The name Sander not only stands for third-generation viticulture in Rheinhessen, but also for biodynamics from the very beginning. The estate was bottling its wines as early as 1925, which speaks for high quality, and "Grandpa" Ottoheinrich already had literature on biodynamics at that time.
Today, grandson Stefan Sander runs the estate in Mettenheim and continues the tradition of biodynamic farming methods. On the one hand, this is about "healthy nature, residue-free food and responsibility for the future of mankind", but on the other hand it is also simply about wine quality: "We are not dogmatists or believers. But we know that only living soils are a guarantee for wines that are truly characterised by terroir."
Sander relies on organic materials such as manure, compost, straw and green manure plants to optimally maintain and preserve the loess-dominated terroir. All work is organised according to the phases of the moon. In the vineyards, there are hedges, embankments, walls and greenery plants as a refuge for beneficial insects.
The portfolio mainly includes Riesling, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris, but also Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. Pinot Noir dominates among the reds, but there is also Merlot and Portugieser. One of Sander's hobbies is the cultivation of old varieties, such as Grünfränkisch, which almost disappeared for over 200 years.
photos: Sander Winery