VDP.ESTATE
GRAF VON KANITZ

VDP: What is special about your winery?

Arne Wilken: The deep roots of our estate date back to the 13th century – shaped by historical figures such as the reformer Reichsfreiherr vom und zum Stein. The estate has been owned by the Counts of Kanitz since 1926 and became a founding member of the VDP that same year. A true rarity in the Rheingau: We have been practicing consistent organic viticulture since 1968 (and have been an ECOVIN member since 1992) on the extreme, barren steep slopes of Lorch. Our wines also age in a historic, massive tower.

VDP: What is your winery philosophy?

Arne Wilken: We take a forward-looking approach and, when necessary, intervene carefully and minimally. We rely on uncompromising, hands-on work in the vineyard to strengthen the ecosystem, and we give the wine the time it needs in the cellar to precisely reflect the subtle nuances of our steep slate and quartzite slopes.

VDP: What wine style do you strive for?

Arne Wilken: We strive to produce purist, extremely mineral-driven, crisp, and age-worthy wines that are shaped by the austere character of the Lorch slate. Riesling, of course, takes center stage, followed by elegant Pinot Noirs. Our Gewürztraminer is also a small, exquisite labor of love and a rarity in the Rheingau.

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

Arne Wilken: Our Lorch Riesling Schiefer Dry (VDP.ORTSWEIN). It perfectly captures the typical, salty slate minerality and the cool precision of Lorch, immediately revealing where our journey is headed.

VDP: Which wine are you particularly proud of?

Arne Wilken: Lorcher Krone Riesling Alte Reben VDP.ERSTE LAGE®. The vines, which are over 80 years old, require an enormous amount of care, but produce extremely concentrated, complex wines with phenomenal aging potential.

VDP: Why did you become a winegrower?

Arne Wilken: It all actually started when I was very young: Even as a little boy, and later as a teenager, I regularly helped with the grape harvest. Over the years, I was entrusted with more and more tasks at a friend’s winery, and that’s exactly where I discovered my true passion for viticulture. For me, there’s simply no other profession that’s so incredibly versatile, varied, and exciting. You’re a craftsman, a biologist, and a strategist all in one – and no two years are ever the same.

VDP: What are your next goals?

Arne Wilken: To continue flying the historic flag of the Graf von Kanitz winery, to further refine the character of our steep slopes in Lorch through artisanal winemaking, and to solidify our wines’ position among the very best nationally and internationally.

VDP: Why should people visit your winery?

Arne Wilken: Lorch is located in the beautiful Upper Middle Rhine Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. An absolute highlight is a hike through the spectacular steep slopes of the Lorcher Krone or the Schlossberg with views of the Rhine, followed by a tasting at our winery on Rheinstraße, right next to the historic Hilchenhaus.