The Gault Millau WeinGuide Deutschland is the leading wine guide for German wine. Gault Millau WeinGuide Deutschland uses a scale of 1 to 5 grapes to rate winemakers and a scale of 1 to 100 points to rate their wines.
The Gault Millau WeinGuide Deutschland 2016 contains 1000 German wine producers, the 1000 best German wine makers, of which 10 received 5 grapes. Compared to 2014, one winery was demoted to 4 1/2 grapes, Weingut Emrich-Schönlber from the Nahe region. This follows the demotion of Weingut Dönnhoff, also from the Nahe region, last year. As a result, the Nahe region is no longer represented in this list.
Like last year, the demotion of Weingut Emrich-Schöleber came as a surprise to many German wine experts. In fact, Cornelius Dönnhoff, who now is in charge of the wines at Weingut Dönnhoff, was Winemaker of the Year in Stuart Pigott's list of Best Wines and Winemakers last year. See: Cornelius Dönnhoff, Weingut Dönnhoff: Stuart Pigott’s Winemaker of the Year, Germany
Ahr
None.
Baden
Bernhard Huber
One of the winemakers leading the German red wine revolution. Bernhard Huber, only 53 years old, died in June 2014, after a battle with cancer. His son, Julian Huber, has taken over. We visited Weingut Huber during the Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2014 and again in 2015. 28 hectares.
See:
Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)
Wine Tasting at Weingut Bernhard Huber– Germany-South Wine Tour by ombiasy (2014)
Franken
Rudolf Fürst
Weingut Rudolf Fürst has the reputation of being a specialist for red wines, Spätburgunder and Früburgunder, which account for 60% of the production; but brilliant dry wines are also produced. Sebastian Fürst has taken over from his father Paul Fürst. 20.3 hectares.
We visited Weingut Rudolf Fürst during the Germany-East Wine and Art Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015): Tasting and Tour with the Pinot Noir Legend Paul Fürst, Weingut Rudolf Fürst in Bürgstadt, Franken – Germany-East Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)
Hessische Bergstrasse
None.
Mittelrhein
None.
Mosel (Mosel - Saar -Ruwer)
Fritz Haag
Weingut Fritz Haag is located in Brauneberg in the Mosel Valley. It was founded in 1605. It is now run and owned by Oliver Haag and his wife Jessica Haag. Weingut Fritz Haag owns a total of 16.5 hectares of Riesling vines around Brauneberg, with 6.5 hectares within Brauneberger Juffer and 3 hectares in the Brauneberger Juffer-Sonnenuhr vineyard.
See:
The German Winemakers at the 4th Riesling Rendezvous in Seattle, USA
Egon Müller
The legendary Scharzhof lies on the Saar River. Egon Mueller’s fruity-sweet and noble-sweet, low alcohol wines are legendary. 16 hectares.
Joh. Jos. Prüm
For decades now, one of the really exceptional winemakers in Germany. The aging potential of the Weingut J.J. Prüm wines is legendary. Katharina Prüm is in the process of taking over from her father Manfred Pruem. 21 hectares.
See:
JJ Pruem Goes Supermarket: Meeting Katharina Pruem and Tasting the Incredible JJ Pruem Wines at Wegmans
We will visit Weingut JJ Prüm during the forthcoming Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2016).
Schloss Lieser (Thomas Haag)
The latest addition to the list of 5 out of 5 grapes producers. Brother of Oliver Haag, Weingut Fritz Haag, see above. 12 hectares.
Thomas Haag, Weingut Schloss Lieser, is the 2015 Gault Millau Deutschland Winemaker of the Year, see: Thomas Haag, Weingut Schloss Lieser, Germany’s Winemaker of the Year, Gault Millau WeinGuide Deutschland 2015
We will visit Weingut Schloss Lieser during the forthcoming Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2016).
Nahe
None.
