VDP.WEINGUT
JOSEF SPREITZER

VDP: What is so special about your winery?

Bernd Spreitzer: We are very proud of our old monopole vineyard, the VDP.GROSSE LAGE^® ROSENGARTEN, and our renovated, art nouveau villa, which is listed as a protected historical monument. In our vaulted cellar dating 1743, we vinify our wine in wooden barrels, some of which are 60 years old.

VDP: What is your winery philosophy?

Bernd Spreitzer: The lightest is always the most difficult. The simpler a dish seems to be, the more difficult it is to prepare it perfectly: Japanese sushi, Neapolitan pizza, Texas BBQ. Books about these apparently simple classics can fill libraries, because it takes a lot of know-how and experience to perfect these dishes. The same goes for wine.

VDP: For what wine style do you strive? Do you have a favourite grape variety?

Andreas Spreitzer: We always strive for a certain lightness, elegance and freshness in our wines. Of course, our favourite variety is Riesling. 95 percent of our wines are Riesling!

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

Bernd Spreitzer: A good entry wine is our Oestrich Riesling Muschelkalk VDP.ORTSWEIN. It is ideally suited because it has a soft and round body and pleasant juiciness.

VDP: Of which wine are you particularly proud?

Andreas Spreitzer: Of our VDP.GROSSES GEWÄCHS^® ROSENGARTEN Riesling. You could call it our flagship.

VDP: Why did you become a vintner?

Andreas Spreitzer: The life of a winegrower is quite varied and you are always surrounded by culture, history and joie de vivre.

VDP: Do you have role models?

Andreas Spreitzer: Definitely our father!

VDP: What are your next goals?

Andreas Spreitzer: We want to keep our quality level at a very high level.

VDP: How do you combine tradition and innovation?

Bernd Spreitzer: Traditions are very important and omnipresent for us. In this context, vinification in wood barrels that are up to 60 years old plays an important role.

VDP: Why should people visit your region?

Bernd and Andreas Spreitzer: The entire Rheingau with its many castles, palaces and monasteries is always worth a visit! Kloster Eberbach, for example, is obligatory, because the Cistercians were the first to start producing wine here 1000 years ago. It is also wonderful to take the Rüdesheim cable car over the vines up to the Niederwald monument and from there enjoy the fantastic view over the Rheingau.