VDP.Auction Nahe
Follow-up Report 2026

The VDP.Wine Auction Nahe on 7 November impressively demonstrated the international appeal of Germany’s finest wines. A record bid of 19.000 EUR for two Rieslings from VDP.Weingut Keller, bidders from around the world and 9.100 EUR raised for charity made the auction an outstanding event.

Special moments are what make a wine auction truly memorable: when a rare wine finds its admirer, when bids continue to rise and when a wine tells a story that reaches far beyond its origins. Guests experienced all of this at this year’s VDP Wine Auction on the Nahe, held at the historic Römerhalle Museum in Bad Kreuznach. On 7 November, 30 lots from 14 VDP.Weingüter representing the Nahe, Ahr, Rheinhessen and Pfalz wine-growing regions went under the hammer – achieving results that particularly highlighted the international significance of Germany’s finest Rieslings.

The highlight of the auction came from VDP.Weingut Keller in Rheinhessen. Two double magnums (3 litres each) of the 2025 Riesling VDP.GROSSES GEWÄCHS from the SCHUBERTSLAY and PETTENTHAL vineyards achieved a combined hammer price of 19.000 EUR. The fact that both wines found their way to France makes this result particularly significant. In a country with such a deeply rooted wine tradition of its own, the demand for Germany’s finest Rieslings is a remarkable testament to their international recognition. Keller’s other lots also attracted considerable interest: two magnums fetched 7.200 EUR, while a six-bottle case containing three bottles from each vineyard achieved 4.500 EUR.

Keller was not the only estate to achieve remarkable results. A magnum of the 2025 BRÜCKE Riesling GG from Dönnhoff changed hands for 1.500 EUR, while a double magnum of the 2025 AUF DER LEY Riesling GG from Emrich-Schönleber achieved 1.200 EUR. A magnum of the 2025 FINAL Riesling from Schäfer-Fröhlich went under the hammer for 1.010 EUR. Estates from the Pfalz and Ahr regions also celebrated successful bids: the 2025 PHILIPPSBRUNNEN Riesling GG from Philipp Kuhn achieved 150 EUR per bottle, while the 2024 DEVONSCHIEFER Spätburgunder Reserve from Weingut H. J. Kreuzberg fetched 101 EUR per bottle.

All results 

Alongside the passion for exceptional wines, social commitment is an integral part of the auction. This year, the focus was on the “Wurzeln schlagen” sustainability project run by the Bad Kreuznach district. A charity case featuring 14 selected wines from the 2015 vintage raised 3.100 EUR. A further 6.000 EUR was raised through the auction of an exclusive culinary evening with winemakers Sebastian Schäfer and Daniel Wagner at the Helzles Cesar & Morian restaurant in Bad Sobernheim.

In total, 9.100 EUR was raised for charity. The proceeds will support, among other initiatives, the construction of greenhouses and accompanying nutrition education programmes at schools, as well as the planting of a forest for future generations. A wonderful combination of enjoyment, responsibility and shaping the future.

The fact that the VDP.Wine Auction has long reached far beyond the borders of the region was already evident in the morning. During the pre-auction tasting at the Römerhalle Museum, guests had the opportunity to sample the auction wines directly with the estates and talk to the winemakers. In the afternoon, around 140 guests gathered for the traditional “wet auction”. Numerous other wine lovers followed the proceedings via livestream, including viewers from major international wine capitals.

Master of Wine Caro Maurer guided guests through the afternoon. VDP Honorary President Michael Prinz zu Salm-Salm took on the role of honorary auctioneer, leading the auction and presenting the lots from all 14 estates.

In the end, the auction represented more than just the sum of the hammer prices achieved. It demonstrated the international appreciation for the provenance, character and craftsmanship of Germany’s finest wines. It also showed that great wines bring people together not only around the tasting table or in the pursuit of rare bottles, but can also make a difference where support is needed most.
 

The next VDP.Wine Auction on the Nahe will take place on 13 November 2027.