The Dönnhoff family has been making wines for more than 250 years, but a new era started when Helmut Dönnhoff began making wine in 1971. He started out with a vineyard of 10 acres, and through careful acquisition he now cultivates 60 acres of the best vineyards in the Nahe valley. Helmut Dönnhoff has become a living legend of German wine and is celebrated as one of Germany’s very best producers.
A few years ago, his son, Cornelius Dönnhoff, took over, with his wife Anne, who led the wine tasting. Both are committed to making the most out of the terroir to attain the ultimate in quality. The majority of the grapes planted are Riesling, but Dönnhoff also produces outstanding Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris.
Weingut Dönnhoff: Our Vineyards - Our Family
Anne Dönnhoff: The Dönnhoff Family is proud to call Oberhausen an der Nahe home. Running from Niederhausen to Schloßböckelheim, the majestic landscapes of the Nahe Valley have held sway over us for more than 250 years. The first official mention of the Dönnhoff name dates back to 1761; the family‘s own history book details the early flowering of 1781 and the bumper grape harvest of 1784. Helmut Dönnhoff‘s grandfather laid the cornerstone for the estate‘s success. Right from the outset Hermann Dönnhoff (1880-1953) focused his attention on planting Riesling vines in prized vineyards, and by the 1920s was filling his wines into bottles and selling the finest of them by their individual vineyard names. We owe our undying thanks to his son Hermann Jr. (1916-1991) not just for the cultivation of our “Oberhäuser Brücke” site, but also for the construction of the press house in 1936 and the estate‘s first cellar space. In 1953 the estate received a Merit of Honor from the government for its outstanding viticultural achievements.
The grandchild of the estate‘s founder, Helmut Dönnhoff, paved the way for international success by establishing an enduring quality and style in his wines. His vintages would in fact become a byword for renowned German Rieslings the world over. Following his training at his parents‘ estate and university studies in winegrowing, he assumed responsibility for both vineyard and cellar starting in 1971. “Extraordinary wines are based on extraordinary vineyards. I‘m fortunate to have had the opportunity to acquire several world-class sites and in some cases to resume cultivation. It remains very much a privilege for me to produce wine from vineyards of such exceptional quality. It‘s more than I ever could have dreamed when I first started working.” This deep understanding of grand wines and grand vineyards was passed on from father to son to grandson.
The fourth generation now holds the reins: Cornelius Dönnhoff. He began his training in 1999 and, after a series of positions abroad, in 2007 returned to assume responsibility for the estate – initially for the vineyard and cellar, and now for all aspects of the operation. History continues, but the estate remains what it has always been: a family affair in every sense.
With its nine Große Lagen, counted among the absolute finest in the region, the estate today enjoys an excellent international reputation for its grand German Rieslings.
VINEYARD AREA 28ha
VARIETALS Riesling 80 %, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris 20 %
AGE OF VINES 15 – 65 years
SOILS Sandstone, weathered slate, weathered volcanic rock (porphyry and melaphyre)
YIELDS 50 hl/ha
AGEING Fermentation and storage in classic wooden barrels of German oak and stainless steel vats
The Wines
We tasted 12 wines, both dry and fruity-sweet and all Riesling, except for the sprakling wine, which was a Pinot Blanc.
Sekt
2013 Weingut Dönnhoff Dönnhoff Pinot Brut Sekt
Riesling Dry
2018 Weingut Dönnhoff Dönnhoff Riesling dry
2018 Weingut Dönnhoff Dönnhoff Tonschiefer Riesling dry
2018 Weingut Dönnhoff Roxheimer Höllenpfad Riesling dry Erste Lage
2016 Weingut Dönnhoff Felsenberg Riesling dry GG Grosse Lage
2012 Weingut Dönnhoff Hermannshöhle Riesling dry GG Grosse Lage
Riesling Fruity-sweet
2018 Weingut Dönnhoff Dönnhoff Riesling off-dry
2018 Weingut Dönnhoff Kreuznacher Krötenpfuhl Riesling Kabinett
2018 Weingut Dönnhoff Oberhäuser Leistenberg Riesling Kabinett
2018 Weingut Dönnhoff Niederhäuser Hermannshöhle Riesling Spätlese
2001 Weingut Dönnhoff Niederhäuser Hermannshöhle Riesling Spätlese
2004 Weingut Dönnhoff Schlossböckelheimer Felsenberg Riesling Auslese
schiller-wine: Related Postings (Germany-North Tour 2019 by ombiasy WineTours: Quintessential Riesling - Published and Forthcoming Postings)
Germany-North Tour 2019 by ombiasy WineTours: Quintessential Riesling
Attending the 2019 VDP.Weinbörse - Vintage 2018 - in Mainz - Germany-North Tour 2019 by ombiasy WineTours: Quintessential Riesling
Vineyard Tour, Cellar Visit and Tasting at Weingut Joachim Flick in Hochheim, Rheingau - Germany-North Tour 2019 by ombiasy WineTours: Quintessential Riesling
