Baron von Knyphausen

In 1818, the East Frisian aristocratic family – the barons of Knyphausen, whose family members served as generals and ministers of the Prussian crown – acquired the Draiser Hof in the Rheingau. The Draiser Hof was built in 1141 by the Cistercian monks of the Eberbach Abbey to cultivate the monastery’s vineyards and fields in Erbach and Eltville.  The first mention of the Draiser Hof wine cellar goes back to the year 1163.

The winery Baron Knyphausen – with its world-famous locations such as the Erbacher Marcobrunn, Erbacher Hohenrain or Erbach Steinmorgen – is a well-recognized Germany winery through the constant investments by Baron Gerko to Knyphausen (father of the current owner) to become a quality producer. Since 1972, Baron Knyphausen has been a member of the VDP Rheingau (Verband Deutscher Prädikats-Weingüter) and was a founding member of the Charter Association (“Charta”), which has played a pioneering role in today’s recognition of VDP.Grossen vineyards.

The Baron Knyphausen vineyards are planted with 75% Riesling and 15% Pinot Noir. The remaining 10% are planted with the indigenous grape variety Roter Riesling with 7 other different grape varieties, including a majority of Riesling. The annual production volume of the winery amounts to approximately 70,000 bottles.

The winery is one of the pioneers of the indigenous grape variety Roter Riesling which is considered the mother grape variety of today’s Riesling. With the addition of a classic Rheingau mixed set containing the seven traditional Rheingau grape varieties, Yellow Orleans, White Heunisch, Elbling Silvaner, Riesling, Roter Riesling and Gewürztraminer, they took another step towards traditional and historic viticulture.

In 2015, Baron Gerko zu Knyphausen handed down the management of the winery to his son, Baron Frederik zu Knyphausen, representing the eighth generation of the family.

With a move to organic farming, imposing stringent quality controls, as well as the careful introduction of barrique, Frederik is leading a transition where traditional viticulture will meet modern winemaking to produce elegant and fine wines.

	Riesling Kabinett Charta 2016 Alc. 12.5% Residual sugar: 6,0 g/L Acidity: 7,5 g/L VDP.Gutswein Full-bodied taste with floral and spicy components. Yield reduced, selective hand picking, maceration time and partly spontaneously fermented in oak barrels. Created and tested according to the Charta quality criteria. Selection “Germany’s best young winegrowers 2018” (Wein-Plus): Prominent vegetal and herbaceous notes on the nose, citrus fruit, hint of dark berries, mineral and floral traces. Clear, straightforward, restrained juicy fruit on the palate, very elegant acidity, yeasty traces, prominent mineral notes, slightly off-dry, but very well balanced, good persistence, quite an elegant style, nutty traces in the background, light grip, quite tranquil, prominent tart earthy and mineral notes on a very good elegant, juicy finish.
	Riesling “1141” 2017 2017 Riesling “1141” Alc. 12.0% Residual sugar: 6,0 g/L Acidity: 8,6 g/L VDP.Gutswein Mineral, fresh and zesty.
	Riesling trocken Erbach 2016 Alc. 12.5% Residual sugar: 0,9 g/L Acidity: 7,9 g/L VPD.Ortswein Clear nose, light yeasty and herbaceous notes, citrus and stone fruit, some mature pomaceous fruit. Bone dry, cool, elegant, juicy fruit on the palate, lively, very elegant acidity, yeasty aromas, prominent tart mineral notes, persistent, good substance, some bite, still young, delicate hint of tobacco, light tannic grip, fairly firm structure, refreshingly tart and juicy on a good to very good, uncompromisingly dry finish. (Wein-Plus)
	Erbacher Steinmorgen Riesling 2016 Alc. 13.5% Residual sugar: 1,6 g/L Acidity: 8,9 g/L VDP.Erste Lage From the renowned Steinmorgen vinenard, a wine with slightly waxy and floral nose with yellow fruit aromas, some soup herbs and earthy-mineral notes. Fairly juicy fruit on the palate, fairly firm acidity, light tannic touch, fairly persistent, tart mineral notes, has a lot of bite and some grip, has some power, quite firm finish. (Wein-Plus)
	Cuvée “knypi” 2017 Alc. 11.0% Residual sugar: 5,2 g/L Acidity: 7,6 g/L Qualitätswein Knyphausen’s entry level riesling – they call it their patio wine. Simple, fresh, mineral, uncomplicated.