Country: Germany
Region: Rheinhessen
Grape: Dornfelder and Portugieser
Viticulture: Biodynamic Farming and Natural Wine
Wine making: Hand harvested grapes are destemmed. After harvest free-run juice is seperated and the grapes remain on skins for 4 weeks. They are then pressed and go through natural fermentation. Matured in 4400L 55-year-old barrels. Unfined, unfiltered and no added sulphur.
Purple-red blend of Dornfelder and Portugieser, packed with brambly fruits, blackcurrants, sloes and blackberries, very juicy, almost mouth-watering finish.
The Schmitt winery has been in the family for over 230 years with Bianka and Daniel working their 16 hectares for the last decade. They work in full biodynamics which they learned from Alsace vigneron Patrick Meyer and are one of only 80 producers in Germany to be Demeter certified. The Rheinhessen is one of the driest of all German regions and Wonnegau belongs to the sunniest and driest part of it. The most important vineyards of called Frauenberg and Goldberg, where very large limestone pieces form a bedrock under 30-40 cm of loess and clay. 16 hectares are spread over numerous parcels in three different villages: Florsheim-Dalsheim; Monsheim and Kriegsheim. The maximum elevation of the vineyard in 230 m above sea level.