Lunch at the Weingut Schloss Johannisberg Gutsrestaurant - Germany-North Tour 2019 by ombiasy WineTours: Quintessential Riesling
Cellar Visit and Tasting at Weingut Wegeler in Oestrich-Winkel, Rheingau - Germany-North Tour 2019 by ombiasy WineTours: Quintessential Riesling
Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut Robert Weil in Kiedrich, Rheingau, with Jan Christensen - Germany-North Tour 2019 by ombiasy WineTours: Quintessential Riesling
Kloster Eberbach: Overnight-Stay, Dinner, Tour and Aperitif in the Steinberg Vineyard - Germany-North Tour 2019 by ombiasy WineTours: Quintessential Riesling
Wining in the Steinberg Vineyard– Germany-North Wine Tour by ombiasy (2014)
Lunch, Cellar Visit and Tasting at Weingut Baron Knyphausen in Erbach, Rheingau, with Owner Gerko Freiherr zu Knyphausen and Winemaker Arne Willkens - Germany-North Tour 2019 by ombiasy WineTours: Quintessential Riesling
Tasting and Dinner at Weingut Kaufmann in Hattenheim, Rheingau, with Urban Kaufmann and Eva Raps - Germany-North Tour 2019 by ombiasy WineTours: Quintessential Riesling
Family-style Wine-pairing Lunch at Weingut Hans Lang - Kaufmann, with Owners/ Winemakers Urban Kaufmann and Eva Raps - Germany-North Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours
Sekt Cellar Tour, Vineyard Tour and Tasting in the Vineyard at Weingut Laquai in Lorch, Rheingau, with Gundolf Laquai - Germany-North Tour 2019 by ombiasy WineTours: Quintessential Riesling
Lunch in Bacharach, Mittelrhein Region - Germany-North Tour 2019 by ombiasy WineTours: Quintessential Riesling
Tasting and Vineyard Drive at Weingut Ratzenberger in Bacharach, Mittelrhein, with Jochen Ratzenberger - Germany-North Tour 2019 by ombiasy WineTours: Quintessential Riesling
Rhine River Cruise in the Mittelrhein Valley, an UNESCO World Heritage Region - Germany-North Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours
Tasting at Weingut Franzen, Bremm, Terrassen-Mosel, with Angelina Franzen - Germany-North Tour 2019 by ombiasy WineTours: Quintessential Riesling
Tasting at Weingut Jos. Jos. Prüm in Bernkastel-Wehlen, Mosel, with Amei Prüm - Germany-North Tour 2019 by ombiasy WineTours: Quintessential Riesling
Wine Dinner at Weingut Richard Böcking in Traben-Trarbach, Middle Mosel, with Owner Denman Zirkle - Germany-North Tour 2019 by ombiasy WineTours: Quintessential Riesling
Tasting at Weingut Dr. Loosen in Bernkastel-Kues, Mosel, with Ernie Loosen - Germany-North Tour 2019 by ombiasy WineTours: Quintessential Riesling
Weingut Dr. H. Thanisch - Erben Mueller-Burggraef: Visit of the Doctorkeller and Tour and Tasting at the Winery, with Owner Matthias Willkomm - Germany-North Tour 2019 by ombiasy WineTours: Quintessential Riesling
The Wines of the Berncasteler Doctor, Bernkastel-Kues in the Mosel Valley, Germany
Lunch at Restaurant Juffer Flair of Weingut Christian Steinmetz in Brauneberg, Mosel - Germany-North Tour 2019 by ombiasy WineTours: Quintessential Riesling
Tasting at Weingut Reinhold Haart in Piesport, Mosel, with Johannes Haart - Germany-North Tour 2019 by ombiasy WineTours: Quintessential Riesling
Schiller’s Favorite Wine Taverns in Trier, Germany
Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut Peter Lauer in Ayl, Upper Mosel, Saar Valley, with Katharina Lauer and Peter Lauer - Germany-North Tour 2019 by ombiasy WineTours: Quintessential Riesling
Lunch at WEINrestaurant Ayler Kupp, Weingut Peter Lauer, Saar Valley - Germany-North Tour 2019 by ombiasy WineTours: Quintessential Riesling
Tasting at Weingut Dönnhoff, Oberhausen, Nahe, with Anne Dönnhoff - Germany-North Tour 2019 by ombiasy WineTours: Quintessential Riesling
Wine Tasting and Cellar Tour at Weingut Dönnhoff with Christina Dönnhoff– Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2014)
An Afternoon with Riesling Star Winemaker Helmut Doennhoff at Weingut Doennhoff in Oberhausen in the Nahe Valley, Germany
Visit and tasting at winery Dr. Crusius, Traisen, Nahe, with Peter and Judith Crusius.
Vineyard tour, cellar tour and tasting at winery Kruger-Rumpf, Münster-Sarmsheim, Nahe, with Stefan and Georg Rumpf
Tour, Tasting, Dinner and Overnight Stay at Weingut Kruger Rumpf, Nahe, with Stefan, Cornelia and Georg Rumpf– Germany-North Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours
Vineyard tour and tasting at winery Bischel in Appenheim, Rheinhessen, with Christian Runkel, Owner and Winemaker
Winery visit and lunch at winery Louis Guntrum in Nierstein, Rheinhessen, with Konstantin Guntrum
Guntrum is Back (Stuart Pigott/ James Suckling): Wine Pairing Lunch and Tour at Weingut Louis Guntrum in Nierstein, Rheinhessen, with Owners Konstantin and Stephanie Guntrum - Germany-South and Alsace 2017 Tour by ombiasy WineTours
Mainlust “Desche Otto” – an Ultra Traditional Apple Wine Tavern, with an Innovative Twist, off the Beaten Track in Schwanheim, Frankfurt am Main, Germany