Dreissigacker Quality Levels

Gutswein (Estate Wine) – As the name suggests, "Gutswein" refers to the winery itself. A winery typically owns several vineyards in different locations in the surrounding area. This means that the locations do not necessarily have to be in one place. For the production of Gutswein, all grapes of a single variety from the winery can be used. There is no distinction made as to which of the winery's own parcels the grapes come from. Flavor typicities of individual sites, which are influenced, for example, by higher or lower temperatures or the number of hours of sunshine, can be balanced and harmonized to produce a well-rounded, balanced wine. In terms of quality levels for wine, Gutswein is particularly suitable for getting to know the winery better. This is because Gutsweine represent the winery – they reflect the winery's quality standards and specific characteristics. The Dreissigacker Gutsweine are characterized by the diversity of our vineyards in and around Bechtheim.

Ortswein (Village Wine) - Following the Gutswein, the Ortswein is the next quality level of wine. The origin of the grapes for an Ortswein is somewhat restricted. This means that individual characteristics in the taste are already better developed. For both Ortswein and Gutswein, the name also results from the selection of the grapes: for an Ortswein, grapes from different vineyards are used, but these vineyards are located in the same village. This creates a clear connection between the wine and its origin. Our Dreissigacker Ortsweine mature exclusively in the top vineyards in Bechtheim and Westhofen. The characteristic diversity of the soils and the high ripeness give the wines their special expression.

Promising, exciting vines already produce distinctive and high-quality grapes at a young age, i.e., after ten to fifteen years. For our single vineyard wines, the vines are still too young, but their aromas are already pronounced, hinting at something wonderful. Through strong yield reduction and concentration on a few grapes, the young vines on the traditional soils in Bechtheim develop fruits with great potential. The hand-picked grapes are precisely vinified and blended and finally ripen over several months. The young vines produce an innovative, unique, fine, and significant wine – a true marvel.

Behind the Dreissigacker Einzigacker lies a true rarity. Jochen Dreissigacker dedicated himself intensively to the development of this Pinot Blanc and tinkered with it until a unique wine was created. A powerfully developed Pinot Blanc often needs an antagonist in order not to become too dominant. Jochen Dreissigacker found an equal antagonist in the Tonneau oak barrel. The Pinot Blanc matured for ten months in the oak barrel. The roasted aromas of the Tonneau give the Pinot Blanc exactly the nuances it needs to truly become unique. Einzigacker is the tasteful result of an exciting liaison between Pinot Blanc and oak barrel.

Single-Vineyard Wines – the pinnacle of wine quality levels is the so-called single-vineyard wine. With single-vineyard wines, the focus is on developing a wine from a unique site. For our Dreissigacker single-vineyard Rieslings, the grapes are selectively harvested only from the oldest and best vineyards and carefully processed. The diverse characteristics of the individual sites result in very differentiated wines. The development of single-vineyard wines demands absolute attention to detail, as it is all about nuances. Each vintage, and with it each harvest, is different. This affects both the development and the taste of the wines. The small-scale development of single-vineyard wines is therefore particularly demanding. For single-vineyard wines, we rely on the quality of our vines, our experience, and our intuition. A grapevine must be at least 20 years old to produce grapes for a single-vineyard wine. Most of our vines are 45 years and older. Planting new vines is a very long-term commitment for us. The Dreissigacker single-vineyard wines carefully encompass the specific characteristics of their origin in their aromatics and ripeness.