"THE KARTHÄUSERHOF IS THE EIGHTH OLDEST VINEYARD IN THE WORLD, A MAGICAL PLACE WHERE HUGE RIESLINGS GROW YEAR AFTER YEAR."
ALBERT P. BEHLER ABOUT HIS WINES AND HIS VINEYARD NEAR TRIER
Karthäuserhof
Karthäuserhof
54292 Trier-Eitelsbach
Phone | +49 (0)651/5121 |
---|---|
Fax | +49 (0)651/53557 |
mail@karthaeuserhof.com |
Office Hours
Mo-Fr 8.30-12.00, 13.00-17.00; Apr-Okt Sa 10.00-15.00 sowie nach VereinbarungOwner
Albert P. Behler
Cellarmaster
Mathieu Kauffmann
Wine Area
28,00 acres
Grape Variety
90% Riesling, 10% Weißburgunder
Geology
Tonschiefer, rotliegender Schieferverwitterungsboden aus der Devonzeit
Growing Areas
Sparkling Wine / Sekt
VDP:What is so special about your winery?
Albert P. Behler: The Karthäuserhof is the eighth oldest winery in the world, an icon of great Riesling tradition famous around the globe - and a magical place where even today great Rieslings are made. The winery has belonged to our family for over 200 years and is the sole owner of the monopoly vineyard KARTHHÄUSERHOFBERG, classified as VDP.GROSSE LAGE®. The neck loop label, a real trademark, is certainly also unique.
VDP: What is your winery philosophy?
Albert P. Behler: To cultivate our extraordinary vineyard to the best of our ability and to cultivate it in harmony with nature. We stand in a unique Riesling tradition. We would like to fill them with new life year after year; this is an obligation for us, but also a great honour.
VDP: What wine style do you aim for?
Albert P. Behler: For us, everything revolves around the Riesling. It's about minerality. Crystal clear and fresh from the spring. Precision, transparency, race.
VDP:Which of your wines would you recommend to someone who does not yet know your winery - as an introduction, so to speak?
Albert P. Behler: Our Cabinet Rieslings, fine bitter or fruity. Currently, in 2019, a 2008 VDP.GUTSWEIN Riesling dry - that says it all!
VDP: Which wine are you particularly proud of?
Albert P. Behler: On our matured Riesling stars, our VDP.GROSSEN GEWÄCHSE® and on the elegant, fine fruity Auslese.
"WE ADHERE TO THE MAXIM NOT TO STAND IN THE WAY OF THE TERROIR OF THE KARTHÄUSERHOFBERG."
VDP: Why did you become a vintner?
Albert P. Behler: My mother worked as a farm secretary at the Karthäuserhof during the Second World War. Later she often went with us children to this great winery to visit relatives. I was fascinated by making wine and of course we also tasted wine with great pleasure. The variety and the richness of nuances in the play with nature, that fascinated me.
VDP: What are your next goals?
Albert P. Behler: We have a lot of plans at the moment, but an important goal is to complete the conversion and restoration work on the historic buildings and parks that is now about to begin. We are already looking forward to the opening ceremony! But we still have a lot of work to do before then. From spring 2019, a real project of the heart will be at the heart of the KARTHÄUSERHOFBERG: The restocking of our parcel "Kronenberg". Here stand 80 year old vines in traditional Moseleinzelpfahlerziehung, which provide us every year wonderful grapes. But the time has torn gaps in the vine stock which we will close now and cultivate the vineyard in a kind of "eternal viticulture" in the Moselaner winegrowing tradition.
VDP: How do you combine tradition and innovation?
Albert P. Behler: Of course we cultivate tradition! I already mentioned the "eternal viticulture". It is just as natural for us to keep our neck loop label, which Karl Wilhelm Rautenstrauch introduced at the end of the 19th century. Wherever new or rediscovered techniques are available that promote the sustainable health of our vines or reduce the burden on nature, we are open to new ideas. Otherwise we stick to the maxim not to stand in the way of the terroir of the KARTHÄUSERHOFBERG.
Pictures: © VDP.Weingut Karthäuserhof by Niclas Rimek