Weingut A Christmann is a Biodynamic estate in the Rhineland-Palatinate or Pfalz region in western Germany. It is a member of the VDP since 1994.
Background: In 1798, the Pfalz became part of the French Republic. The young “Wingertsmann” Georg Köhler seized the opportunity to purchase the vineyards his family had cultivated as tenants since 1580, subsequently expanding by leasing additional vineyards. In 1803 he purchased the majority of the leased fields and enlarged the estate with further sites out of the national assets. A new estate was founded. In 1798 cousins Johann Martin and Prof. Dr. Louis Häusserwould meet at Weingut Bühl in Deidesheim to discuss the democratic ideas of the times. In addition, they decided to purchase a vineyard of their own, thereby laying another cornerstone of today’s estate. In 1845 Prof. Dr. Ludwig Häusser, professor of history at Heidelberg University and a member of the Vorparliament of the Pauluskirche together with his cousin Johann Martin, founded a small winery in Gimmeldingen as a hobby. During the next generation, wine-growing grew to become their main profession. In 1894 Ludwig’s granddaughter Henriette Häussermarried Eduard Christmann. Karl-Friedrich Christmann took charge of the estate in the mid-1960s. Since the mid-1990s at the latest, it has numbered among the top estates of the Pfalz. Two-thirds of the vineyard area is devoted to Riesling; except for a few lusciously sweet specialties, all of the wines are vinified dry in style. Today, the estate bears the name of Henriette Häusser’s son Arnold and is run by the 7th generation under Steffen Christmann and his daughter Sophie. Stefan Christmann’s focus is on dry wines as this is what works best in the local growing conditions.
Steffen Christmann: Steffen Christmann (7th generation) was born in Neustadt an der Weinstrasse/Pfalz in 1965. He grew up in the Neustadt suburb of Gimmeldingen at his parents’ estate, Weingut A. Christmann, which dates from the 17th century. After completing his basic education and military service, Steffen Christmann studied law in Heidelberg and Speyer. He was admitted to the bar as an attorney at law in 1994 and since 1995, has been a partner at Hofmann & Kollegen, where he focuses on agricultural and wine law. Parallel to his legal studies, he completed his viticultural education at the DLR Rheinpfalz (rural service center), receiving state certification in 1995. The year thereafter, he took over the family estate, which he has continuously developed ever since, opening a wine bar and restaurant on the estate, going organic and Biodynamic, and updating the production facilities. He is the president of the VDP. Die Prädikatsweingüter. He is active in the church, local politics, and the Order of the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem, as well as local, regional and national viticultural politics. He is married to Daniela. They have four children.
Consultants: Martin Eller & Stefan Jung.
Biodynamic certification: 2004 Converted to Biodynamics, Steffen said drier vintages due to global warming mean soils which can retain humidity will be vital to prevent vine stress. 2005 Bio-Zertifiziert. | 2019 Still certified.
Memberships: Renaissance des Appellations.
Vineyards | 2004 16ha. 70% Riesling, 14% Spätburgunder. Also Weiss- & Grauburgunder, St. Laurent, Gewürztraminer. The main soil types are Buntsandstein, Terrassenschotter, and Kalkbänke. The main vineyard sites are in: Deidesheim | Hohenmorgen, Langenmorgen, Maushöhle and Paradiesgarten. | Gimmeldingen | Bienengarten, Kapellenberg, Mandelgarten and Meerspinne im Mandelgarten. | Königsbach | Idig, Ölberg and Ölberg-Hart Kapelle. | Ruppertsberg | Linsenbusch, Nussbien, Reiterpfad, Reiterpfad Hofstuck, and Spiess.
Winery: A new one from 2008.
VDP Gutswein
Grauburgunder, Pfalz |
Weißerburgunder, Pfalz | 2010 Trocken. | 2010 Kabinett trocken.
Riesling, Pfalz | 2009 Riesling Qba 11.5% alcohol. Decent soft Pfalz style, with some residual sugar at Return to Terroir, Melbourne 15th March 2011. | 2015 11.5%. <2.5g/l RS. Early picked as hot. Pineapple at Tenuta Manincor 24th June 2016. | 2018 11.5%.
