VDP.ESTATE
A. CHRISTMANN

“THE FAMILY IS DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN EVERY STEP OF MAKING WINE; WINE IS OUR LIFE.”

STEFFEN AND SOPHIE CHRISTMANN SPEAK ABOUT THEIR WINE AND WINE ESTATE IN GIMMELDINGEN

A. Christmann

Peter-Koch-Straße 43
67435 Gimmeldingen

Phone+49 (0)6321/66039
Fax+49 (0)6321/68762
eMailinfo@weingut-christmann.de
Office Hours
Mo nach Vereinbarung, Die-Fr 8.00-12.00, 13.00-18.00; Sa 10.00-16.00 Uhr
Owner

Steffen Christmann & Sophie Christmann

Member Since

1994

Wine Area

20,20 acres

Grape Variety

70% Riesling, 14% Spätburgunder sowie Weiss- & Grauburgunder, Muskateller

VDP:What is so special about your winery?
Steffen Christmann:  We concentrate on the classic grape varieties of the southern Mittelhaardt with 70 percent Riesling, plus 15 percent Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir ) and 10 percent Weissburgunder (Pinot Blanc). With the VDP.GROSSE LAGE® IDIG, we have perhaps the largest consolidated property in an absolute top location in the Pfalz. It is nearly a monopole vineyard.

VDP:What is your winery philosophy?
Steffen Christmann:  We want to produce authentic, handcrafted wines as a family estate. This means that the family is directly involved in every step of the winemaking process; wine is our life. Since we want to live our lives in harmony with nature, biodynamic cultivation is a matter of the heart. It also helps us to produce wines that are even more unique, because they are not distorted from the ground up.

“OUR MODEL FOR RIESLING IS THE PRIMA BALLERINO, THE MALE MASTER DANCER.”

VDP:For what wine style do you strive? Do you have a favourite grape variety?
Steffen Christmann: Our model for Riesling is the prima ballerino, the male master dancer. He is powerful and yet vibrant, dancing. A filigree, elegant style with fine acidity is also important to us with the Pinots. We want impressive wines where alcohol content is less important.

VDP:Which of your wines would you recommend to someone who does not yet know your winery – as an introduction, so to speak?
Steffen Christmann: Our Riesling VDP.GUTSWEIN. With all modesty, it’s a mad wine for this money! Complex, long and yet fresh and animating. The ideal of a Mittelhaardt Riesling wine. Never sour, but cheerful, wonderfully dry and fresh.

VDP:Of which wine are you particularly proud?
Steffen Christmann: Of our VDP.GROSSE LAGE® IDIG Riesling GG. For over twenty years, we have succeeded in making one of the best dry Rieslings in the world from this vineyard every year.

VDP:Why did you become a vintner?
Steffen Christmann: If your family has been making wine since the late 16th century, it’s an obvious choice. Nevertheless, I initially went astray and studied law. But while I was still studying, it became clear to me that I wanted to continue the long family tradition, but also set new benchmarks. I intended to help Mittelhaardt Riesling return to the Champions League of wine. And there it is again today.

VDP:Do you have role models?
Steffen Christmann: Most likely Anne-Claude Leflaive, who brought the great terroirs of the Côte-d'Or to light through biodynamic cultivation.

IDIG
Riesling GG
VDP.GROSSE LAGE®

© 2022
Photos: Peter Bender