DÖNNHOFF, Germany

Stretching from Niederhausen to Schloßböckelheim, the majestic landscapes of the Nahe Valley have captured their love and attention for more than 250 years. The first official mention of the Dönnhoff name dates back to 1761; the family‘s own history book details the early flowering of 1781 and the bumper grape harvest of 1784. Helmut Dönnhoff‘s grandfather was the man that first started the estate‘s success, focussing his attention on planting Riesling vines in prized vineyard areas, and by the 1920s was filling his wines into bottles and selling the finest of them by their individual vineyard names. Then came Helmet's son, Hermann Jr. founder of their “Oberhäuser Brücke” site, and responsible for constructing the press house in 1936 and the estate‘s first cellar space.

Viticulture

With its nine Große Lagen, counted among the absolute finest in the region, the estate today enjoys an excellent international reputation for its grand German Rieslings. 28 hectares of vines planted on sandstone and weathered slate and weathered volcanic rock soils, the Riesling, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Grisaverages 15 to 65 years in age. Dönnhoff practices sustainable farming across all its vineyards, with some sites, such as Felsenberg, managed organically. The estate ceased irrigation 25 years ago to encourage deep-rooted vines, promoting resilience and quality. Vines are trained on low wireframes to benefit from the warmth of the stony topsoil, with a planting density of approximately 6,000 vines per hectare. Grapes are hand-harvested over multiple passes to ensure optimal ripeness and quality.

Winemaking

At Dönnhoff, winemaking is characterized by minimal intervention to preserve the purity of the fruit. Grapes are gently whole-bunch pressed within three hours of harvest to maintain freshness. Fermentation occurs spontaneously using indigenous yeasts in a combination of traditional German oak barrels (Stück and Doppelstück) and stainless steel tanks. The wines undergo extended lees contact to enhance complexity and texture before being racked and bottled. This approach results in wines that are expressive, balanced, and capable of aging gracefully. Dönnhoff's commitment to sustainable viticulture and thoughtful winemaking practices has solidified its reputation as a leading producer in the Nahe Valley, crafting wines that reflect the unique terroir of the region.