969-1975 - Raban Graf Adelmann, Kleinbottwar

Chairmen:
1975-1985 - Raban Graf Adelmann, Kleinbottwar
1985-1993 - Michael Graf Adelmann, Kleinbottwar
1993-1997 - Eberhard Dippon, Beilstein
1997-2000 - Dr. Jürgen Dietrich, Ludwigsburg
since 2000 - Gert Aldinger, Fellbach

VDP Baden 

Founded in 1986 and joined the national association in the same year

Predecessors: Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Weingüter Württemberg - Baden (see above) and the Verein Badischer Naturweinversteigerer founded in 1910, which was renamed the Verein Oberrheinischer Naturweinversteigerer in 1962.

Chairmen:
1986-1999 - Rüdiger Graf Hoensbroech, Angelbachtal-Michelfeld
1999-2000 - Adrian Graf Hoensbroech, Angelbachtal-Michelfeld
2000-2009 - Claus Burmeister, Sulzfeld
since 2009 - Joachim Heger, Ihringen

 

VDP Mittelrhein 

Founded in 1862: Steeger und Bacharacher Winzerverein
Joined the national association in 1987

Objectives: To encourage high standards in the vineyard (choice of site, grape variety, and vine supporting systems [stakes, trellises]) and in the cellar, as well as promote sales of members’ wines. 

Chairmen:
1987-1998 - Fritz Bastian, Bacharach
since 1998 - Jochen Ratzenberger, Bacharach