COUNTRY :
Germany
REGION :
Rheinhessen
PRODUCTION :
Bianka and Daniel took over the Weingut Schmitt in 2012 as the fourth generation to lead the winery. They are based in Wonnegau in the south Rheinhessen, centered in Flörsheim-Dalsheim. All of the vineyards are in Flörsheim-Dalsheim and neighbor villages Monsheim and Kriegsheim. Bianka and Daniel have been working their 16 hectares biodynamically for over a decade and are one of only 80 producers in Germany to be Demeter certified. They work with amphorae as well as used oak barrels and release a ‘Natur’ line that contains no added sulphur.
Here are Bianka and Daniel in their own words:
“Working biodynamically is a lifestyle that includes producing and spreading preparations in the vineyards as well as social interactions. The interactions between the life in the soil (like bacteria, mykorizen, plants as green cover and the vines) are composed with each other. Vines become stronger and get more vitality from a living soil, not from chemical treatments.
This active interaction in the soil life, the mutual strengthening of the plants result in stronger resilience for the vines which reflects the high quality of the grape, supports the presence of the individual soil types (calcareous soil covered by clay and partly loess, pebble). By working according to the biodynamic principles, biodiversity is supported as an automatic successor. As a result, the vineyards and the biotopes created by Bianka and Daniel offer a home for a diverse and local animal community.
After hand picking, the grapes are processed with or without skin maceration. And rest in wooden oaks (5000L, 3000L, 1200L, 600L) or clay amphorae (1200L, 300L) for at least 12 months on the whole yeast depot. The focus is on offering an optimal aging potential for the years to come.
In order to support the collegial exchange and to enable operational training in the field of biodynamic agriculture, Bianka and Daniel and their winery are proud members of the Renaissance des Appellations, Demeter and Vinnatur associations.”
Pinot Sekt Brut Nature
Region: Rheinhessen
Grape: Weissburgunder, Spätburgunder
Vineyard Size: 16 hectares
Soil: limestone, sandstone
Average Age of Vines:
Farming: biodynamic
Harvest: by hand
Winemaking: spontaneous fermentation in neutral oak with indigenous yeasts
Aging: 12 months in neutral oak, méthode ancestrale
Fining: none
Filtration: none
Added S02: none
“Kékfrankos”
Region: Rheinhessen
Grape: Blaufränkisch
Vineyard Size: 16 hectares
Soil: limestone, sandstone, clay
Average Age of Vines: 5 years
Farming: biodynamic
Harvest: by hand
Winemaking: spontaneous fermentation in neutral oak with indigenous yeasts
Aging: 9 months in neutral oak
Fining: none
Filtration: none
Added S02: 10 mg/L
Riesling M
Region: Rheinhessen
Grape: Riesling
Vineyard Size: 16 hectares
Soil: limestone, sandstone, clay
Average Age of Vines:
Farming: biodynamic
Harvest: by hand
Winemaking: 60 hour maceration, spontaneous fermentation in neutral oak with indigenous yeasts
Aging: in neutral oak
Fining: none
Filtration: none
Added S02: 10 mg/L
“Erdreich”
Region: Rheinhessen
Grape: Muskateller, Scheurebe
Vineyard Size: 16 hectares
Soil: limestone, sandstone, clay
Average Age of Vines:
Farming: biodynamic
Harvest: by hand
Winemaking: 4 week maceration, separate, spontaneous fermentation in neutral oak with indigenous yeasts
Aging: in neutral oak
Fining: none
Filtration: none
Added S02: none
“Parcellás”
Region: Rheinhessen
Grape: Weissburgunder
Vineyard Size: 16 hectares
Soil: limestone, sandstone, clay
Average Age of Vines:
Farming: biodynamic
Harvest: by hand
Winemaking: direct press, spontaneous fermentation in neutral oak with indigenous yeasts
Aging: in neutral oak, 30% 12 months in amphora
Fining: none
Filtration: none
Added S02: none
“Frei.Körper.Kultur FIZZ”
Region: Rheinhessen
