Rebenhof is a small, fine Mosel estate in the village of Urzig, devoted entirely to Riesling. Owned by Johannes and Doris Schmitz, it operates under the guiding philosophy that everything is decided in the vineyard.
The Region
The winery lies in Urzig, in the heart of the Middle Mosel, not far from the historic wine town of Bernkastel-Kues. It draws on two of the river's most celebrated steep sites, the Urziger Wurzgarten and the Erdener Treppchen.
Vineyards and Farming
The estate farms about 7 hectares, exclusively Riesling, mostly on the precipitous slopes of the Wurzgarten. More than 75 percent of the vines are ungrafted and grow on their own roots. Many are over 60 years old and some reach a century. The soils are red and grey slate, and yields from the old vines are kept deliberately low to let the site speak.
Winemaking
Vinification is careful and gentle: selective hand-picking, soft processing of the grapes, and slow, natural fermentation and ripening. Since the 2015 vintage the estate has generally dispensed with animal additives in its wines.
The Wines
Rebenhof produces a range of Rieslings from steep-slope sites, earning recognition that includes a Best Steep Site Riesling title at the international Best of Riesling competition along with strong marks in Gault Millau and Eichelmann.
