Dear wine customers,
There is a fermentation going on in our wine cellar, with sounds and aromas. The yields were not as bad as initially feared: bright, sunny autumn days allowed the grapes, which had been well supplied with rain, to ripen. However, this year's harvest was a particular challenge for our helpers. Grape varieties such as Pinot Gris, St. Laurent and Pinot Noir had ripened so differently that a time-consuming, selective hand-picking was necessary. The dreaded spotted wing drosophila, earwigs and various bugs have caused serious damage to the grapes. Later varieties such as Riesling and Silvaner, on the other hand, impressed with moderate must weights and acid values typical of white wine. I am looking forward to the first rounds of tasting in the cellar.
Unfortunately, our school children Marie and Luc missed most of the harvest because the autumn holidays are no longer based on the grape harvest but on the holiday needs of the majority. But little Lilo was able to actively support the grape pickers.
Destroyed ecosystems and the pandemic
When my father began to pursue a different path in winemaking fifty years ago, he had to listen to a lot of things. Most of them were about how ignorant or downright stupid he was for ignoring the promises of salvation offered by modern agriculture and instead taking other paths into the future. Exclusion and hostility were often the result. Fortunately, over the decades, the attitudes of colleagues and consumers have changed and organic winemaking is fully accepted. These memories often come to mind when I think about the pandemic. I am particularly suspicious of the loud assurances of science: "Everything will be fine if..." We should also ask ourselves what the real causes of such a pandemic are. Humanity will only be able to stop climate change and future pandemics if we are prepared to drastically limit our limitless consumption of nature and resources.
In view of such great challenges, my small winery seems even smaller to me. But on a small scale, we have been as sustainable as we can be for decades: taking back empty bottles, reusing cardboard and, of course, organic winemaking. Like my father, I am convinced that this is the right way to go. But the greatest joy in my work is the idea that you, dear customers, can experience the result of our work, our wines, with your senses and heart in your own home. At the end of the year with its major festivities, I have bottled these wine highlights for you:
Cozy winter evenings and festive holidays
The Gold Wasp Award-winning 2020 Riesling from Ludwigshöher Teufelskopf was left untouched on its full yeast in a wooden barrel for ten months. Without any filtration, it shines brilliantly in the glass. It is characterized by a refreshing Riesling acidity with fine aromas. After a long wait, our Cabernet Carbon red wine is finally available again - and in a double pack. The 2019 and 2020 vintages have been filled. Each of the two has become something special: The 2019 has developed into a light, fruity red wine in wooden barrels. The 2020s is a real bomb: strong and dark red, matured in barriques, it is a real festive wine. The oak planks of the barrels - grown at Johanniskreuz in the center of the Palatinate Forest - are particularly fine-pored and give off a fine vanilla aroma. Unfortunately, there are only 300 liters of it: the frost has taken its toll.
For friends of sulphur-free and unfiltered wines we have again our Orange Wine Pure bottled. A 2019 Pinot Gris fermented on the mash initially stimulates the palate with green tannins. Very fine and exciting aromas develop in contact with the air. I have put together a lovely Christmas treat package for you to enjoy at home:
Give organic-dynamic gifts
If you like to drink whiskey (or a whisky), I recommend our six-year-old and wonderfully smooth Brandy made from our 2010 Pinot Noir. It also makes a lovely gift for people who are particularly dear to you.
This also makes me feel comfortable with the topic of giving gifts: As we do every year, we offer you our gift service. There are probably few sustainable gifts that can be experienced in such a direct way as our biodynamic wines. With a wine Christmas gift, you can say to a loved one: I appreciate you and give you joy to enjoy!
How the gift service works
1. You tell us the address to which the desired wine gift should be sent: in our Online shop , via e-mail or by phone at 06249 905044.
2. We will send the wine gift on the desired date with a greeting card to the address provided. You will receive the invoice.
We have three gift packages ( Small wine gift , Large wine present and We have already prepared a fireplace present for you. We are also happy to put together individual combinations or company gifts.
Warm autumnal greetings from Guntersblum
Stéphanie and Johann Schnell with Marie, Lilo and Luc
