Weingut Rebenhof is a four-hectare family estate located in the town of Urzig, in the heart of the Mosel valley. The estate was founded in 1875, and today the owner and winemaker is Johannes Schmitz who succeeded his father in 1990.

Their holding is almost entirely in the renowned, sloping Wurzgarten vineyard. It has a unique combination of red sandstone and classic Mosel slate soil, which imparts the characteristic spice (wurtze) flavor to the wines. The vines are 100% Riesling and are an average of 60 years of age, with some plants being over 100 years old. They are almost all original rootstocks, and are not grafted. The Schmitz family maintains a vibrant eco-system in the vineyard to ensure the health of the wines and help them naturally resist diseases. All of these factors contribute to low yields, which in turn permit the grapes to remain on the vines longer and develop the rich, intense and pure flavors for which Rebenhof wines are known.

Rebenhof wines are fermented and aged in stainless steel and epoxy casks. They are kept on their fine lees, for nourishment and development of flavor, until January after the harvest. The wines are prepared for bottling by the gentlest possible method: namely, the Kiselgur or diatomaceous earth method, whereby the wines are cleaned by fining with a powder of ground fossilized sea shells (and are not pumped through filters).

The grapes are harvested in successive pickings according to maturity levels, usually in late October through mid-November, although the 2003s were harvested fully 3 weeks earlier than usual, due to the year’s exceptional heat. The 2003 Kabinett was picked from perfectly healthy grapes on October 11th and its fermentation ended on December 2nd. The Spatlese was picked one week later; it is made from intensely ripe, aromatic and healthy grapes. Balanced ripeness was ensured by the small number of grapes per vine and those vines’ deep roots that found sources of water deep in the cool slate soils. The Auslese was picked in one day, on October 16th, from super ripe grapes with only a small element of botrytis, in order to preserve the wine’s freshness.

Rebenhof wines are new to the USA. This is an estate to watch!