The visit of Weingut Schmitt‘s Kinder in Randersacker comprised an extensive vineyard tour by car and a massive tasting at the winery. Martin Johann Schmitt was our host.
The Schmitt family can trace back its viticulture roots to the year 1712. The name Schmitt’s Kinder (children) came into being in 1910 when a group of heirs -after the early death of their parents- decided to operate the estate together instead of dividing it. Today the 9th , Karl Martin and Renate Schmitt and the 10th generation, Martin Johann Schmitt, of the founding family manages the estate which has 35 acres of vineyard of which 30% is planted with Silvaner, the Franken signature grape. The Schmitts produce top quality, dry wines and their 2012 Grand Cru Randersacker Sonnenstuhl Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir) just won 2. place at a Feinschmecker (the best German wine and gourmet magazine) competition. At this winery the happy relationship between wine and art comes alive. The painter Andi Schmitt has his studio in the historic baroque estate in the town center and his and some artist friend’s works can be seen in the tasting room at the new winery.
Rudi Wiest: Weingut Schmitt‘s Kinder
Rudi Wiest is the US importer of Weingut Schmitt‘s Kinder. Weingut Schmitt‘s Kinder joined the Rudi Wiest portfolio only recently.
Rudi Wiest: The Schmitt family has a tradition in viticulture dating back to 1712. The baroque estate manor built between 1710 and 1712 in the center of Randersacker spawned almost 10 generations of Schmitt’s that continued the tradition of producing wine from the steep vineyards along the Main river in Randersacker near Würzburg. Early last century the parents of the Schmitt clan died very young and left the surviving children as a community of heirs and instead of dividing the estate they decided to manage the estate together. Hence the name Schmitt’s Kinder.
The great grandfather of the current generation liked the designation and passed it on to Martin’s grandfather, Adam John Schmitt and then to his parents Karl and Renate Schmitt and of course last to him. As of 2014, he is the new man in charge after his apprenticeships and his schooling in Geisenheim. He is a skilled winemaker for both superb whites and reds. His responsibility is to uphold the quality for one of the great estates in Franconia and thus far has done a superb job.
Old documents, labels, photographs, bottles and work implements were transferred from the old manor to the more recently built estate building at the foot of the Sonnenstuhl vineyard in 1984.
The estate is a member of TRIAS, (terroir, passion, pleasure), and the prestigious VDP growers association.
Tasting
2014 Weingut Schmitt's Kinder Randersackerer Silvaner trocken Ortswein
Martin Schmitt: Temperaturwise, I like to ferment all my wines a bit higher than others. As a result, my wines tend to be closed a bit more in the beginning and need some time to open up.
2014 Weingut Schmitt's Kinder Randersackerer Sonnenstuhl Silvaner trocken Erste Lage
Sonnenstuhl (VDP. Grosse Lage (the “filet” portion of the vineyard), the remainder VDP, Erste Lage): The Sonnenstuhl is also comprised of the following vineyards; (pre 1971 wine Law) Hohes Roth, Rückersell and Paradis. These vineyards are mentioned in documents dating back to 1240 as “monte Rode aput Raudersacher”. From the Sonnenstuhl tower overlooking the main valley, one has a view over the slope with South-Southwest exposure. The vineyard is traversed with large retaining walls hence the name “chair of the sun”!
In the steepest part or the upper portions of the vineyard it is comprised of clay and loam whereas in the lower portion is made up of loan and intermixed humus and sand. These are easily warmed soils where Silvaner and Pinot Noir feel quite comfortable.
2015 Weingut Schmitt's Kinder Randersackerer Sonnenstuhl Silvaner trocken Erste Lage
2014 Weingut Schmitt's Kinder Randersackerer Marsberg Silvaner trocken Alte Reben Erste Lage
Marsberg (VDP, Erste Lage): The Marsberg is composed of the following “former” sites: Spielberg, Marsberg, Hammelsmaier, Ewig Leben and Westroden. The original Marsberg is a slipface in a side valley with up to 251m elevation, (the river bottom is at 176m). Exposure is to the South with very deep loam and clay laced in limestone soil.
In the front portion, a Southwest facing underant slope which points directly towards the Main River, is the location of the Spielberg vineyard. The soil is more shallow and nutrient rich with very high limestone content and 70% steep. An ideal site for top Rieslings!
2015 Weingut Schmitt's Kinder Randersackerer Riesling trocken Ortswein
Thomas Schmitt: Overall, Riesling accounts for 3% in Franken. With a share of 15%, Weingut Schmitt's Kinder is well above the average.