Spätburgunder, Pfalz |
VDP Ortswein
Deidesheimer Hohenmorgen, Riesling
Deidesheimer Maushöhle Riesling | 200713% Good ripe honey and pineapple, tangerine zest, whiff of sulfur blows off quickly, quite intense but not heavy, lifted, floral. Lemon blossom. Delicate, lovely glassiness to it, glides, bit chalky at the back (?), juicy lemons, clean savoury end at Richard Kershaw’s, Elgin, South Africa, Friday 30th March 2012.
Gimmeldingen Riesling | The Gimmeldingen Riesling VDP Ortswein is produced from grapes from two young vineyards in Gimmeldingen: the Kapellenberg and Biengarten sites, which are both classified as VDP Erste Lage. | 2010 Riesling trocken Aged in cask. | 2015 VDP. Riesling Ortswein. 11.5% Again citrus at Tenuta Manincor 24th June 2016. | 2018 12% alc. Nice mix of crisp fruit with softly tangy, mouthwatering flavours (tasted Oct 2019).
Gimmeldingen Weissburgunder | From old Weissburgunder vineyards in Gimmeldingen. | 2018 Trocken. 12.5%. Clear, vibrant and refreshing tasted in early autumn 2019.
Gimmeldingen Spätburgunder | The Gimmeldingen Spätburgunder VDP Ortswein is made from old vines on the Kapellenberg site, designated as VDP Erste Lage.
Königsbach Riesling | The Königsbach Riesling VDP Ortswein is produced from grapes from younger vines in Idig, which is classified as VDP Grosse Lage (Great Site). Grapes that have ripened early are harvested first and used in the production of the VDP Gutswein. The Ortswein harvest of this sites takes place after this early harvest, over the course of one or two further rounds of harvesting. The later harvest allows the grapes destined for the Ortswein to ripen over a longer period of time. | 2018 12% alc.
Königsbach SC Riesling | 2008 Nice weight, lemony, a bit green maybe at Return to Terroir, Melbourne 15th March 2011.
Ruppertsberg Riesling | The Ruppertsberg Riesling VDP Ortswein is produced from grapes from two different vineyards: the Reiterpfad vineyard (VDP Grosse Lage) as well as the older Ruppertsberger Nussbien (VDP Erste Lage). 2008 Decent colour, quite green citrus, clean, tidy at Return to Terroir, Melbourne 15th March 2011.
VDP Erste lage
Deidesheimer Paradiesgarten Erste Lage Riesling | The Paradiesgarten site held the name ‘Berg’ until the start of the 20th-century, when the renowned agriculturist Hoch, owner of the Von Winning winery, renamed the site. The site owes its name to the statue of Eve erected by Hoch on this site. The Paradiesgarten is the highest quality site in Deidesheim. It faces south-east. From early morning the Paradiesgarten gets full sun but the early evening shade of the Haardt hillside allows the terraces to recover.
Gimmeldinger Biengarten Erste Lage, Riesling | Sandstone soils. Spicey wine. Gimmeldingen stretches across steep terraces and beautiful hillsides in the Haardt hills between Gimmeldingen and Königsbach. The site is protected from cold winds by a small hollow in the hillside. For this reason beekepers historically chose this site as they could release their bees earlier in spring here than on other sites. To this day the site is still used for beekeeping. This vineyard was given a premium rating in the Royal Bavarian Soil Survey (Kgl. Bay. Bodenbewertung) of 1828 and was declared a premier vineyard in Gimmeldingen. | 2010 Riesling trocken. Aged in cask. | 2017 12.5% alc.
Gimmeldinger Biengarten Erste Lage, Spätburgunder |
Gimmeldinger Biengarten Erste Lage, Weissburgunder |
Königsbacher Ölberg Erste Lage, Riesling | The Ölberg site in Königsbach is one of the premier sites that was listed in the Royal Bavarian Soil Survey (Kgl. Bay. Bodenbewertung) of 1828 as one of the best sites in the Pfalz. Clay and limestone. | 2010 Riesling trocken Aged in old oak. Citric with some ester at Return to Terroir, Melbourne 15th March 2011.
Königsbacher Ölberg Erste Lage, Spätburgunder | The Ölberg site in Königsbach is one of the premier sites that was listed in the Royal Bavarian Soil Survey (Kgl. Bay. Bodenbewertung) of 1828 as one of the best sites in the Pfalz.
