Schätzel Winery
"Intervene as little as possible."
Kai Schätzel
The Schätzel family winery, whose roots go back over 650 years, is located in Nierstein, Rheinhessen, about twelve kilometres south of Mainz. Kai Schätzel's team is best known for its Rieslings from the steep slopes of the Rote Hang.
Schätzl describes his philosophy as follows: "Above everything hovers the claim to intervene as little as possible in the natural processes in order to be able to depict the site, the soil and the year in its particularities." To achieve this, the winemaker relies on an early harvest by hand and, during vinification in the 800-year-old vaulted cellar, on maceration time, long storage in wooden barrels on the yeast and dispensing with sulphur whenever possible.
Of the 15 hectares of vineyards, 5 hectares are on the steep slopes of the Rote Hang. The soil structure is characterised by Rotliegendes and red slate. Since 2008, the vineyards have been cultivated using organic and biodynamic methods.
© Images: Schätzel Winery
