Carl Ehrhard
On some of the best grounds in Rüdhesheim sit ten acres of old vines tended by Carl and Petra Ehrhard. The winery was founded 150 years ago. Since 1998, the couple has tried to merge the traditional and the innovative: old vineyard management and modern winemaking equipment. Beautifully clean stainless steel tanks line the cellar next to old oak barrels. Riesling vines (90%) flourish among Pinot Noir (10%). The soils are mostly ancient slate soils crumbling down the steep slopes. During harvest, Carl pays special attention to the ripening of his grapes, picking in multiple passes and picking out those affected by Botrytis. In the cellar, fermentations are temperature-controlled, gentle and slow. With the whites, there is minimal filtration, to preserve natural residual sugars and bottled with little air contact. The reds ferment in open top vats, are aged in oak and are never filtered.
- Savio Soares
