The Vinum WeinGuide Deutschland 2019 was released on Friday, October 26, 2018. The Vinum WeinGuide Deutschland 2019 reviews on about 1000 pages more than 11.000 wines of 1000 wineries. Its rating symbol is a star and Germany’s best winemakers are awarded one to five stars. The wines are rated on the 1 to 100 scale.
The Vinum WeinGuide Deutschland 2019 honored the following three outstanding personalities of the German wine world with Winemaker of the Year, Rising Star of the Year and Discovery of the Year awards:
Winemaker of the Year (Vinum WeinGuide Deutschland 2019): Roman Niewodniczanski, Owner, Weingut van Volxem in Wiltingen/ Saar
Rising Star of the Year (Vinum WeinGuide Deutschland 2019): Niko Brandner, Sekthaus Griesel & Compagnie , Bensheim, Hessische Bergstraße
Discovery of the Year (Vinum WeinGuide Deutschland 2019): Yvonne Libelli and Martin Lucas, Weingut Margarethenhof, Forst, Pfalz
In addition to this posting:
Germany’s Best Winemakers – Vinum WeinGuide Deutschland 2019 Awards
I will also post about the following:
Germany’s Top Winemakers (With 5/5 Stars) - Vinum WeinGuide Deutschland 2019
Germany's Best Wines: 10 Categories - Vinum WeinGuide Deutschland 2019
Winemaker of the Year (Vinum WeinGuide Deutschland 2019): Roman Niewodniczanski, Owner, Weingut van Volxem in Wiltingen/ Saar
Wine Maker of the Year (Vinum WeinGuide Deutschland 2019): Roman Niewodniczanski, Owner, Weingut van Volxem in Wiltingen/ Saar
Vinum (CS translation): For almost 20 years, Roman Niewodniczanski has been working on the renaissance of the Saar-Riesling, which were among the best wines worldwide 100 to 130 years ago. In last year's wine guide his Scharzhofberger Pergentsknopp was the highest rated wine of the vintage - and that as a dry Riesling from the Saar! The genetics of the vines are of great importance to Niewodniczanski, so he cultivates 19 of his own selections in his magnificent 80-hectare portfolio. He has been assisted Dominik Völk, director of operations, since 2004 as a congenial partner.
Weingut Van Volxem
54459 Wiltingen
www.vanvolxem.com
Wine Maker of the Year: Runners-up
Weingut Dr. Bürklin-Wolf
Vinum (CS translation): Ten years ago, Bettina Bürklin-von Guradze dared to convert her estate to biodynamic viticulture. The reason for this was the book "inspired wine" by Loire winemaker Nicolas Joly. At this time, her dry Rieslings already were among the very best in Germany. Whether Kirchenstück or Pechstein, they were legendary - and thanks to the conversion to biodynamic viticulture became even better. This estate, with its 85 hectares, is not only one of the largest, but also one of the most important wineries in Germany. An international figurehead!
Weingut Dr. Bürklin-Wolf
67157 Wachenheim an der Weinstrasse
www.buerklin-wolf.de
Weingut Zehnthof –Theo Luckert
Vinum (CS translation): With the single vineyard Creutz the Luckerts own a German wine monument. 400 uncrafted Gelber Silvaner vines, planted in the late 19th century - the 2017 vintage from there is the best ever produced. All wines are aged in large wooden barrels (often made from Spessart oak). Notwithstanding typical Franconian calmness, Wolfgang and Ulrich Luckert, energetically supported by Wolfgang's son Philipp, have developped tremendous strength in their wines. The Luckerts are the climbers of Franconia par excellence, right to the top, and indeed to the top of Germany.
Weingut Zehnthof – Theo Luckert
97320 Sulzfeld
www.weingut-zehnthof.de
Rising Star of the Year (Vinum WeinGuide Deutschland 2019): Niko Brandner, Sekthaus Griesel & Compagnie , Bensheim, Hessische Bergstraße
Vinum (CS translation): Niko Brandner's best Sekte, as his silky, like Brioche smelling Grande Cuvée, have everything you would expect from a great champagne. It is impressive in how short a time the former banker reached this level. It was only in 2013 that he started a champagne house in the historic buildings of the former state domain. Own vineyards are in Bensheim-Auerbach, but also grapes from other regions, especially from the Palatinate, are purchased. The labels are as noble as the content.
Griesel & Compagnie
64625 Bensheim
www.griesel-sekt.de
Picture: Joel Payne and Niko Brandner (Photo: Vinum)
Rising Star of the Year: Runners-up
Weingut Günter Steinmetz
Vinum (CS translation): The basic liter wine Riesling of Stefan Steinmetz would be the top wine for the majority of German wineries. And red wine? White Burgundy? Rieslings in all varieties? Steinmetz manages to reach the top of the Mosel in every category. The Brauneberg winemaker is an imposing person and a strong representative of his guild. With the acquisition of uncrafted Riesling vineyards he expanded his vineyard portfolio further, which contained already the legendary Juffer. With the 2017 vintage he made another quality leap. What a collection!
