VDP.WEINGUT
THEO MINGES

VDP: What is so special about your winery?

Regine Minges: As a guest, you immediately feel at home with us. It is not just the fluid symbiosis between the private and business rooms that makes you feel integrated into the family. The close contact between us and our large circle of regular customers has grown naturally over generations and is lived with cordiality. Everyone should feel at home with us and also enjoy “feel-good wines”. The house itself dates back to the 15th century. Since the generation of our great-great-grandfather, we have lived at today’s wine estate. Many antiques have accumulated over the years and each tells a story. The former tithing cellar of the Count von der Leyen from the 15th century is also an exciting feature.

VDP: What is your winery philosophy?

Regine Minges: We practice organic viticulture out of conviction, sustainably for ourselves, the next generations and for connoisseurs. Our approach is holistic. We want to bring the energy from the vineyard into the bottle.

VDP: For what wine style do you strive?

Regine Minges: Clear, authentic, terroir specific, “unadorned” wines – “feel-good wines” without make-up. We want people to build relationships to our wines that are promising, grow constantly and last for a long time.

VDP: What is your favourite grape variety?

Regine Minges: Scheurebe, Riesling, Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir) – something suitable for every mood!

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

Regine Minges: They will have to drink a lot! For example, our Gelber Muskateller, dry VDP.GUTSWEIN. Or our two Gleisweiler VDP.ORTSWEIN Riesling and Scheurebe.

VDP: Of which wine are you particularly proud?

Regine Minges: Of the Riesling Froschkönig.

VDP: Why did you become a vintner?

Regine Minges: It is in our blood and flows in our veins. The winegrower’s profession is a calling that is strongly linked to our family. We live the traditional values and I can naturally also live out the versatility of the profession: the combination of craftsmanship, art, nature and office. The vocation keeps me grounded and keeps me moving at the same time.

VDP: Do you have role models, mentors?

Regine Minges: My role models are my father and my ancestors. Each inspires the next!

VDP: What are your next goals?

Regine Minges: Focus even more and work out the purest essence of wine. To continue winegrowing tradition of our family. Don’t lose the passion. Stay happy!

VDP: Why should people visit your winery?

Regine Minges: Because of our geese – in summer you can watch them from the terrace while tasting our wines. And because of our “Panoramawingert” in Gleisweiler Hölle on Teufelsberg – the view from the very top of Linder Allee is spectacular and you can feel the special aura!

VDP: What would you compare to making wine?

Regine Minges: Intuition. Our credo is: If you want to make wine, you have to read a book. If you want to make good wine, you have to go to school. If you want to make very good wine, you have to forget everything and listen to your gut feeling.

VDP: If your wine were music, what would it be?

Regine Minges: “What a wonderful world” by Louis Armstrong, because how beautiful could the world be, if we all consciously enjoyed it?