Germany's Winemaker of the Year (Gault Millau WeinGuide Deutschland 2016) is Peter Jakob Kühn, Weingut Peter Jakob Kühn, in the Rheingau. Importantly, Peter Jakob Kühn is a winemaker with an ecological mindset and one of Germany’s leaders in terms of “green” winemaking and in particular in terms of the biodynamic approach.
Previous Years' Gault Millau WeinGuide Deutschland Winemakers of the Year
Here is a list of the Gault Millau WeinGuide Deutschland Winemakers of the Year of the previous years:
Peter Jakob Kühn, Weingut Kühn, see: Germany’s Best Winemakers and Wines – Gault Millau WeinGuide Deutschland 2016 Awards: The Awards Ceremony in Mainz, Germany
Thomas Haag, Weingut Schloss Lieser, Germany’s Winemaker of the Year, Gault Millau WeinGuide Deutschland 2015
Phlipp Wittmann, Weingut Wittmann, see: Best German Wines and Winemakers: Gault Millau Awards – Gault Millau WeinGuide Deutschland 2014
Joachim Heger, Weingut Dr. Heger, see: Best German Wines and Wine Makers – the Gault Millau WeinGuide Deutschland 2013 Awards
Matthias Müller, Weingut Matthias Müller, see: 2012: Best German Wines (Awards) – Gault Millau WeinGuide Deutschland 2012
Johannes Leitz, Weingut Leitz, see: Gault Millau WeinGuide Germany 2011– Ratings
Tim Fröhlich, Weingut Schäfer Fröhlich, see: Gault Millau Wine Germany 2010
Weingut Peter Jakob Kühn
Weingut Peter Jakob Kühn is in Oestrich in the Rheingau. Founded by Jacobus Kühn in 1786, the estate is run by Peter Jakob and Angela Kühn. They are the eleventh generation of winemakers in the Kühn family. The twelve generation – Peter Bernhard, Sandra and Katrin, with Peter Bernhard in the lead – are about to take over.
The Kühns own 20 hectares of vineyard in the Doosberg and Lenchen (Oestrich), St. Nikolaus (Mittelheim), as well as in the Hendelberg and Jungfer (Hallgarten). The vineyards are planted on natural south-facing slopes along the Right Bank of the Rhein at an altitude of 70 meters, and are well protected against the cool borealis by the foothills of the Taunus Mountains. Riesling accounts for 90%, with the rest accounted for by Spaetburgunder.
Peter Jakob and Angela Kühn: “Our wine estate was founded around the start of the 18th century and remains a family business to this day. Run in the 11th generation by us, Peter Jakob and Angela Kühn – our three children already work alongside us, continuing the family tradition. Only by maintaining our philosophy and through the knowledge that quality and sustainability are inseparable, has our winery survived through the centuries. On this basis we decided in 2004, to achieve a certification as ecological, biodynamic winery. The expectation we set in our own quality also manifests itself in our memberships in the VDP (Prädikat Wine Estates), Demeter, the association for organic agriculture based on anthroposophical principles, and the association of international biodynamical wineries: “La Renaissance des Appellations“.
Nothing determines the future quality of the wine as thoroughly as the work processes that take place in the vineyards throughout the year. The most important task of these processes is, to strengthen the vines through our biodynamical work in such a way, so that they can grow healthily and stress-free. The basis for this is provided by eco-dynamic agriculture: plentiful varieties of cover crops create a healthy environment, organic compost enriches and structures the soil, and herbal extracts strengthen the vines. Additionally our workflow is organized according to natural biorhythms. That is as sound as a strong heartbeat and maintains the living balance of our vineyards. For lively wines can only emerge from vital vines – and that you can experience in the flavor.
See:
Germany’s Best Winemakers and Wines – Gault Millau WeinGuide Deutschland 2016 Awards: The Awards Ceremony in Mainz, Germany
On our estate we work wholeheartedly and hands-on, on the manufacture of natural, unpolluted wines of top quality. Ranging from the classical ripening process in the “Rheingauer Halbstück” (600 litre barrel) to wines that mature in amphoras – our range is wide.
All our wines ferment spontaneously on their own yeast and are given plenty of time to unfold their natural character. The wide spread practice to speed up fermentation artificially, or to „correct“ wines through a variety of means, is inconceivable for us. We count on a selectively harvested, healthy grape base and total calm during the maturing process.
Ombiasy WineTours
Annette Schiller likes to include “green” winemakers in her Germany tours in order to also show this side of German winemaking culture. In general, Germany is a rather “green” society, with even a Green Party in German parliaments and governments. The Prime Minister of the State Government of Baden Württemberg, for instance, is a very popular State prime Minister and member of the Green Party.
See:
A Tasting at Weingut Peter Jakob Kühn, Rheingau, with Angela and Peter Jakob Kühn, Germany
We visited Weingut Kühn both on the 2013 and on the 2014 Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours. In 2014, Angela Kühn was our host and Sandra Kühn-Quenter in 2015. Sandra graduated – as her brother Peter Bernhard Kühn, who is taking the lead in the 12. Generation at Weingut Klaus Peter Kühn – from the prestigious Geisenheim University with a Master in Winemaking. At least for now, she stepped a bit back to take care of her 2 children Johann and Philipp.
See:
One of the Bio-dynamic Stars in Germany: Weingut Peter Jakob Kühn in Östrich, Winkel – Germany-North Wine Tour by ombiasy (2014)
schiller-wine: Related Postings
German Wine and Culture Tour by ombiasy, 2013
Germany-East Wine and Art Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)
Germany-North Wine Tour by ombiasy, 2014
Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)
Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)
One of the Bio-dynamic Stars in Germany: Weingut Peter Jakob Kühn in Östrich, Winkel – Germany-North Wine Tour by ombiasy (2014)
The Rheingau and its Terroirs: Tasting with Rheingau’s Elite Winemakers, Germany
Extraordinary Views of the Rheingau Vineyards - A Spectecular Helicopter Flight over the Rheingau with Rheingau Winemakers, Germany
A Tasting at Weingut Peter Jakob Kühn, Rheingau, with Angela and Peter Jakob Kühn, Germany