Essentials

Terraces - Mosella’s Hanging Gardens

As elsewhere in Europe, German viticulture prior to the industrial revolution was largely shaped by steep terraces carved into the hillsides. In today's mechanized world, such sites represent a mere 0.5% of Germany's area under vine, and are frequently regarded as little more than photogenic anachronisms. Not here: these swallows’ nests seemingly glued to the cliffs are an essential basis for our terroir wines. This is grounded — in the most concrete terms possible — in the ground here, with its unique soil structure.

The steeper the cliff, the higher the walls needed to reduce the gradient to a manageable 45 degrees. Typically measuring 2 - 4 meters in height, they create a relatively large hollow space on the mountainside. Which you then need to fill. How? Using found materials, of course: earth, plants and shrubs scratched off the hillside, and many, many stones and chunks of broken cliff. To help young vines grow, they are planted in a sandwich of forest meadow dug out with a spade. A bit of fertilizer is applied — in our modern version, 100% organic. The result: completely distinctive soil. Huge quantities of organic matter in deep soil layers, with very little earth, and in its place well north of 50 percent stone. Even in the deepest layers of soil, the air can circulate beautifully, a joy to countless aerobic microbes, worms and bugs. They transport organic matter into the depths on an ongoing basis, to be processed in ways that preserve an ecosystem that has proven stable over centuries. The strong microbial activity causes the slate to weather incredibly quickly, nourishing the vines with precious minerals. Add in a mesh of roots, finely interwoven in the soil by the densely planted vines...

Terroir - the cultural alternative to globalized fast food

In the wine world, the term ‘terroir’ is typically used as a shorthand for a specific region or vineyard’s flavor profile. Typically with the added note that humans serve an important role as “interpreters of the vineyard.” So far, so good. But does it actually make sense? You can argue that there’s origin at work in Blue Nun and Jacobs Creek too. But terroir?

Even into the 1960s, producing wines that actually tasted good was a difficult challenge. It's a very different story in today’s age of enological silicon-and-Botox enhancements. Populist Coca Cola wines have the world market perfectly in their clutches, in all taste variants and in all price classes. And the countermovement? We use the term ‘terroir’ as a bracket for the many concepts of a cultural definition of wine.

Sustainable - a commitment to ecology, society and the future

As a reaction to the increasing ‘chemization of agriculture,’ an organic movement formed in the 1970s that has continued to grow and broaden since then. Focused on the work in the vineyard, a concept based on the Romantic ideal of ‘good nature’ arose, championing a ban on all non-natural preparations. Understandable in light of the zeitgeist of that time, but... those guidelines contained not a word about aromatized yeasts or enzymes, or energy consumption, CO2 footprints or exploitation based on dodgy labor contracts. And ideologically still tied into a linear, black-and-white model of thought, even as modern society has long since shifted to addressing complex structures through a systematic approach.

And this is where we pick up the thread. No ignoring complicated questions, no fear of sensible compromise. And: no turning a blind eye! "Fair and Green" stands for discussion without taboos, for well-grounded specialist knowledge and consistent advice. And for increasing engagement, year after year, in an ecological and social restructuring of our society.

Joie de vivre - The ebb and flow of maritime soils

True enjoyment demands a sense of indulgence, a relinquishing of control and embrace of the untamable sensual world. Which is why we ask for trust. Trust in our wines, trust in your senses.

Our wines are an invitation. An offer to explore a world inaccessible to our consciousness, to the perception of sensual impressions that were stored eons ago in archaic portions of our developing limbic systems. We invite you on a thrilling and pleasurable journey through time — 400 million years, to be precise. Back to the birth of Europe, on the southern coast of the Old Red Continent, in the depths of the tropical primordial ocean. To the enjoyable fascination with the flavorful diversity of sunken ocean floors.