2014 Weingut Schmitt's Kinder Randersackerer Sonnenstuhl Riesling trocken Erste Lage
2014 Weingut Schmitt's Kinder Randersackerer Marsberg Riesling trocken "Spielberg" Erste Lage
2015 Weingut Schmitt's Kinder Randersackerer Marsberg Riesling trocken Erste Lage
Brian Thomas: Sometimes the Franken Rieslings resemble more the Wachau Rieslings than the Rheingau Rieslings.
2015 Weingut Schmitt's Kinder Randersackerer Pfülben Silvaner GG Grosse Lage
2015 Weingut Schmitt's Kinder Randersackerer Pfülben Riesling GG Grosse Lage
Pfülben (VDP, Grosse Lage): Bounded on both sides by a steep tributary valley, the Pfülben pushes above the town of Randersacker into the Main Valley. With its rounded edges it reminds of a fully stuffed pillow. In German it is denoted as “Flülwen” thus the name of the vineyard. At the steepest points these 70% steep Slopes with skeleton rich limestone marl at an elevation of 200m grow topflight Rieslings and Silvaners. With its proximity to the riverbanks, the vines profit from the light and thermal reflections of the Main River.
This middle to very deep humus rich and easily warmed limestone marl soils are generators for quick warming as well as providing excellent thermal storage capacity. The limited rainfall in the Main Valley provide for a near perfect and stable climate. A near ideal vineyard for the production of top dry wines, the GG’s or Grand Cru’s of Germany.
2013 Weingut Schmitt's Kinder Randersackerer Sonnenstuhl Spätburgunder Tradition Erste Lage
2013 Weingut Schmitt's Kinder Randersackerer Sonnenstuhl Spätburgunder GG Grosse Lage
Thomas Schmitt: Spätburgunder is a new development in our estate.
2014 Weingut Schmitt's Kinder Randersackerer Marsberg Riesling Auslese Erste Lage
Bye-bye
Many thanks Martin Johann for the great vineyard tour and tasting.
Postings: Germany-East Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Art, Culture and History (Published and Forthcoming Postings)
Germany-East Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Art, Culture and History
Tasting at Weingut Uwe Lützkendorf, with Uwe Lützkendorf, in Bad Kösen, Saale-Unstrut – Germany-East Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours
Vineyard Visit and Wine Tasting Lunch at Weingut Hey in Naumburg, Saale-Unstrut, with Matthias Hey – Germany-East Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours
Weingut Pawis in the Saale Unstrut Region: Wine Tasting with Marcus Pawis – Germany-East Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours
Schiller's Favorite Winemakers in the Saale Unstrut Region, Germany
Wine Lunch at the Historic Vincenz Richter Restaurant, Weingut Vincenz Richter in Meissen with Senior Boss Gottfried Herrlich – Germany-East Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours
Visit, Tasting and Dinner at Weingut Schloss Proschwitz, Prinz zur Lippe in Zadel, Sachsen, with Georg Prinz zur Lippe - Germany-East Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours
Tasting at Weingut Tim Strasser/ Rothes Gut in Meissen, Sachsen, with Tim Strasser - Germany-East Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours
Lunch with Wine Pairing at Weingut Drei Herren in Radebeul, Sachsen, with Restaurant Manager/ Sommelier Dirk Brauer - Germany-East Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours
Visit of Weingut Klaus Zimmerling: The Wines of Klaus Zimmerling and the Art of his Wife Malgorzata Chodakoska - Germany-East Wine and Art Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)
Lunch at Weingut Lutz Müller, Schloss Albrechtsburg, Sachsen - Germany-East Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours
Schiller's Favorite Winemakers in Sachsen (Saxony), Germany
Tour, Tasting and Dinner at Weingut Zur Schwane in Volkach, Franken, with General Manager/ Winemaker Christian Kallisch - Germany-East Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours
Vinyard Tour, Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut Horst Sauer in Eschendorf, Franken, with Horst Sauer– Germany-East Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours
Vineyard tour, Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut Schmitt’s Kinder in Randersacker, Franken, with Martin Johann Schmitt
Cellar Tour and Tasting at Staatlicher Hofkeller in Würzburg, Franken, with General Manager Marcel von den Benken
Schiller’s Favorites: 2 Legendary Wine Taverns in Würzburg – Juliusspital and Bürgerspital
Schiller’s Favorite Wine Taverns in Würzburg, Franken, Germany
Vineyard Tour, Cellar Tour, Lunch and Tasting at Weingut Fürst Hohenlohe Öhringen in Öhringen–Verrenberg,Württemberg with Winemaker Joachim Brand
Visit of Staatsweingut Weinsberg in Weinsberg, Württemberg, with Kyle Frank from the Finger Lakes
Cellar Tour, Vineyard Tour, Tasting and Dinner at Weingut Graf von Bentzel-Sturmfeder in Schozach, Württemberg, with Kilian Graf von Bentzel-Sturmfeder