Ruppertsberger Spiess Erste Lage Riesling | Spiess lies on the hillside overlooking Deidesheim and it is famous for the Riesling wines it produces. The name of the site comes from its form, which resembles a spearhead, “Spiess” meaning spear in German.
Gimmeldinger Kapellenberg Erste Lage, Riesling | Kapellenberg in Gimmeldigen forms the southeast slope of a vineyard situated high up in the foothills of the Haardt mountain range. The vineyard borders the Mandelgarten site to the east and continues its neighbour’s uphill slope. The chapel of St Nicholas, situated in Lobloch below the vineyard, gives the site its name. This vineyard appeared in the Royal Bavarian Soil Survey (Kgl. Bay. Bodenbewertung) of 1828, where it is listed among the premier sites in Gimmeldingen. | 2015 VDP. Citrus, crisp at Tenuta Manincor 24th June 2016. | 2017 12.5% alc. Soft yellow fruit with a savoury-ripe tang (tasted Sept 2019).
VDP Grosse Lage
Idig Riesling GG | Königsbacher Idig, Grosses Gewächs, Riesling. Idig is one of the most highly-rated sites in the Palatine region. The sole owners of this site is the Christmann family. Vineyard since the C14th. Limestone-based soil I think. | 2008 Bit fat and orange citrussy for me. Lacks lift an elegance at dinner at the Seehof Keller 23 June 2016. | 2009 Decent, crisp, chalky at Return to Terroir, Melbourne 15th March 2011. | 2014 Honey, bit fat, pineapple at Tenuta Manincor 24th June 2016.
Idig Spätburgunder GG | Königsbacher Idig Grosse Lage, Pinot Noir. | 2013 Somewhat fat as well as youthfully oaky at Tenuta Manincor 24th June 2016.
Langenmorgen Riesling GG | From Deidesheim. The VDP.Grosse Lage Langenmorgen site is one of the most highly-rated sites in Deidesheim and therefore in the whole of the Palatine region. This site first appears in records in 1491 and the site takes its name “Langenmorgen” (long morning) from its position, spread out along one of the best exposed terraces. Positioned towards the southeast, at a distance from the forest and yet still elevated, the vineyard is excellently exposed.| 2010 Riesling Grosses Gewachs.
Meerspinne im Mandelgarten Riesling GG | The area of the Mandelgarten site. which is in Gimmeldingen, that is classified as VDP Grosse Lage is noted under the name “Meerspinne” on the land register. This portion of the highly-valued Mandelgarten terroir has a reputation that dates back as far as 1456, when it appears in the interest books kept by the monks of the Weißenburg monastery in Alsace. Even then this site was known for outstanding yields and today this vineyard continues to be the best site in Gimmeldingen. Bundsandstein. Apricot notes. | 2010 Riesling Grosses Gewachs. | 2014 Good year. No problems. Cooler year. Bit of sweetness and bitterness, little bit fat but moreish and clear, some rot sourness too. I think at Tenuta Manicor 24th June 2016.
Ölberg Kapelle GG | The heart of the Ölberg vineyard in Königsbach is the area around the Ölberg chapel, designated as VDP.Grosse Lage in 2013. The vineyard is one of the highest-rated sites in the Palatinate and can be found in the Royal Bavarian Soil Survey (Kgl. Bay. Bodenbewertung) of 1828, listed even then as one of the best sites in the Palatine region.
Reiterpfad Hofstuck Riesling GG | From Ruppertsberg. The VDP Grosse Lage Hofstück im Reiterpfad“ site is situated on the hillside directly overlooking Deidesheim and is famous for its Riesling wines. The name “Hofstück”, or “courtly piece” comes from the prince archbishop of Speyer, Lord of Deidesheim and Ruppertsberg, the former owner of the site.| 2010 Riesling Grosses Gewachs.
Wine tasting
Vinothek im alten Kelterhaus, Besichtigung des Weinkellers und der Kellerei nach Absprache
Contact
Weingut A. Christmann
Peter Koch Strasse 43
D-67435 Gimmeldingen, Germany
Tel+49 (0)6321.66039 | Website: www.weingut-christmann.de
Restaurant
Gutsschänke Spinne
Website: www.restaurant-spinne.de.