“OUR WINES NATURALLY REFLECT NOT ONLY THE SOIL IN WHICH THEY GROW, BUT ALSO US.”
MICHAEL GUTZLER SPEAKS ABOUT HIS WINES AND WINE ESTATE IN WONNEGAU
Office Hours
nach VereinbarungOwner
Michael und Christine Gutzler
Cellarmaster
Michael Gutzler
Member Since
2006
Wine Area
17,20 acres
Grape Variety
36% Spätburgunder, 34% Riesling, 25% Weiss- & Grauburgunder sowie Silvaner, Chardonnay und 5% weitere Rebsorten
Geology
Tonboden mit hohem Kalkanteil (Westhofen), Löss mit rotem Sand & Kies im Untergrund (Worms)
Sites
Growing Areas
Memberships
Eco Certifications
- EU-Bio-Zertifizierung
VDP: What is so special about your winery?
Michael Gutzler: Our love for our profession and everything that makes us special, can certainly be felt and tasted in our wines, our brandies and our sparkling wine. Of course, our wines reflect not only the soil in which they grow, but also us. Traditional and down-to-earth, but also modern and cosmopolitan. Strong in character, with corners and edges instead of arbitrary complaisance. Natural and powerful, without being heavy.
We own plots in excellent, famous vineyards, in Westhofen for example MORSTEIN, BRUNNENHÄUSCHEN and in Worms the LIEBFRAUENSTIFT-KIRCHENSTÜCK. It is also noteworthy that we plant our vines more densely than usual with only 65 cm distance between vines. Vines can thus root deeper and absorb considerably more naturally stored minerals than usual. Vines also always find enough moisture, even in dry seasons. The overall lower stress per vine increases valuable grape components.
Just how much attention we pay to details for the quality of our wines can be seen in our vaulted cellar. Built from old, handmade bricks and stamped ground for a floor, it provides perfect ambient temperatures and humidity during the maturation process.
VDP: What is your winery philosophy?
Michael Gutzler: Experience nature and taste passion. Top wines are not created by chance. Excellent vineyard sites, strict yield reduction and last but not least, the harmony between nature, the particularities of the soil, the vines and the winegrower are decisive.
“OUR WINERY PHILOSOPHY IS: EXPERIENCE NATURE AND TASTE PASSION.”
VDP: For what wine style do you strive?
Michael Gutzler: The overriding goal in everything is to bring out the typical character of our soil and our grape varieties in such a way that a real taste experience is created with powerful and elegant wines. Our favourite grape variety is Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir), but we are also at an internationally recognised quality level with Riesling.
VDP: Which of your wines would you recommend to someone who does not yet know your winery – as an introduction, so to speak?
Michael Gutzler: That’s hard to say. It all depends on the customer. I would recommend our Spätburgunder VDP.GUTSWEIN as an introductory wine.
VDP: Of which wine are you particularly proud?
Michael Gutzler: Of our flagship, the VDP.GROSSES GEWÄCHS® BRUNNENHÄUSCHEN Spätburgunder This is my idea of a great Pinot Noir.
BRUNNENHÄUSCHEN
Spätburgunder GG
VDP.GROSSES GEWÄCHS®
VDP: Why did you become a vintner?
Michael Gutzler: Pure enthusiasm. And because I love the versatility of the profession: working with nature, observing the processes in the cellar, and communicating with many different kinds of people. I already wanted to become a vintner at the age of six, mainly because of the big tractors, machines and tools.
VDP: Do you have role models or mentors?
Michael Gutzler: Werner Knipser. I’ve always been impressed by his honest, down-to-earth and friendly manner.
VDP: What are your next goals?
Michael Gutzler: To stay healthy in order to be able to continue work on the uniqueness of our wines together with my family and our team.
VDP: How do you combine tradition and innovation?
Michael Gutzler: A healthy mix is the key. As far as tradition goes, we focus on vinification in wood barrel and abstain from the use of pumps, but we do this in a modern way with conveyor belts and tilting systems.