Weingut Günter Steinmetz
54472 Brauneberg
www.weingut-guenther-steinmetz.de
Weingut Albrecht Schwegler
Vinum (CS translation): For years hardly anyone else in Germany brings as good red wine cuvées into the bottle as this winery from Korb in the heart of the Remstals. Whether beryl, sapphire or garnet, the wines named after gemstones sparkle and possess enormous maturation potential. With the entry of junior Aaron Schwegler, who learned from luminaries such as Joachim Heger and Daniel Gantenbein, the already high quality increased further. The vineyard area totals 10 hectares and now also includes Chardonnay. There is only one direction: up!
Weingut Albrecht Schwegler
71404 Korb
www.albrecht-schwegler.de
Discovery of the Year (Vinum WeinGuide Deutschland 2019): Yvonne Libelli and Martin Lucas, Weingut Margarethenhof, Forst, Pfalz
Vinum (CS translation): Yvonne and Martin Lucas are a young team - but they are already taking their time. They release their best wines from Ungeheuer, Pechstein und Jesuitengarten late. At the top of the great collection is a dry Riesling from the Forster Jesuit garden - floral, playful, intense and impressively dense. Martin is in charge of the cellar. The fact that Yvonne's husband is Nicola Libelli and that he is the cellar master at Bürklin-Wolf (see above) does not really matter.
Weingut Margarethenhof
67147 Forst
www.margarethenhof-forst.delate
Picture: Yvonne and Martin Lucas (Photo Vinum)
Discovery of the Year (Vinum WeinGuide Deutschland 2019): Runners-up
Weingut Theo J. Kreis
Vinum (CS translation): Housed in the beautiful building formerly owned by the Vereinigten Weingutsbesitzern, a Hallgarten wine cooperative, the Kreis family produces impressive wines. 80 percent of its 13 hectares are planted with Riesling, the rest with Burgundy varieties. Whether dry, fruity sweet or noble sweet, the incredibly animating wines from famous locations such as Oestricher Doosberg, Hallgarten Jungfrau, Schönhell or Hendelberg inspire. Already the juicy basic liter wine sets a big exclamation mark! And all for bargain prices.
Weingut Theo J. Kreis
65375 Oestrich-Winkel
www.weingut-kreis.de
Alexandre Dupont de Ligonnès
Vinum (CS translation): Tausendsassa, Sacrebleu or Marques von Momue are the names of the wines of the young winemaker Alexandre Dupont. After his education in Saxony, he moved to the south of France to Château Roquefort, today he makes his wine in the cellar of Stefan Bönsch, biodynamically grown, in amphorae, without addition of sulfur. They are low in alcohol and yet full of structure and liveliness. And they have what many orange wines are missing: you want a second glass. And a third and fourth! Unfortunately, the amounts produced are homeopathic.
Weinbau Alexandre Dupont de Ligonnès
01127 Dresden
www.deligonnes.com
Earlier Years
Germany’s Best Winemakers and Wines – Vinum WeinGuide Deutschland 2018 Awards: The Award Ceremony in Mainz, Germany
Germany’s Best Winemakers and Wines – Gault Millau WeinGuide Deutschland 2017 Awards
Germany’s Best Winemakers and Wines – Gault Millau WeinGuide Deutschland 2016 Awards: The Awards Ceremony in Mainz, Germany
Germany’s Best Winemakers and Wines – Gault Millau WeinGuide Deutschland 2015 Awards Ceremony in Mainz, Germany
Best German Wines and Winemakers: Gault Millau Awards – Gault Millau WeinGuide Deutschland 2014
Best German Wines and Wine Makers – the Gault Millau WeinGuide Deutschland 2013 Awards
2012: Best German Wines (Awards) – Gault Millau WeinGuide Deutschland 2012
2011: Gault Millau WeinGuide Germany 2011– Ratings
Gault Millau Wine Germany 2010
schiller-wine: Related Postings
Ombiasy Wine Tours 2018: 3 x France and 3 x Germany - Ombiasy Newsletter December 2017
UPCOMING Tours/ Wine Dinners/ Tastings - Annette and Christian Schiller/ ombiasyPR & WineTours/ schiller-wine, Germany, France, USA (Issued: December 3, 2018)
Roman Niewodniczanski of Weingut Van Volxem. See: Lunch, Tasting and Vineyard Walk at Weingut Van Volxem with Owner Roman Niewodniczanski – Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)
Impromptu Tasting at Weinbar & Vinothek Weingut Dr. Bürklin-Wolf in Deidsheim, with Managing Director Steffen Brahner - Germany-South and Alsace 2018 Tour by ombiasy WineTours: Baden, Alsace, Pfalz and Rheinhessen
Ultra-premium Sekt: Cellar Tour and Tasting at Griesel&Compagnie, Sekthaus Streit, Bensheim, with Winemaker Rachele Crosara - Germany-South and Alsace 2018 Tour by ombiasy WineTours: Baden, Alsace, Pfalz and Rheinhessen