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 Toni Jost in Bacharach in the Mittelrhein Region.
Cecilia Jost was our host.
The visit of Weingut Toni Jost was in the morning. Weingut Toni Jost is just a couple blocks down the narrow central alley in old town Bacharach from Hotel Altkölnischer Hof where we had spent the night before. It is a 3 star charming, family run hotel with all modern amenities in the center of the romantic 1000 year old town of Bacharach.
The evening in this more than 1000 year old town with its castles, church spires, medieval city wall, and half-timbered houses on the shore of the Rhine River was fascinating. This was pure “Rheinromantik”. We had a lovely dinner in a local wine tavern.
Weingut Toni Jost
For over 180 years, the Jost family has been cultivating vineyards in Bacharach. In addition, One third of the vineyards are located in the Rheingau region, in Walluf and Martinsthal. Because of these vineyards in the Rheingau the estate has been a member of the VDP Rheingau since 1989. In 1987 Peter Jost was founding member of the VDP Mittelrhein.
Weingut Toni Jost, Peter and Cecilia Jost
Cecilia Jost: My father, Peter Jost, Dipl. Ing. Weinbau, took over the running of the estate from his father Toni in 1975. Out of respect for his father, who had preserved the vineyard through the difficult war and post-war years, he continued to call our estate Toni Jost. Up until then it had been customary to call an estate after the owner, be that Toni, Philip or Adam Jost.
In 2009, I finished my studies at Geisenheim University and – after internships in Baden, Austria and in New Zealand, joined the estate. I am now the sixth generation to join the estate.
Bacharacher Hahn and Rheingau Vineyards
Cecilia Jost: Our family has been cultivating vineyards in Bacharach for 180 years. At all times, the focus has been on acquiring areas in Bacharach's top site, the so-called Hahn. Today, this site is almost exclusively ours, which also explains the name for our estate, Hahnenhof.
One third of our vineyards are located in the Rheingau region, in the Walluf and Marthinstal areas. Since 1953, it has belonged to our wine estate through inheritance on my mother's side.
Today the estate covers 15 hectares of vineyards, 80% Riesling, 15% Spätburgunder, plus a parcel of Weißburgunder and a parcel of Dunkelfelder.
Wine Making Philosophy
Cecilia Jost: Great wines are not made in cellars, they grow in vineyards. Wines of character are marked by their origins: the grapes come from terroirs which are unique as to their soil and microclimate. It is the task of the winemaker to underscore the special features of the terroir.
For this purpose, the type of grape selected has to be optimally adapted from the beginning to the particular site, then the potential of the plants has to be precisely encouraged and these plants have to be provided with an environment in which they can thrive. Perhaps the most important instrument is small yields. It is in the concentration that the structure of authentic wines becomes evident, and that the wine in the glass reflects the uniqueness of its origin. High yields level the finer distinctions, make the wines faceless.
The subsequent work in the cellar is determined by the effort to preserve the potential for character and uniqueness that developed in the vineyard. Only so does an autonomous unmistakable wine emerge, the opposite of an anonymous product designed by a “winemaker” for a trendy taste based on market analysis.
Both in the vineyards and in the cellar we combine the experience of six generations of wine-making and the most up-to-date oenological and ecological knowledge. To guarantee quality, we harvest as late as possible and pass through the vineyards several times selectively harvesting.
The grapes are handled very carefully and are not crushed; the must ferments particularly slowly and at low temperatures. The maturation of the wines takes place, depending on their suitability, in stainless steel tanks or in wooden casks; the best Spätburgunder wines age in barriques casks for 12 to 15 months. For us it is important that all our wines are given sufficient time to rest and mature before bottling. This guarantees their character and longevity.
The Wines Cecilia Poured
The tasting was a most interesting one. We started with Sekt and then had 3 pairs, with a wine from the Mittelrhein in the left glass and a similar wine from the Rheingau in the right glass.
NV Weingut Toni Jost Hahnenhof Riesling Sekt
2014 Weingut Toni Jost Hahnenhof Devon S Riesling trocken
2014 Weingut Toni Jost Hahnenhof Alte Reben Riesling trocken
2013 Weingut Toni Jost Hahnenhof Hahn Riesling VDP.Grosses Gewächs
2013 Weingut Toni Jost Hahnenhof Walkenberg Riesling VDP.Grosses Gewächs
2012 Weingut Toni Jost Hahnenhof Bacharacher Hahn Riesling Spätlese
2012 Weingut Toni Jost Hahnenhof Wallufer Walkenberg Riesling Spätlese
Bye-bye
Thank you very much Cecilia for the great tasting.
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 - Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)
Wine and Music at Eberbach Abbey in the Rheingau - Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)
Tour and Wine Tasting with Lunch, with Mark Barth at Wein- und Sektgut Barth in Hattenheim, Rheingau– Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)
Tour and Tasting at Weingut Spreitzer in Oestrich, Rheingau, with Bernd Spreitzer – Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), Germany
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