Stefan Winter Winery Dittelsheim
Buy wines of Weingut Stefan Winter Dittelsheim
Weingut Stefan Winter is one of those Rheinhessen wineries that have developed a clear, unmistakable signature style in an astonishingly short time. Stefan Winter sees himself as a craftsman, gardener and entrepreneur with the freedom of an artist. Since Stefan Winter took over responsibility in the early 2000s, the family winery from Dittelsheim has developed into one of the most reliable producers in the region. It has been a member of the renowned Association of German Prädikat Wine Estates (VDP) since 2013. The vineyards around Dittelsheim - above all Kloppberg, Leckerberg and Geiersberg - are among the barren, cooler vineyards in Rheinhessen. Limestone characterises the subsoil there, often interspersed with marl and clay, and creates a structure that gives the Rieslings and Burgundy varieties a taut, straightforward tension that is not always expected from this corner of the hilly region.
Stefan Winter's style is characterised by calm and precision. The wines are never loud, never broad, but show a cool clarity that results from consistent work in the vineyard. Low yields, selective harvesting and very restrained ageing ensure that the wines express their chalky origins undisguised. The Rieslings are bright, citrusy and delicately salty, often with that slight pressure on the palate that only limestone can produce. The Burgundy varieties show a similarly elegant line, carried by balance and a well-dosed creaminess that never tips over into heaviness. The winery has been working for years to constantly refine this profile without taking fashionable shortcuts. The sustainable approach according to fair'n'green criteria refers to holistic sustainability. The cultivation is expressed in an increasing concentration of the vineyard characteristics and the calm, precise vinification in the cellar. As a result, Winter's wines now possess a clarity and stylistic confidence that is recognised far beyond the region. These are wines that are immediately appealing, but also have the ability to further develop their inner calm and depth with a few years of ageing.
© Images: Stefan Winter Winery Dittelsheim
