COUNTRY :
Germany
REGION :
Rheinhessen
PRODUCTION :
Bianka and Daniel Schmitt are two talented young winemakers making biodynamic wine “just from grapes” in the Rheinhessen region of Germany. The wines are pure and fresh, full of personality and life. Rheinhessen is the largest wine growing region in Germany, and has been largely associated with bulk production. However, in recent years, the region’s reputation has begun to shift as a new generation of younger, more innovative growers are reducing yields and honing in on the largely undervalued terroir of this region. Bianka and Daniel epitomize this new wave of German winemakers, working hard to produce wines of the highest quality with as little intervention as possible.
The Weingut Schmitt winery has been in the family for over 200 years. 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.
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”
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”
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”
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