Weingut Baron Knyphausen is one of the oldest estates in Germany. The Draiser Hof – home of Weingut Baron Knyphausen – was built by the Cisterican monks of Kloster Eberbach in 1141 to cultivate the monastery’s vineyards and fields in Eltville and Erbach.
In 1818, in the process of Napoeon's secularization, the Baron zu Knyphausen family purchased the estate. Today, Frederik zu Knyphausen, the eight generation, manages the estate. Arne Wilkens is the Technical Director. Following a restructuring, the vineyard area totals 10 hectares, of which 80% is accounted for by Riesling. Unfortunately, during the restructuring, the estate was considerably downsized and lost some of its best vineyards.
Gerko Freiherr zu Knyphausen and winemaker Arne Willkens were our hosts.
We started with lunch in the Restaurant Weinlounge 1141, which opened only recently. Winemaker Arne Willkens then showed us the new winemaking facilities and led a tasting in the courtyard of Weingut Baron Knyphausen.
Weingut Baron Knyphausen
Owner: Frederik zu Knyphausen
Winemaker: Arne Wilken
VDP member since 1972
Hectares of vineyards: 10
Bottle production: 80 000
Grape varieties: 80% Riesling, 10% Spätburgunder, 5% Roter Riesling
Vineyards:
SIEGELSBERG, Erbach | VDP.GROSSE LAGE®
WISSELBRUNNEN, Hattenheim | VDP.GROSSE LAGE®
HOHENRAIN, Erbach | VDP.GROSSE LAGE®
MARCOBRUNN, Erbach | VDP.GROSSE LAGE®
Steinmorgen, Erbach | VDP.ERSTE LAGE®
Michelmark, Erbach | VDP.ERSTE LAGE®
Sandgrub, Kiedrich | VDP.ERSTE LAGE®
The Draiser Hof
The Draiser Hof, as part of the Eberbach Abbey, was secularized under Napoleon in 1803. The new owner was the Duke of Nassau. He gave it as a present to his Minister Hans Christoph Ernst von Gagern to thank him for his loyal services during the secularization negotions. Hans Christoph Ernst von Gagern sold it to Georg Huber from Eltville in 1805, who then sold it to Gisbert Freiherr von Bodelschwingh-Plettenberg in 1815. Gisbert Freiherr von Bodelschwingh-Plettenberg died in 1845 and his son, Karl von Bodelschwingh-Plettenberg inherited it. Finally, through marriage of his only child, Wilhelmine, the Draiser got into the possession of the von Knyphausen family, a noble family from the Friesland area in the northern part of Germany. Until that time, the von Knyphausens were mainly Prussian Generals or Ministers.
Gerko Freiherr zu Knyphausen and his 5 Sons
Gerko Freiherr zu Knyphausen is well known in the Rheingau. The Knyphausens is the only noble family still fully involved in in winemaking in the Rheingau, where winemaking used to be dominated by the nobles. Gerko Freiherr zu Knyphausen has 5 sons. The oldest, Frederik, just took over the management of Weingut Baron Knyphausen. Gisbert is a well-known singer-songwriter in Germany. He lives in Berlin. Dodo just married winemaker Desiree Eser and works now with his wife at Weingut August Eser.
Lunch at Restaurant Weinlounge 1141/ Weingut Baron Kyphausen
We started the visit with lunch in the Restaurant Weinlounge 1141, which opened only recently. The Restaurant Weinlounge 1141 serves Tapas-style food.
Gerko Freiherr zu Knyphausen greeted us.
Tasting with Winemaker Arne Wilkens
After lunch and cellar tour, we moved to another area of the Draiser Hof, where we had a lovely tasting with Winemaker Arne Wilkens.
2018 Weingut Baron Knyphausen VDP.Gutswein Riesling 1141
2018 Weingut Baron Knyphausen VDP.Gutswein Riesling 1818
2016 Weingut Baron Knyphausen CHARTA Riesling
2016 Weingut Baron Knyphausen VDP.Gutswein Riesling Spätlese
2002 Weingut Baron Knyphausen Erbacher Steinmorgen Riesling Kabinett
1997 Weingut Baron Knyphausen Erbacher Steinmorgen Riesling Auslese
Welcome and Bye-bye
When we were leaving and saying bye-bye, Stefan Ress, Senior Boss of Weingut Balthasar Ress, was arriving and we had a chance to talk with him
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