Weingut Ökonomierat Rebholz is a Biodynamic estate in the Rhineland-Palatinate or Pfalz region in western Germany. It has remained in the same family for 300 years. In 1949 the first Müller-Thurgau Trockenbeerenauslese was made here. In 1977 Hans-Jörg Rebbholz took over from his father upon the latter’s death.

For many generations we have been living from and for viticulture. Behind our name combined with the wines which are produced here, lies our concept of what natural wine really means for us: Wines which are characterised precisely and embody the pure grape variety combined with an exceptional aging potential. Today we, Hansjörg and Birgit, together with our sons Hans and Valentin, continue to develop this philosophy.

Even before the organic certification and the switch to biodynamic viticulture in 2006, the focus was on working with nature in a respectful and reflective manner. Our basic situation: Rebholz wines can only thrive where ideal conditions prevail. There, where vines take root in excellent locations in the ideal soil, when there is a sensitive balance of water and mineral balance, of microclimate and the community of all organisms in Wingert. When the development is promoted by the winegrower’s laborious and sensitive vineyard work. Our commitment: now expanded to 25 hectares, we are cultivating the precious heritage of our natural wine fathers. Only valuable layers meet our standards. Our plots are the core of the best locations such as “Kastanienbusch”, “Im Sonnenschein”, “Ganz Horn” or “Schäwer”.

Memberships: Renaissance des Appellations. VDP since 1991.

Vineyards: 2008 19ha. | 2016 22ha. Riesling (40%), Pinot Noir (22%), Gewurztraminer (9%) plus Chardonnay, Grauburgunder, Muskateller, Muller Thurgau and Weissburgunder (Pinot Blanc).

Biodynamics: 2016: Make their own Horn manure 500, Horn silica 501, compost preparations 502-507. Buy in Equisetum arvense 508.

Organic & Biodynamic certification: 2008 First vintage with full organic certification (Naturland). | 2012 Lacon. | 2015 respekt-BioDyn. | 2019 Respekt.

Winemaking: Little chaptalisation under Hans-Jörg Rebbholz according to Piggot (1988). New winery in 2006, with the old winery next to his house due to become a wine tasting area. Clear style, best for Weisserburgunder; also Riesling. 

White wines

Chardonnay R Trocken: From the 1st Chardonnay vineyard planted in Germany. BD since a few years. Wine got finer, lower alcohol and physiologically ripe. | 2014 Wild. No temperature control. 24 hours on skins. 9m in new oak. Nice mealy nose with orange spice; very savoury on the palate, like an aged Chardonnay with some orange notes but very refreshing (Manincor 24th June 2016).

Gewurtztraminer: 2010 Spätlese trocken.

Gewurztraminer, Albersweiler Latt: Rebholz’s Gewurztraminer is grown on a pergola in a steeply terraced vineyard planted by his grandfather in 1947. Worked by hand (Payne, 2006).

Muskateller: 2010 Kabinett trocken.

Godramsteiner Münzberg: 1995 Muskateller Spätlese Trocken Debut (what was formerly Siebeldinger Königsgarten, Muskateller, Spätlese Trocken).

Siebeldinger Königsgarten: 1988-1994 Muskateller Spätlese Trocken was made in in 1988, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1994. From from 1995 this was bottled as Godramsteiner Münzberg (see separate entry).

Riesling wines

Riesling Trocken

Riesling Trocken S

Riesling Vom Buntsandstein: 2010 Kabinett Trocken. | 2015 Warm year but high acid. 24 hours on skins. Bit of oak I think. 3.4g/l RS. Very nice freshness, bruised apple, balanced (Manincor 24th June 2016).

Riesling Vom Muschelkalk: 2011 S Dry, Pfalz Good depth and ripe acidity at RAW, London Sunday/Monday 20-21st May 2012.

Riesling Vom Rotliegenden: 2011 S Riesling Trocken 

Riesling Grosses Gewächs: 2014 GG. 6g/l. No oak. Saline, vertical (Manincor 24th June 2016).

Birkweiler Kastanienbusch GG: The Kastanienbusch is well known for the really rare type of red slate. This type of soil developed 280 Million years ago and contains granite, slate and melaphyre (melaphyre is a term originally applied to any dark-colored porphyritic igneous rock but later restricted to altered basalt, esp. of Carboniferous and Permian age.). This combination of soil gives a unique flavour to our wine. 2010 Riesling Grosses Gewächs. | 2011 Riesling Grosses Gewächs. | 2014 GG. 6g/l. No oak. Saline, vertical (Manincor 24th June 2016).

Siebeldinger im Sonnenschein, Riesling: 1996 Riesling Spätlese Trocken Good example, clear honeyed fruit, with good Riesling character; tried at Villa Pistoria with Steffi Schwab, her friend Steffi, Micheal Kimmel and Michael, Saturday 3/11/01.

Siebeldinger Ganzhorn im Sonnenschein, Riesling: South-facing. 160-225m. Slope of 5–20%. Calcareous. | 2008 Ganzhorn im Sonnenschein Riesling GG Nice bright golden colour. Very bright. Savoury, bit fat and pineapply though dinner at the Seehof Keller 23 June 2016. | 2019 Grosses Gewachs 24 hour skin contact. Natural ferment in tank. On fine lees for 5 months. 12.5% alc. Screwcap.

Pinot Blanc

Weissburgunder Kabinett trocken 

Weissburgunder Spätlese trocken

Weisser Burgunder S Dry: Very good citrus at RAW, London Sunday/Monday 20-21st May 2012. | 2014 A very good year. 100% BF. 60% new. 20-30% MLF. Very salty, with creamy clear new oak (Manincor 24th June 2016).

Vom Muschelkalk [im Sonnenschein]. | 2015 13%. Gets its toasty note from limestone apparently, lovely texture (10-30 year-old vines. SE-facing. On SO4 rootstock (Manincor 24th June 2016).

Pinot Gris

Pinot Gris: 2007 Nice earthy style of PG at SITT Manchester 23 Feb 2009. | 2010 Spätlese trocken, Pfalz. | 2011 Pfalz. Dry. Citrus ( RAW, London Sunday/Monday 20-21st May 2012).

Pinot Noir

Siebeldinger im Sonnenschein, Pinot Noir | This is from 3.5ha. A cool, high site. Mariafelder and 1964 oldest German clones, compact bunches (777 compact). | 2010 Bottled 2013. Cool, high acid, very fine Pinot noir, bright (Manincor 24th June 2016).

Website: See here.

Bibliography

Jancis Robinson, ‘2011 Grosses Gewächs – Part 1’, jancisrobinson.com11 Sep 2012.

Joel Payne., ‘Germany’s Mavericks’, World of Fine Wine12 2006 p.66

Michael Schmidt, ‘VDP 2011s – Pfalz & Franken’ jancisrobinson.com21 Jun 2012

Michael Schmidt, ‘The taste of fear – GG Riesling 2010’ jancisrobinson.com 22 Sep 2011

Michael Schmidt, ‘Germany’s tricky 2010 – a first look’, jancis.robinson.com 11 May 2011

Michael Schmidt, ‘Grosses Gewächs – part 3’, jancisrobinson.com1 Oct 2012.