Pictures: Annette Schiller, Christian Schiller and Gesine Roll in Frankfurt, at Weingut Weedenborn in Monernheim and in Munich
The Gault Millau WeinGuide Deutschland/ Germany was released in November 2022.
It contains a most interesting "Next Generation" list with 10 young winemakers who have just taken over their parents' business, work with them or have founded their own winery.
See: Next Generation - Gault Millau WeinGuide Deutschland/ Germany 2023 List of 10 Young Winemakers to Watch
The "Wine Personality of the Year" Award went to Gesine Roll. She is the Owner/ Winemaker of Weingut Weedenborn in Rheinhessen, which we visited recently on the Germany-South and Alsace 2022 by ombiasy WineTours
See: Cellar Tour and Tasting in the Courtyard with Owner/ Winemaker Gesine Roll at Weingut Weedenborn Weedenborn in Monzenheim, Rheinhessen - Germany-South and Alsace 2022 by ombiasy WineTours
USA - Importer: Weygandt Metzler
Atop one of the highest elevations in Rheinhessen, inspired by the picturesque landscape in their mountain community of Monzernheim, sits this family-owned, 16 hectare vineyard. Outstanding wines are the standard for winemaker Gesine Roll where she cultivates her take on the classic approach to Riesling. Additionally, the winery has directed an increased fascination with and focus on Sauvignon Blanc. But whether it be Riesling or Sauvignon Blanc, the winery's devotion to produce clean and fresh offerings continues to establish their reputation as respected winemakers.
Gesine Roll of Weingut Weedenborn/ Rheinhessen: Wine Personality of the Year - Gault Millau WeinGuide Deutschland/ Germany 2023
Gault Millau WeinGuide Deutschland/ Germany 2023: "The image often drawn as the 'Queen of Sauvignon' is misleading, because Gesine Roll is more of a clever strategist and a passionate fighter than a feudal lady resting on a throne. With great foresight, the winemaker seized her chance and continued to develop her father's business according to the motto "the early bird catches the worm". In doing so, she developed freely and, with her concentration on Sauvignon Blanc, she not only recognized the potential of the vineyards in the high areas of Rheinhessen, but also recognized the advantages of the cooler climate and exploited them with the greatest dedication. The result is world-class wines, the likes of which cannot be found anywhere else in Germany in terms of the distinctiveness and diversity of this grape variety.”
Picture: Wilhelm Weil, Gesine Roll, Stuart Pigott, Christian Schiller and Annette Schiller at Gut Hermannsberg in 2019
„Das oft gezeichnete Bild als „Königin des Sauvignon“ ist irreführend, denn Gesine Roll ist vielmehr kluge Strategin und leidenschaftliche Kämpferin als eine auf dem Thron ruhende Feudalherrin. Mit großem Weitblick hat die Winzerin ihre Chance ergriffen und nach dem Motto „der frühe Vogel fängt den Wurm“ den väterlichen Betrieb weiterentwickelt. Dabei hat sie sich frei entfaltet und in den hohen Lagen Rheinhessens mit der Konzentration auf Sauvignon Blanc nicht nur das Potenzial der Lagen, sondern auch die Vorteile des kühleren Klimas erkannt und mit größter Hingabe ausgeschöpft. Das Ergebnis sind Weine auf Weltspitzen-Niveau, wie sie in Deutschland in Ausprägung und Facetten-Reichtum dieser Rebsorte kein zweites Mal zu finden sind.“
Weingut Weedenborn is located in Rheinhessen, Germany’s largest wine region, in the village of Monzernheim, about an hour south of Mainz by bus, close to world renowed winemakers KP Keller, Wittmann and Battenfeld-Spanier.
Rheinhessen is a region with gently rolling vine-covered hills as far as your eye can see. It forms a triangle between the Rhein and the Nahe river. Rheinhessen has long been the backwater of the German wine scene in terms of quality. Over the last two decades a generation of young, exquisitely trained, well-travelled, and highly motivated vintners put Rheinhessen back on the map.
We started the visit with a tour of the winemaking facilities and then sat down in the lovely courtyard for a tasting of Gesine's wines.
Weingut Weedenborn is represented in the USA by Weygandt Metzler.
One of those gifted winemakers in Rheinhessen is Gesine Roll, owner of the Weedenborn winery. She trained at the well-knows estate Bassermann-Jordan and at Vergelegen in South Africa. The estate is located in Monzernheim, and sits on the highest elevation in Rheinhessen on a limestone terroir.
The 50 acres winery grows the classic grape Riesling plus some Burgundy varieties; but Gesine’s focus lies particularly on making stellar Sauvignon-Blancs. Vineyard management is done with regard to environmental consciousness. There are no herbicides or insecticides used to strengthen the vines. Biodiversity is observed by using biocompost and planting of special grasses and herbs in the vineyards. I quote Gesine: “Elegance and appeal are particularly important to me when it comes to wines. That the wines are very precise and "easy to drink", not fat or filling. The altitude of the vineyards of our winery with cool nights and lots of wind is ideal for my favorite wine style”.
USA - Importer: Weygandt Metzler
Atop one of the highest elevations in Rheinhessen, inspired by the picturesque landscape in their mountain community of Monzernheim, sits this family-owned, 16 hectare vineyard. Outstanding wines are the standard for winemaker Gesine Roll where she cultivates her take on the classic approach to Riesling. Additionally, the winery has directed an increased fascination with and focus on Sauvignon Blanc. But whether it be Riesling or Sauvignon Blanc, the winery's devotion to produce clean and fresh offerings continues to establish their reputation as respected winemakers.
Weingut Weedenborn/ The Wine Merchant (Norway)
Weingut Weedenborn is located in the village Monzernheim, on the highest elevation of Reinhessen, with a wonderful view above the well-known vineyards Morstein and Kirchspiel in Westhofen. It is a family owned and runned estate, and Gesine Roll, a very talented young winemaker took over the control, after her father, in 2005. Her dedication and focus to achieve her goals for the family winery is impressive, and the estate is getting recognized by both wine press and customers. Just recently the winery achieved four stars in Falstaff wein guide, and one the Sauvignon Blancs from the estate was listed as one of the best German wines by Gault&Millau, regardless of grape or style.
Sauvignon Blanc plays the main role at Weedenborn. Almost 50 percent of the 22 hectares of vineyards are planted with Sauvignon Blanc. The other important focus for them is the Chardonnay. They also produce top quality wines from Weissburgunder, Riesling and Pinot Noir. Precision, purity and freshness is the signature for all Weedenborn wines. The high altitude of the vineyards with cold nights and lots of wind creates perfect conditions for the wines. Some of their best Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay are planted on some of the most famous vineyards in Rheinhessen, like Morstein and Kirchspiel, which is very rare.
Weedenborn is already a star, but a star that is still rising!
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