Location and history
The Jean Stodden winery is located in Rech in the Ahr in Germany. The Stodden family has been involved in viticulture along the Ahr since 1578. Alexander Stodden runs the winery in the fifth generation. Since 2005, it has been a member of the VDP.
Vineyard areas and vineyards
The vineyard area covers 9.00 hectares. The plantings consist of 92 per cent Spätburgunder, 6 per cent Frühburgunder and 2 per cent Riesling. The soils are characterised by slate weathering with greywacke. Selected vineyards for Spätburgunder, Spätburgunder J and Spätburgunder JS are located on steep slopes with a southern and south-eastern aspect.
The Recher Herrenberg is a south-facing steep slope with slopes of up to 60 per cent; part of the south-facing slope is terraced. Here, ungrafted Spätburgunder vines are still growing from before 1940 and from the early 1950s. The winery propagates material from these vines.
Cultivation
The winery sees itself as a red-wine estate and focuses on Spätburgunder from the Ahr. During winter pruning, only a few fruit buds are left per vine in order to reduce yields. If necessary, the winery removes excess grapes in summer. The harvest is done by hand with strict selection in the vineyard and in the cellar; only healthy grapes are processed.
Vinification and ageing
The general red wines are fermented on the skins for up to 24 days and then aged in oak barrels. For the Recher Herrenberg Spätburgunder VDP.GROSSES GEWÄCHS, hand-selected grapes are destemmed and fermented on the skins for 21 days. The biological acid reduction takes place in barriques; after that, the wine matures for 19 months in 100 per cent new barriques. Bottling is done unfiltered.
