Weingut Künstler

Künstler Winery – a successful new start in a new home

The Künstler winery was founded by Franz Künstler in 1965 in Hochheim am Main, but the family’s history in viticulture is considerably longer, as they were previously expropriated and expelled from South Moravia. The family’s extensive experience provided him with a solid foundation for the new establishment, so the estate was soon able to record successes in tastings and awards. In 1982, his son Günter entered the family business at the age of just 19 with his first own wine and began his oenology studies, which he successfully completed 6 years later, taking over the cellar of the family estate. 

He finally took over the estate in 1992; in ’94 came admission to the VDP (Association of German Prädikat Wineries). From this point onward, several milestones followed, such as the acquisition of the Aschrott estate, the Burgeff sparkling wine cellar, and new vineyards in Assmannshausen. The estate’s first “Großes Gewächs” was also created in 2011. In 2016, the estate’s ecological commitment, which had already been ongoing since 1992, was brought to public attention through its membership in Fair’n’Green.

Facts about viticulture at Weingut Künstler

Both red and white grape varieties are cultivated at Weingut Künstler:

• Riesling
• Chardonnay
• Sauvignon Blanc
• Grüner Veltliner
• Alvarinho
• Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir)
• Merlot

8 different sites with a total of approx. 23 hectares offer high soil diversity for the various varieties. The sites are spread across Hochheim, Kostheim, Rüdesheim and Assmannshausen. In Rüdesheim lies the Rottland hill, from which the first Großes Gewächs originates.  The soils are characterized by slate, clay, quartzite, as well as limestone and marl components.

The philosophy in the cellar is not guided by analytical values, but by perceived harmony, taste, and above all aging potential. The character of each vineyard site is taken into account and should be reflected in the wines. Nothing would be worse than an “ironed-out” wine. Finally, 20 employees together ensure an annual volume of 350,000 bottled wines.

Award-winning – Weingut Künstler

The winery continues to receive regular recognition for its high-quality wines; for example, the following awards can be found in the portfolio of the Künstler estate:

• 4 stars – Eichelmann
• 5 stars – Falstaff
• 5F – Feinschmecker
• 4 stars – Vinum
• 4 stars – Gault & Millau