The Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (organized by Annette Schiller) took place from September 6 – 12, 2015. The group was small - there were 7 of us, including Annette and Christian Schiller. We visited a total of 14 wineries in 5 different wine regions: Rheingau, Mittelrhein, Ahr, Mosel and Nahe.
I already provided a summary of the tour: Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), Germany
This posting focuses on the visit of Weingut Baron Knyphausen in Erbach, Rheingau.
Gerko Freiherr zu Knyphausen was our host.
Tour and Tasting
The visit started in the tasting room of Weingut Baron Knyphausen, where Gerko Freiherr zu Knyphausen served us two outstanding Sekts. We then took a walk to the vineyards and through the cellar, before sitting down at the Draiser Hof for an entertaining tasting with Gerko Freiherr zun Knyphausen.
Weingut Baron Knyphausen
Weingut Baron Knyphausen is located in Eltville. The holdings (24 hectares) include the famous Erbacher Marcobrunn, Erbacher Siegelsberg and Hattenheimer Wisselbrunnen, with Riesling accounting for 85 percent of the total. Annual production is 130000 bottles.
Weingut Baron Knyphausen is member of the VDP, the association of German elite winemakers (since 1972) and founding member of the Charta Association.
Weingut Baron zu Knyphausen is managed by Frederik Freiherr zu Knyphausen, the oldest son of Gerko Freiherr zu Knyphausen. Knyphausen.
Draiser Hof
Weingut Baron Knyphausen goes back to one of the oldest viticultural enterprises in Germany. The Draiser Hof - home of Weingut Baron Knyphausen - was built in 1141 by the Cistercian monks of the Eberbach Abbey to cultivate the monastery’s vineyards and fields in Erbach and Eltville.
The Draier 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.
Investor
In 2010, the Grapevault Wine Fund No.1 became majority partner and took an active role in the management of the estate. Earlier this year, the shares were transferred to the Phillips family in Munich, also an investor in the Grapevault Wine Fund No.1, and Frederik Freiherr zu Knyphausen, was appointed Managing Director of Weingut Baron Knyphausen.
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.
Tasting
2012 Weingut Baron Knyphausen Riesling Sekt Brut
2009 Weingut Baron Knyphausen Riesling Sekt Brut “Herrlichkeit”
2013 Weingut Baron Knyphausen Riesling feinherb
2014 Weingut Baron Knyphausen Riesling feinherb
2012 Weingut Baron Knyphausen Riesling Charta Riesling Kabinett
2012 Weingut Baron Knyphausen Baron K’ Riesling Kabinett
2012 Weingut Baron Knyphausen Erbacher Michelmark Riesling VDP.Erste Lage
2013 Weingut Baron Knyphausen Wisselbrunnen Riesling VDP.Grosse Lage GG
2013 Weingut Baron Knyphausen Erbacher Michelmark Riesling Spätlese
2011 Weingut Baron Knyphausen Erbacher Michelmark Riesling Auslese
Christy Canterbury, MW
American MW, Christy Canterbury, (2012): Team Knyphausen makes more than 30 wines and tends to seven main vineyards. Despite this generous and lengthy tasting, we simply couldn’t taste everything. Founded in 1141, this may be the one of the oldest estates in the Rheingau, but Gerko and his team are far from tradition-bound. New vineyards are being planted, and like the barrel-aged Riesling and Pinot Noir Sekt, new wines are being produced. I’m particularly curious about their Gemischter Satz idea (using Roter Traminer, Gelber Orleans, Weisser Heunisch, Silvaner, Weisser Elbling and Roter Riesling), and I hope some of it will eventually reach US shores. If not, I’ll be knocking at their doorstep soon after it’s commercialized.
Bye-bye
Thank you Gerko Freiherr zu Knyphausen for a wonderful visit.
Postings on the Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015) (Posted and Forthcoming)
4 Wine Tours by ombiasy coming up in 2015: Germany-East, Germany-South. Germany-Nord and Bordeaux
Fall Tours by ombiasy WineTours 2015 - A Very Special Treat: Experience Harvest Time !
Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), Germany
Tour and Tasting at Weingut Baron Knyphausen in Erbach, Rheingau
Wine and Music at Eberbach Abbey
Tour and Wine Lunch at Wein- und Sektgut Barth in Hattenheim, Rheingau
Tour and Tasting at Weingut Josef Spreitzer in Oestrich, Rheigau
Wine Tasting at Weingut Toni Jost in Bacharach, Mittelrhein
Cruise on the Rhine River from Bacharach to Boppard, Mittelrhein
Wine Tasting at Weingut J.J.Adeneuer in Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler, Ahr
Vineyard Walk and Tasting at Weingut Meyer-Näkel in Dernau, Ahr
Wine Tasting at Weingut Dr. Loosen in Bernkastel-Kues, Mosel
Wine Tasting at Weingut St. Urbans-Hof in Leiwen, Mosel
Vineyard Tour, Tasting and Lunch at Weingut Van Volxem in Wiltingen, Saar, Mosel
Wine Tasting at Weingut Hexamer, in Monzingen, Nahe
Tour and Tasting at Weingut Gut Hermannsberg, in Niederhausen, Nahe
Tour and Wine Dinner at Weingut Kruger-Rumpf in Münster-Sarmsheim, Nahe
Tour and Tasting at Sektmanufaktur Bardong in Geisenheim, Rheingau
Tour, Tasting and Lunch at Domaine Schloss Johannisberg in Geisenheim, Rheingau