The Germany-North Wine Tour by ombiasy (2014) took us to 2 exceptional winemakers in the Franken region. One of them was Weingut Bickel-Stumpf in Frickenhausen.
Weingut Bickel-Stumpf is a typical family run winery and we were received by the whole family. Melanie Stumpf-Kröger, who had just become a proud mother, received us. I know Melanie quite well from the time she was working at the VDP headquarters. Raimund Stumpf then served us a delicious Sekt and took us on a fascinating walk to the vineyards of Weingut Bickel-Stumpf. We then returned to the Bickel Stumpf home for a tasting of their wines, which was led by Reimund Stumpf and Melanie Stumpf-Kröger, with Matthias Stumpf joining us from time to time.
See also:
4 Wine Tours by ombiasy coming up in 2015: Germany-East, Germany-South. Germany-Nord and Bordeaux
Germany-North Wine Tour by ombiasy, 2014
Germany-South Wine Tour by ombiasy, 2014
German Wine and Culture Tour by ombiasy, 2013
Franken
Franken, located in the northern part of Bavaria, is boasting a long tradition and some fine terroirs (mostly shell limestone and Keuper, a kind of marl). Its two leading grape varieties are Riesling and Silvaner. Typically, Franken wine comes in the distinctive, dumpily-rounded Franken “Bocksbeutel” wine bottle. The bottle’s unusual shape dates back to at least the 16th century. The Bocksbeutel may only be used for Franken wines. In Germany, it is a sign of excellence, while in the US, many consumers link this kind of bottle shape to lower quality wine.
Weingut Bickel-Stumpf
Weingut Bickel-Stumpf is a fairly recently established winery, one that grew out of a love story. Reimund Stumpf and Carmen Bickel met, fell in love, and in 1976 decided to share their lot – personally and professionally. The winery’s 10 hectares are in two locations, in Thüngersheim (Johannisberg and Scharlachberg), north of Würzburg, and in Frickenhausen (Fischer and Kapellenberg), 25 miles upstream the Main River.
Silvaner (30%), Riesling, Müller-Thurgau, and Spätburgunder are the main grape varieties. Frickenhausen with its shell-limestone vineyards is known for its white wine. All of the wines from Frickenhausen have a light, creamy smoothness -sometimes, more intense; sometimes, more subdued. In Thüngersheim, red wine dominates. A large portion of the vineyards in Thüngersheim are planted on the upper layers of Bundsandstein (colored sandstone). The wines from these sites are mineral and straightforward.
Both children of Raimund and Carmen Stump - Matthias and Melanie - became winemakers and earned their credentials during many apprenticeships in Germany and abroad. Matthias joined the operation in 2003 und Melanie in 2012. While Melanie focuses on sales and marketing, Matthias works in the vineyards and the cellar. He has taken over the main responsibility for the wines from his father.
The wine cellar is in a modern building in Thüngersheim. The white wines are aged exclusively in stainless steel tanks, the red wines in oak barrels. Annual production: 8000 cases.
Weingut Bickel-Stumpf is a member of the VDP, the association of about 200 elite winemakers in Germany.
Tasting
2013 Silvaner trocken VDP.Gutswein
2012 Cremant Francophile de la Chapelle extra brut
2013 Silvaner Buntsandstein trocken VDP.Ortswein
2012 Silvaner Muschelkalk trocken VDP.Ortswein
2012 Kapellenberg Silvaner trocken VDP.ErsteLage
2013 Kapellenberg Silvaner trocken VDP.ErsteLage
2013 Kapellenberg Fränkischer Gemischter Satz trocken VDP.ErsteLage
2013 Johannisberg Scheurebe trocken VDP.ErsteLage
Bye-bye
Thanks Reimund Stumpf for a memorable vineyard walk and thanks Raimund Stumpf, Melanie Stumpf-Kröger and Matthias Stumpf for an excellent tasting.
schiller-wine: Related Postings
4 Wine Tours by ombiasy coming up in 2015: Germany-East, Germany-South. Germany-Nord and Bordeaux
Germany-North Wine Tour by ombiasy, 2014
Germany-South Wine Tour by ombiasy, 2014
Weingut Pawis (Saale Unstrut): Estate Tour and Wine Tasting with Kerstin Pawis– Germany-North Wine Tour by ombiasy (2014)
Weingut Kloster Pforta: Vineyard Tour, Cellar Tour and Tasting with Managing Director Christian Kloss – Germany-North Wine Tour by ombiasy (2014)
Winzerhof Gussek in the Saale Unstrut Region: Cellar Tour, Vineyard Tour and Tasting with Owner and Winemaker André Gussek – Germany-North Wine Tour by ombiasy (2014)
Tour and Tasting at the Historic Weingut Juliusspital in Würzburg, Franken– Germany-North Wine Tour by ombiasy (2014)