On the occasion of our presentations in Furtwangen in the Black Forest, we visited top wineries and a new discovery during the day and tasted some really great surprises.
The VDP winery Bernhard Huber in Malterdingen is certainly one of Germany’s top wineries and produces outstanding Burgundy wines. I was there for the annual vintage presentation – THAT is a real highlight! The customers come from all parts of the tri-border region, i.e. from all over Germany, Switzerland and France. The wines, mature Pinot Noir, young Chardonnay and barrel samples, as well as others, are also highly praised by experts, including James Suckling, who awarded 94 out of 100 points for the 2019 Pinot Noir Alte Reben.
Having attended the vintage presentations for the second time in a row, I am always impressed by the high quality of these exceptional wines.
You can purchase the wines from Lobenbergs or Mövenpick
The VDP wine estate Salwey in Oberrotweil am Kaiserstuhl is a traditional family business that I have known since the early 1980s and it has been a byword for top-quality wine ever since, and not just for me. Wolf-Dietrich Salwey created the basis for today’s VDP vineyard from an agricultural estate. He was a co-founder of the VDP-Baden, laying the foundation stone, so to speak. His son, Konrad Salwey, winemaker, oenologist and Burgundy specialist, gradually took over his parents’ business from 2002. His specialities are the white Burgundy varieties, matured in wood, and Pinot Noir, matured in barriques. Konrad Salwey is regarded as a pioneer of light, fresh and low-alcohol Burgundy wines. This means he is right on trend, especially in these times.
Everything I/we tasted that day was outstanding. The wine tasting on site was a real treat – a highlight. Thank you for this wonderful wine experience.
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The discovery:
The Heinemann winery has a family tradition dating back to the year it was founded in 1556. The attractive winery is located in Ehrenkirchen, near Schallstadt near Freiburg im Breisgau and is part of the Markgräflerland, the home of the Chasselas, also known as Chasselas in France or as Fendant in Switzerland. Chasselas is one of the oldest grape varieties in the world. Its origins are thought to be in Upper Egypt (a good 5,000 years ago). Chasselas, unknown to many in our regions here in the Rhineland and to the north, produces some fantastic white wines which, depending on cultivation in the vineyard and subsequent ageing in the wine cellar, produce incredibly beautiful, sometimes challenging wines.
The Heinemann family is currently transitioning to the next generation. The owner is Lothar Heinemann. He belongs to this generation of winegrowers, entrepreneurs who can let go and trust the next generation, giving them free rein. The result? Fantastic! Falstaff, Gault&Millaut and Vinum confirm the high quality of the wines produced.
His son Niklas, Bachelor of Science (B. Sc.) in Viticulture and Oenology (Hochschule Geisenheim University) and IHK-certified sommelier, is currently using the opportunity given to him by his family to develop wines according to his own ideas. I can tell you from my own enthusiasm: what we were allowed to taste on site was really cool stuff. The Chasselas varieties on the one hand and also the different Burgundies, white and red … great!