Pfalz
Knipser
A world class producer of both white and red wines. Werner Knipser has been experimenting with international red grape varieties for some years. Virtually all wines are fermented in a dry style. Werner Knipser’s children Sabine Knipser and Stephan Knipser are in the process of taking over. 40 hectares.
Ökonomierat Rebholz
A broad wine portfolio with Riesling and Pinots (Blanc, Noir and Gris) as well as Chardonnay. All dry. A mover and shaker in the "Grosses Gewächs" movement. 19 hectares.
The visit of Weingut Ökonomierat Rebholz was one of the highlights of the Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2014 and 2015). We will be back.
See:
Wine Tasting at Weingut Ökonomierat Rebholz in Siebeldingen, Pfalz – Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2014)
Rheingau
Robert Weil
A top producer of Riesling wines, in particular fruity sweet and noble sweet wines, well presented in the major wine markets in the world. Now co-owned by the Japanese Suntory company and General Manager Wilhelm Weil, the fourth generation of the founding family. 80 hectares.
The visit of Weingut Robert Weil was one of the highlights of the Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2014): Kiedrich: Visit of the Basilica of Saint Valentine and of Weingut Robert Weil - Germany-North Wine Tour by ombiasy (2014). We will be back.
Rheinhessen
Keller
Leader of the Rheinhessen wine renaissance. Has a broad wine portfolio with 60 % accounted for by Riesling and also including the lesser known autochthon Silvaner as well as Spaetburgunder. 15 hectares.
Saale-Unstrut
None.
Sachsen
None.
Württemberg
None.
Previous Years
As for previous years, see:
Germany's Top 11 Winemakers (with 5 out of 5 Grapes) - The Gault Millau WeinGuide Deutschland 2015
Germany's Top 11 Winemakers (with 5 out of 5 Grapes) - The Gault Millau WeinGuide Deutschland 2014
Germany’s Top 10 Winemakers (with 5 Grapes) - The Gault Millau WeinGuide Deutschland 2013
Germany’s Top 10 Winemakers (with 5 Grapes) - The Gault Millau WeinGuide Deutschland 2012
Germany’s Top 9 Winemakers - the 2010 Gault Millau Wine Guide
Each year, the Gault Millau also selects a winemaker of the year, a discovery of the year, etc. See for these awards this year and previous years:
Germany’s Best Winemakers and Wines – Gault Millau WeinGuide Deutschland 2016 Awards: The Awards Ceremony in Mainz, Germany
Germany’s Best Winemakers and Wines – Gault Millau WeinGuide Deutschland 2015 Awards Ceremony in Mainz, Germany
Best German Wines and Winemakers: Gault Millau Awards – Gault Millau WeinGuide Deutschland 2014
Best German Wines and Wine Makers – the Gault Millau WeinGuide Deutschland 2013 Awards
2012: Best German Wines (Awards) – Gault Millau WeinGuide Deutschland 2012
2011: Gault Millau WeinGuide Germany 2011– Ratings
Gault Millau Wine Germany 2010
schiller-wine - Related Postings
The German Winemakers at the 4th Riesling Rendezvous in Seattle, USA
Tasting and Tour with the Pinot Noir Legend Paul Fürst, Weingut Rudolf Fürst in Bürgstadt, Franken – Germany-East Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)
Wine Tasting at Weingut Ökonomierat Rebholz in Siebeldingen, Pfalz – Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2014)
Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)
Wine Tasting at Weingut Bernhard Huber– Germany-South Wine Tour by ombiasy (2014)
Thomas Haag, Weingut Schloss Lieser, Germany’s Winemaker of the Year, Gault Millau WeinGuide Deutschland 2015
JJ Pruem Goes Supermarket: Meeting Katharina Pruem and Tasting the Incredible JJ Pruem Wines at Wegmans
The 11 Winemakers: Rieslingfeier 2015 in New York City, USA
Kiedrich: Visit of the Basilica of Saint Valentine and of Weingut Robert Weil - Germany-North Wine Tour by ombiasy (2014)