Kühling-Gillot
The Kühling-Gillot winery is one of the outstanding addresses in German viticulture and cultivates over 25 hectares of vineyards on the famous sites of the Roter Hang and along the Rhine Terrace in Rheinhessen. The iconic vineyards between Bodenheim and Oppenheim are home to predominantly Riesling and a smaller proportion of Pinot Noir, which thrive in the prestigious VDP.ERSTEN and VDP.GROSSEN LAGEN vineyards.
Since 2006, oenologist and mother of two Carolin Spanier-Gillot and her husband Hans Oliver Spanier have been running the winery with great passion and a clear vision for authentic and sustainable viticulture. Working on the historic steep slopes of the Roter Hang, such as the famous Hipping with a gradient of over 60% or Pettenthal, the steepest vineyard in Rheinhessen with a gradient of over 70%, requires the utmost precision. Each vine is cultivated with a great deal of manual labour, patience and care - a real feat of strength, but one that is rewarded with wines of exceptional quality.
White wines from Kühling-Gillot
from Kühling-Gillot
For some time now, the vineyards have been consistently organic (certified) and now also biodynamic. The introduction of straw into the vineyards is just one of many measures to promote the vitality of the soil and the water supply to the vines. The soils of red slate and limestone marl, combined with the unique microclimate, form the basis for wines that express their origin and provenance in an unadulterated way.
The exclusively dry wines mature in a careful balance of large and small wooden barrels as well as in steel tanks. The ageing cellar, built deep into the mountain, offers ideal conditions for their slow and gentle development. Maturation is like a purification process: the fruit flavours of the grape recede, while the unmistakable nuances of the site, soil and stone become ever more apparent. This is how ‘the spirit of the place’ finally unfolds - the essence of the Rhine terrace and the slate soil on the Roter Hang. Every sip of a Kühling-Gillot wine is a tribute to the craftsmanship, closeness to nature and passion that go into these exceptional wines.
Producer
Domaine Tollot-Beaut / Nathalie Tollot
This fine family domaine has existed since the end of the 19th century. Initially, there were only a few vineyards in the village of Chorey. As time went on, it developed into 24 hectares in the communes of Beaune, Savigny and Aloxe-Corton. The estate is now run by cousins Nathalie, Jean-Paul, and Olivier Tollot.
Cascina Barisél / Franco Penna
With just 5 hectares, Franco Penna's winery is small but exquisite. The estate near Canelli, east of Alba, comprises only the very best south-facing sites with calcareous soils. Franco's father Enrico, who bought the estate in the 1960s, obviously knew what he was doing.
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.