“OVER 70 % OF OUR LAND IS CLASSIFIED AS VDP.GROSSE LAGE® VINEYARDS!”
GUNTER KÜNSTLER SPEAKS ABOUT HIS WINE AND WINE ESTATE IN HOCHHEIM.
Künstler
Geheimrat-Hummel-Platz 1a
65239 Hochheim
| Phone | +49 (0)6146/83860 |
|---|---|
| Fax | +49 (0)6146/7335 |
| info@weingut-kuenstler.de |
Office Hours
Mo-Fr 8.00-12.00, 13.00-18.00; Samstags immer von 10:00 bis 16:00 Uhr; Sonntags von April bis Dezember 11.00-16.00Owner
Gunter Künstler
Cellarmaster
Gunter Künstler & Rolf Schregel
Member Since
1994
Wine Area
68,00 acres
Grape Variety
80% Riesling sowie 15% Spätburgunder, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc
Geology
Lösslehm-, Tonböden, Schiefer, Quarzit
Growing Areas
Memberships
VDP: What is so special about your winery?
Gunter Künstler: We have been a family business since 1648 - and over 70 percent of our land is classified as VDP.GROSSE LAGE® vineyards! Our estate building was built in 1837 and is listed as a protected historical monument. It was the oldest sparkling wine cellar on the Rhine at the time.
VDP: What is your winery philosophy?
Gunter Künstler: Total quality management!
VDP: For what wine style do you strive?
Gunter Künstler: Intense and sustainable, yet elegant, long-lasting Riesling wines.
VDP: Do you have a favourite grape variety?
Gunter Künstler: Two: Pinot Noir and Riesling.
VDP: Which of your wines would you recommend to someone who doesn’t yet know your winery – as an introduction, so to speak?
Gunter Künstler: Our VDP.ERSTE LAGE® Hochheimer Herrnberg Riesling dry
VDP: Of which wine are you particularly proud?
Gunter Künstler: I don’t like the word ‘proud’ very much. I have been consistently satisfied with the VDP.GROSSEN GEWÄCHS® HÖLLE Hochheim Riesling over the years.
“WE ARE GOING BACK FOR THE FUTURE WITH OUR VINIFICATION.”
VDP: Why did you become a vintner?
Gunter Künstler: Because it is a wonderful handcraft! I grew up at my father’s wine estate. When he had an accident, I became responsible. As a result, I had to and could shape things - in the vineyard, in the cellar and also in marketing.
VDP: Do you have role models, mentors?
Gunter Künstler: Wilhelm Haag, Helmut Dönnhoff and my father
VDP: How do you combine tradition and innovation?
Gunter Künstler: We are going back for the future in our way of vinification. For example, we work with basket presses and battonage. And we don’t practice fining any more.
