ROMAN NIEWODNICZANSKI

VDP.WEINGUT
VAN VOLXEM

“WE CULTIVATE HISTORIC TOP VINEYARD SITES LIKE SCHARZHOFBERGER, WILTINGER GOTTESFUSS AND VOLZ.”

ROMAN NIEWODNICZANSKI SPEAKS ABOUT HIS WINES AND WINE ESTATE IN WILTINGEN

Van Volxem

Zum Schlossberg 347
54459 Wiltingen

Phone+49 (0)6501/80229-0
Fax+49 (0)6501/80229-49
eMailoffice@vanvolxem.com
Office Hours
Mo-Fr 8.00-17.00 sowie nach Vereinbarung

VDP: What is so special about your winery?

Roman Niewodniczanski: We are located in the historical centre of Wiltingen, the most important wine-growing community on the Saar. As a former monastery wine estate that belonged to the Luxembourg Jesuits, it has possessed large vineyard parcels on the best steep slate slopes of the Saar since the early 18th century. Among them are top historic sites such as the VDP.GROSSE LAGE® vineyards SCHARZHOFBERGER, GOTTESFUSS and VOLZ. In recent years, we have expanded our vineyard portfolio to include excellent vineyards in Ockfen, Wawern, Saarburg and Kanzem.

VDP: What is your winery philosophy?

Roman Niewodniczanski: At the heart of our quality philosophy are elaborate viticultural measures, ranging from natural, organic soil management to meticulous manual canopy management. In order to harvest very ripe, highly aromatic grapes, we limit the yield through a variety of measures such as green harvesting or grape bunch division to reduce the yield to about 40 hl/ha on average. Since 2001, the replanting of vines has been carried out predominantly with ungrafted vines.

VDP: For what wine style do you strive?

Roman Niewodniczanski: Our winemaking is very traditional and is based on the idea of natural wine. In order to preserve the individual style of the different terroirs and to achieve harmony, balance and good ageing potential, no cultivated yeasts are used. The meticulous, exclusively manual sorting of grapes and gentle pressing also enables us to abstain from modern oenological processes and the use of various chemical processing agents such as bentonite, enzymes and so on. The resulting wines are conscientiously light in alcohol and thus very wholesome, extremely mineral wines with pronounced Riesling fruit – natural wines that clearly express their vineyard of origin and offer abundant drinking pleasure and tremendous ageing potential – wines in the style of the famous Saar wines from around 1900.

VDP: Which of your wines would you recommend to someone who does not yet know your winery – as an introduction, so to speak?

Roman Niewodniczanski: Our Saar Riesling,4-time winner of the Top 100 list of the magazine Weinwirtschaft.

“OUR SCHARZHOFBERGER PERGENTSKNOPP WAS VOTED THE BEST WHITE WINE IN GERMANY BY VINUM WINE GUIDE 2017.”

VDP: Of which wine are you particularly proud?

Roman Niewodniczanski: Of our wine from the VDP.GROSSE LAGE® SCHARZHOFBERGER PERGENTSKNOPP – according to Vinum Wine Guide 2017, the best white wine in Germany.

VDP: Why did you become a vintner?

Roman Niewodniczanski: I saw the chance to build up one of the leading international wineries.

VDP: Do you have role models or mentors?

Roman Niewodniczanski: Yes, numerous top winegrowers such as Jacques Lardière.

SCHARZHOFBERGER
Riesling GG
VDP.GROSSE LAGE®

VDP: What are your next goals?

Roman Niewodniczanski: The completion of our new manufactory and the expansion of our prominent position in viticulture.

VDP: How do you combine tradition and innovation?

Roman Niewodniczanski: The central theme at Van Volxem is to return to traditional craftsmanship and the idea of natural wine production.

VDP: Why should people visit your winery?

Roman Niewodniczanski: To discover our wine world and the unique interplay of traditional craftsmanship and modern architecture with a magnificent panoramic view of the Grand Cru vineyards of the Saar!

VDP: What would you compare to making wine?

Roman Niewodniczanski: With the precision work required to make a Swiss luxury watch.