Dr. Bürklin-Wolf / Fam. Bürklin
White wines from Dr. Bürklin-Wolf / Fam. Bürklin
Sweet wines from Dr. Bürklin-Wolf / Fam. Bürklin
from Dr. Bürklin-Wolf / Fam. Bürklin
The Pfalz (Palatinate) region is often, and rightfully, called the German „Tuscany", where even the Romans felt very much at home. A mild climate prevails under the protection of the local forests, which allows almond, fig, pine and cypress trees to thrive and also grant the landscapes with a Mediterranean touch.
The tradition at the Bürklin-Wolf winery dates back to 1597 and is today lead by Bettina Bürklin-von Guradze. The spacious and prestigious estate can be found in charming Wachenheim on the wine route. Visitors are always welcome for a tasting at the Vinotek (www.buerklin-wolf.de). The vineyards, mostly planted with Riesling, are located around Wachenheim and the surrounding villages on parcels baring odd names like Ungeheuer (Ogre) or Gerümpel (Junk).
A particularity of Pfalz is the fantastic diversity of the terroir. When one knows how important the origin is for the quality of a wine (and especially for the Riesling), the domain decided to follow a Burgundy pattern to define their parcels. The most exclusive ones are the Grand Crus (G.C.), which allow the real personality of a wine to develop during its long and fascinating life. The wines from the precious Premiers Crus (P.C.) reflect their origins and are just as unique, though less exclusive, as their Grand Crus counterparts.
Bettina Bürklin-von Guradze sees the use of the biodynamic agriculture as the winery's best tool to express the specific properties of each appellation of origin. Also the simpler local wines and the much-loved Gutsriesling, which originates from different parcels, receive the same care and attention. The winery is part of the Syndicat International des Vignerons en Culture Bio-Dynamique (Biodyvin) and gets its certification since 2005. The Pfalz has much to offer when it comes to cultural landmarks, recreation in the free nature and, of course, countless oenology and culinary places of interest. The nearby Restaurant Hofgut Ruppertsberg is an address one simply shouldn't ignore (www.dashofgut.com).
Producer
Montepeloso
The Montepeloso winery, located in Maremma, owned by Swiss co-proprietor and estate manager Fabio Chiarelotto, has earned a reputation for outstanding red wines. With a combination of mostly traditional and indigenous grape varieties, but also international varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, complex wines with a Mediterranean character are produced. This Tuscan gem is hidden in the hills of Suvereto, near the Tyrrhenian coast — one of the hottest areas of Tuscany.
Cantina Monti
Located at 550 meters above sea level, with extreme slopes, the Cantina Monti covers 4.7 hectares. The sloping soil does not allow mechanization in the vines, which includes nine different grape varieties. Every season, the Monti family immediately focuses on the production of superior quality wines, a quality also given by the very low yield in the vineyard.
Château Les Valentines
Not far from the picturesque towns of Nice and Saint-Tropez, the owners of Château Les Valentines, Gilles and Pascale Pons, produce wines that reflect the summery lightness and intense sensuality of the beautiful Provence countryside.