Location and History
The winery Künstler is based in Hochheim am Main in the Rheingau in Germany. The vineyards are located mainly in Hochheim; further holdings are in Rüdesheim and Assmannshausen. Hochheim lies at the confluence of the Main and the Rhine. Franz Künstler founded the winery anew in 1965 in Hochheim.
Vineyard Sites and Soils
The warm microclimate of Hochheim is protected by the Taunus, which shields the vineyards from cold northerly winds. The Hochheimer Hölle lies to the east of the historic town on a slope falling by about 15 percent towards the Main, and has calcareous cyrenian marl, loess clay, and a humus-rich topsoil. In the Herrnberg, sandy loess and old limestone come together. The Reichestal is characterised by calcareous tertiary silt marl, gravel and scree, as well as loess clay; in the stone, river sand and scree from former Main terraces, loess clay, calcareous marl, and yellow limestone can be found.
Grape Varieties and Wine Style
The published breakdown of vineyard plantings comprises 79 percent Riesling, 14.8 percent Spätburgunder, 2.7 percent Chardonnay, 1.6 percent Sauvignon Blanc, 1.1 percent Alvarinho, 0.4 percent Grüner Veltliner and 0.4 percent Merlot. The winery describes its Rieslings as powerful, sustainable and suitable for ageing, with an elegant expression. The wines of Hochheim often show power and minerality, while the sites shaped by slate and quartzite in Rüdesheim and Assmannshausen produce finer, mineral wines.
Vineyard Management and Maturing
According to its own information, the winery works sustainably in the vineyards and is Fair-Choice certified. Since 1994 it has been a member of the Verband Deutscher Prädikatsweingüter. For VDP.GROSSE-LAGE vineyards in the Rheingau, exclusively Riesling and Spätburgunder are permitted; the harvest is carried out by hand with strongly reduced yields. In the cellar, basket presses and battonage are used; fining has meanwhile been dispensed with. The aim is to preserve the quality of the grapes, to balance residual sweetness, alcohol and acidity, and to express the character of each individual site.