Grape: Portugieser, Dornfelder
Vineyard Size: 16 hectares
Soil: limestone, sandstone, clay
Average Age of Vines: 5 years
Farming: biodynamic
Harvest: by hand
Winemaking: spontaneous fermentation in fiberglass with indigenous yeasts
Aging: méthode Charmat
Fining: none
Filtration: none
Added S02: none
Pétillant Naturel
Region: Rheinhessen
Grape: Portugieser, Dornfelder
Vineyard Size: 16 hectares
Soil: limestone, sandstone
Average Age of Vines:
Farming: biodynamic
Harvest: by hand
Winemaking: spontaneous fermentation in neutral oak with indigenous yeasts
Aging: méthode ancestrale
Fining: none
Filtration: none
Added S02: none
Pétillant Naturel
Region: Rheinhessen
Grape: Huxelrebe, Scheurebe, Ortega, Weißburgunder, Grauburgunder
Vineyard Size: 16 hectares
Soil: limestone, sandstone
Average Age of Vines:
Farming: biodynamic
Harvest: by hand
Winemaking: spontaneous fermentation in neutral oak with indigenous yeasts
Aging: méthode ancestrale
Fining: none
Filtration: none
Added S02: none
“Voodoo Doll”
Region: Rheinhessen
Grape: Riesling
Vineyard Size: 16 hectares
Soil: limestone, sandstone, loess
Average Age of Vines:
Farming: biodynamic
Harvest: by hand
Winemaking: spontaneous fermentation in neutral oak with indigenous yeasts
Aging: 12 monts in neutral oak, sous voile
Fining: none
Filtration: none
Added S02: none
“Sándor” Cidre
Region: Rheinhessen
Grape: Apples
Vineyard Size: 16 hectares
Soil: limestone, sandstone, loess
Average Age of Vines:
Farming: biodynamic
Harvest: by hand
Winemaking: spontaneous fermentation in bottle with indigenous yeasts
Aging: in bottle
Fining: none
Filtration: none
Added S02: none
“Zöld”
Region: Rheinhessen
Grape: Silvaner
Vineyard Size: 16 hectares
Soil: limestone, sandstone, loess
Average Age of Vines:
Farming: biodynamic
Harvest: by hand
Winemaking: 4 hour maceration, spontaneous fermentation in neutral oak with indigenous yeasts
Aging: in neutral oak
Fining: none
Filtration: none
Added S02: none
Riesling
Region: Rheinhessen
Grape: Riesling
Vineyard Size: 16 hectares
Soil: limestone, sandstone, clay
Average Age of Vines:
Farming: biodynamic
Harvest: by hand
Winemaking: direct press, spontaneous fermentation in neutral oak with indigenous yeasts
Aging: in neutral oak
Fining: none
Filtration: none
Added S02: none
“Frei.Körper.Kultur” Red
Region: Rheinhessen
Grape: Merlot, Sankt Laurent, Portugieser, Blaufränkisch, Spätburgunder
Vineyard Size: 16 hectares
Soil: limestone, sandstone, clay
Average Age of Vines:
Farming: biodynamic
Harvest: by hand
Winemaking: spontaneous fermentation in neutral oak with indigenous yeasts
Aging: in neutral oak
Fining: none
Filtration: none
Added S02: none
“Frei.Körper.Kultur” Rosé
Region: Rheinhessen
Grape: Portugieser, Dornfelder
Vineyard Size: 16 hectares
Soil: limestone, sandstone, clay
Average Age of Vines:
Farming: biodynamic
Harvest: by hand
Winemaking: direct press, short maceration, spontaneous fermentation in fiberglass with indigenous yeasts
Aging: in fiberglass
Fining: none
Filtration: none
Added S02: 15 mg/L
“Frei.Körper.Kultur” White
Region: Rheinhessen
Grape: Scheurebe, Weißburgunder, Huxelrebe, Grauburgunder, Ortega
Vineyard Size: 16 hectares
Soil: limestone, sandstone, clay
Average Age of Vines:
Farming: biodynamic
Harvest: by hand
Winemaking: 3 week maceration of Scheurebe, Weißburgunder, Huxelrebe, whole cluster, spontaneous fermentation in fiberglass with indigenous yeasts
Aging: in fiberglass
Fining: none
Filtration: none
Added S02: 15 mg/L
“Frei.Körper.Kultur Shädelfrei”
Region: Rheinhessen
Grape: Merlot, Sankt Laurent, Portugieser, Blaufränkisch, Spätburgunder, Organic Spices
Vineyard Size: 16 hectares
Soil: limestone, sandstone, clay
Average Age of Vines:
Farming: biodynamic
Harvest: by hand
Winemaking: spontaneous fermentation in neutral oak with indigenous yeasts
Aging: in neutral oak
Fining: none
