Our next stop in Germany's Rheinhessen wine region was a third-generation wine producer, Weingut Bischel. We had the unique privilege of a wine-tasting experience with the second generation, the family's matriarch, while the newest generation of winemakers were busy in the cellars. Our host greeted us at the winery's door and led us up to the second-floor tasting room, where we would have the opportunity to taste 12 wines from the family's line. We greatly appreciate such generosity when sharing such a large number of wines to sample.
Our host provided us with an overview of the Rheinhessen region, located southeast of Mainz and surrounded on two sides by the River Rhein and a slight border to the northwest with the River Nahe. Rheinhessen accounts for nearly 25 percent of the German vineyards, yet it is the largest of the 13 wine regions in wine production due to the significant output of high-volume wines planted on the warm and fertile soils of the valley floors. Some producers, like Weingut Bischel, focus on cultivating top-quality grapes through rigorous site selection and a focus on biodiversity in the vineyards. The top vineyards in the Weingut Bischel portfolio include Hundertgulden, Scharlachberg, and Heerkretz, all classified as Grosse Lage® or the top sites by the VDP in Germany.
Without coincidence, I discovered my favorite wine from the Weingut Bischel lineup to be the 2021 Hundertgulden Grosses Gewächs (GG). If you remember from our previous posts, a wine produced from grapes harvested in a Grosse Lage® vineyard and vinified per the VDP’s highest quality standards, including being a dry wine, the Weingut can classify the wine as Grosses Gewächs (GG). The name of the vineyard, Hundertgulden, translates into “Hundred Golden,” most likely named after the high price landowners were willing to pay for the real estate in the 14th century.
This vineyard is planted on the sleep, southwest-facing slopes on limestone soil. The limestone allows the grapes to ripen slowly over the growing season, achieving greater overall complexity. The Hundertgulden vineyard's terroir is a stark contrast to the flat, fertile valley floors home to the region's high volume and inexpensive wine. I found the wine to have pronounced floral notes interwoven with ripe apple and pear, combined with a strong acidity level and a reasonably long finish on the palate.
Please check out the YouTube video of our experience here.
Experience Rating: 3 Stars
Brodi’s Rating: 1 Paw Up
Website: https://www.weingut-bischel.de/en
Pet-Friendly: Yes
Experience Vibe: Private Experience, Seated Tasting
Reservations Needed: Yes
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