We arrived at Weingut Fürst Hohenlohe Oehringen in Oeringen–Verrenberg, Württemberg, before lunch. General Manager/ Winemaker Joachim Brand was our host. He greeted us with a glass of Weingut Fürst Hohenlohe Oehringen in front of the winery. With the Sekt glass in our hand, we briefly toured the monopoly vineyard Verrenberger Verrenberg, before proceeding to the Restaurant Wiesenkelter. There, we had lunch with Joachim Brand and got a first introduction to the wines of Weingut Fürst Hohenlohe Oehringen.
After lunch, we toured the new winery. The visit ended with a sit down tasting of more Weingut Fürst Hohenlohe Oehringen wines, led by Joachim Brand.
The Hohenlohe-Oehringen Family
The Hohenlohe-Öhringen family can look back to the year 1253 as the founding year of their viticulture history. In the middle ages the noble family of Hohenlohe acquired property in Oehringen, north-east of Stuttgart. Today, there is still a branch of the famous family residing there, the Hohenlohe-Oehringens. The 27th generation is now at the helm, Kraft Fürst zu Hohenlohe-Oehringen, who is 83 now.
Sekt Reception
We were received by Joachim Brand in front of the estate and started the visit with a Weingut Fürst Hohenlohe Oehringen Sekt.
Vineyard Tour
With the Sekt glass in our hands, we did a short vineyard tour.
Verrenberger Verrenberg
All grapes come from the monopoly site Verrenberger Verrenberg (17 hectares). Verrenberg is both the name of the vineyard surrounding the estate and the village close to the estate. In 1972, the village of Verrenberg became part of the town of Oehringen.
The vineyard is panted with the traditional Württemberg varietals Lemberger and Riesling, and also with Spätburgunder, some Weissburgunder and Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Franc.
Since 2008 the vineyards have been cultivated according to organic guidelines. The goal is to produce distinctive wines that not only expresses varietal character, but also that of their origin.
Jochen Brandt: Quality-oriented work in the vineyard, selective harvesting by hand and/or additional selection on a conveyor belt in the cellar all help ensure that only healthy, very ripe grapes are processed, and this, in an extremely gentle manner. The stated objective is to produce wine in harmony with nature. Since 2008, the vineyards have been cultivated according to organic guidelines. The goal is to produce distinctive wines that not only express varietal character, but also that of their origin.
Verrenberg Grosse Lage
As a VDP member, the association fo about 200 elite winemakers in Germany, Weingut Fürst Hohenlohe Oehringen follows the VDP classification guidelines. It produces Gutswein, Ortswein and Grosse Lage wine. Of course, all grapes come from the same vineyard, the Verrenberger Verrenberg. The Grosse Lage wines are from a specifically deliniated parcel of the vineyard and are also in line with all the other requirements for a Grosse Lage wine.
Lunch
We had lunch at Restaurant Wiesenkelter with Jochen Brandt.
Cellar Tour
We then toured the wine cellar and sat down for an extraordinary tasting.
A new winery was constructed in 2007. The complete winery building, including the sales office, was rebuilt next to the historical “Wiesenkelter” press house. The winery is largely underground.
Bottle production is 120 000. Most of it is consumed in the region. Nothing is exported.
Tasting
The visit ended with an impressive tasting.
The Wines
2014 Weingut Fürst Hohenlohe Oehringen Pinot Extra Brut (Winzersekt)
2015 Weingut Fürst Hohenlohe Oehringen Verrenberg Riesling trocken (VDP.Ortswein)
2015 Weingut Fürst Hohenlohe Oehringen Verrenberg Sauvignon Blanc trocken (VDP.Ortswein)
2014 Weingut Fürst Hohenlohe Oehringen Chardonnay H.A.D.E.S. (H.A.D.E.S.)
2013 Weingut Fürst Hohenlohe Oehringen Ex flammis clarior H.A.D.E.S. (H.A.D.E.S. / edelsüss)
2014 Weingut Fürst Hohenlohe Oehringen Verrenberg Spätburgunder trocken (VDP.Ortswein)
2014 Weingut Fürst Hohenlohe Oehringen Verrenberg Blaufränkisch trocken (VDP.Ortswein)
2013 Weingut Fürst Hohenlohe Oehringen Verrenberg Lemberger GG trocken (VDP.Grosse Lage)
2012 Weingut Fürst Hohenlohe Oehringen Ex flammis clarior H.A.D.E.S. trocken (H.A.D.E.S.)
2012 Weingut Fürst Hohenlohe Oehringen n senio H.A.D.E.S. trocken (H.A.D.E.S.)
H.A.D.E.S.
H.A.D.E.S. is an association of 5 winemakes that was established 30 years ago, It grew out of the „study group new oak barrel“, and it includes the wineries Fürst zu Hohenlohe, Öhringen, Graf Adelmann, Kleinbottwar, Drautz-Able, Heilbronn, Jürgen Ellwanger, Winterbach and the „Sonnenhof“ of the Fischer family. The name “H.A.D.E.S. ” was put together out of the first letters of the name of the 5 producers.
H.A.D.E.S. was a leader in introducing barrique aging to Swabia – and more generally – Germany. Initially, H.A.D.E.S. wines were rejected as “untypical” or “woody” and had to be sold as table wines. This has changed completely over the past 30 years. Using new wood has become a common tool in winemaking in Germany.
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
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Cellar Tour, Vineyard Tour, Tasting and Dinner at Weingut Graf von Bentzel-Sturmfeder in Schozach, Württemberg, with Kilian Graf von Bentzel-Sturmfeder