Filtration: none
Added S02: 10 mg/L
Pétillant Naturel
Region: Rheinhessen
Grape: Riesling, Pinot Blanc
Vineyard Size: 16 hectares
Soil: limestone, sandstone
Average Age of Vines:
Farming: biodynamic
Harvest: by hand
Winemaking: spontaneous fermentation in neutral oak with indigenous yeasts
Aging: méthode ancestrale
Fining: none
Filtration: none
Added S02: none
Rot 2017
Region: Rheinhessen
Grape: Pinot Noir, Sankt Laurent, Merlot, Portugieser
Vineyard Size: 16 hectares
Soil: limestone, sandstone, clay
Average Age of Vines:
Farming: biodynamic
Harvest: by hand
Winemaking: spontaneous fermentation in neutral oak with indigenous yeasts
Aging: in neutral oak
Fining: none
Filtration: none
Added S02: none
Spätburgunder
Region: Rheinhessen
Grape: Spätburgunder
Vineyard Size: 16 hectares
Soil: limestone, sandstone, clay
Average Age of Vines:
Farming: biodynamic
Harvest: by hand
Winemaking: 6 week maceration, spontaneous fermentation in neutral oak with indigenous yeasts
Aging: in neutral oak
Fining: none
Filtration: none
Added S02: none
“Feminín”
Region: Rheinhessen
Grape: Chardonnay
Vineyard Size: 16 hectares
Soil: limestone, sandstone, clay
Average Age of Vines:
Farming: biodynamic
Harvest: by hand
Winemaking: 8 week maceration, spontaneous fermentation in neutral oak with indigenous yeasts
Aging: 12 months in neutral oak
Fining: none
Filtration: none
Added S02: none
“Orpheus”
Region: Rheinhessen
Grape: Pinot Blanc
Vineyard Size: 16 hectares
Soil: limestone, sandstone, clay
Average Age of Vines:
Farming: biodynamic
Harvest: by hand
Winemaking: 30% 12 month maceration, spontaneous fermentation in amphora with indigenous yeasts
Aging: in amphora
Fining: none
Filtration: none
Added S02: none
Müller-Thurgau
Region: Rheinhessen
Grape: Müller-Thurgau
Vineyard Size: 16 hectares
Soil: limestone, sandstone, clay
Average Age of Vines:
Farming: biodynamic
Harvest: by hand
Winemaking: 50% 4 week maceration, spontaneous fermentation in neutral oak with indigenous yeasts
Aging: in neutral oak
Fining: none
Filtration: none
Added S02: none
Rot 2016
Region: Rheinhessen
Grape: Cabernet Mitos, Dornfelder, Merlot, Blauer Portugieser, Regent, Spätburgunder, Sankt Laurent
Vineyard Size: 16 hectares
Soil: limestone, sandstone, clay
Average Age of Vines:
Farming: biodynamic
Harvest: by hand
Winemaking: spontaneous fermentation in neutral oak with indigenous yeasts
Aging: in neutral oak
Fining: none
Filtration: none
Added S02: 10 mg/L
“Wild Pony”
Region: Rheinhessen
Grape: Huxelrebe, Kerner, Müller-Thurgau, Gelber Muskateller, Grüner Sylvaner, Ortega
Vineyard Size: 16 hectares
Soil: limestone, sandstone, loess
Average Age of Vines:
Farming: biodynamic
Harvest: by hand
Winemaking: direct press, 1 week spontaneous fermentation in neutral oak with indigenous yeasts
Aging: in neutral oak
Fining: none
Filtration: none
Added S02: 10 mg/L
“Monsheimer” Riesling
Region: Rheinhessen
Grape: Riesling
Vineyard Size: 16 hectares
Soil: limestone, sandstone
Average Age of Vines:
Farming: biodynamic
Harvest: by hand
Winemaking: spontaneous fermentation in neutral oak with indigenous yeasts
Aging: in neutral oak
Fining: none
Filtration: none
Added S02: 10 mg/L
Rosé
Region: Rheinhessen
Grape: Merlot, Pinot Noir, Blauer Portugieser, Dornfelder
Vineyard Size: 16 hectares
Soil: clay, limestone
Average Age of Vines:
Farming: biodynamic
Harvest: by hand
Winemaking: spontaneous fermentation in neutral oak with indigenous yeasts
Aging: in neutral oak
Fining: none
Filtration: none
Added S02: none
Pétillant Naturel 2017
Region: Rheinhessen
Grape: Bacchus, Huxelrebe, Ortega
Vineyard Size: 16 hectares
Soil: limestone, sandstone
Average Age of Vines:
Farming: biodynamic
Harvest: by hand
Winemaking: spontaneous fermentation in neutral oak with indigenous yeasts
Aging: méthode ancestrale
Fining: none
Filtration: none
Added S02: 10 mg/L