For Alexander Stodden, owner and cellar master at Ahr winery Jean Stodden, balancing tradition with just the right amount of innovation is an approach that’s worth the effort. A family estate that has shaped the tastes of wine lovers over generations, ungrafted century-old vines (a rarity in Ahr) and old-school diligence, counterbalance the latest vineyard and winery techniques that are only introduced if necessary and at precisely the right moment. At the core of operations is his heartfelt passion: Spätburgunder, and while Alexander can’t name a favorite since he loves his “children” equally,…
While we focus our business on lesser-known German wine regions, there were two wineries from Rheinhessen that we were keen to establish in North America. One is Battenfeld-Spanier who, with their Frauenberg GG, makes one of the best Rieslings in the world and our favorite German Pinot Noir, the GG Kirchenstück. The other is Thörle that we were introduced to after reading about the JS 99 Point rating for their Thörle Spätburgunder Rheinhessen Hölle 2019, that was described as a truly breathtaking pinot noir that’s as concentrated as it is refined. The wine made…
In 1998, Fritz Waßmer took a lifetime of family learning and, with a passion for the vines that was second nature, started his own winery in Bad Krozingen, Baden. Proudly self-taught in the intricacies of winemaking but with generations of viticultural knowledge in his bones, Fritz built on an affinity he felt for Pinot Noir and never looked back. His love for this iconic grape, one of the star varietals of Baden, goes back a long way when Fritz started to develop an admiration for the legendary Burgundy approach to Pinot Noir production.…
A founding member of the VDP, Bürgerspital in Würzburg is a Franken estate with more than 700 years of vinicultural tradition under its belt. Robert Haller is at the helm, leading a winery that cultivates Silvaner and Riesling on shell-limestone terroir. Always striving for an expression of place, Haller says minerality, complexity, and finesse are more valuable to Bürgerspital than fruitiness, sweetness, or opulence. The wines follow their own path, and the result is fine accompaniments to food – one of the cornerstones that guides work in the vineyard and the winery. Fermentation…
Castell – that’s almost a synonym for Silvaner. There is evidence that the first Silvaner was planted here, in this picturesque place in Lower Franconia, in 1659. The fact that the Fürstlich Castell’sche Domänenamt is so skilled with this grape variety is rooted in tradition and a dedicated passion for it. We are proud and excited to bring the 6. Apriles 1659 Silvaner to North America, available March 2022. The name honors the date of the first Silvaner planting in Franken. Shades of pale gold glimmer in the glass as enchanting to the eye as…
We are delighted to share the latest news on our exclusive German VDP wines. Have your diary ready as you’ll want to make some notes!First of all, we’re very happy to introduce Gut Hermannsberg, our anchor winery from the Nahe wine region. We are excited to announce that we’ll be carrying its amazing range of Rieslings starting March 2022 and wanted to give you a sneak preview of what we’ll be offering.To visit the estate winery of Gut Hermannsberg, you drive along narrow, winding roads between steep vine-covered slopes through the enchanting Nahe…
You’re relaxing in a favorite spot, have a bottle of amazing wine, and are blessed with great company. Is there anything else that could possibly make your wine taste better? Yes. The glass. New York Times wine writer Eric Asimov shares his views on the perfect wine glass …
We’re excited to say we’re attending ProWein and looking forward to meeting with you and our growers we’re set to announce in the coming weeks. After two years of being terribly missed because of the pandemic, this key international wine fair has just moved from its original March date and, fingers crossed, will likely now take place in May.
On our recent Wine Tour through Baden, we discovered this gem from one of our growers: A vintage wine list from Waldorf Astoria. Can you guess who we are bringing back to New York? For more historic NY Restaurant wine lists, check out this 2015 piece from Vinepair.
After a year of highs and lows, we’re delighted to start 2022 with some fantastic news for German wine lovers! Polish your glasses and get ready to make a toast because we’re launching a dedicated import business that will deliver wines straight to your doorstep from 12 top wine producers in nine iconic German wine regions. After a decade as a German wine broker offering wine tasting events, crafting private label brands, and creating the Fine German Wine Club, we are super excited to now offer such rare, top-tier wines to our US…
