Every month, ‘Whose Wine is it?’ profiles a German winemaker to give you a behind-the-vines look at the world of German wine. This month we’re focusing on the winemakers behind the family-owned winery Corvers-Kauter from the famous Rheingau.
The winery Corvers-Kauter has been one of the stars in the recent years within the Rheingau region and received high ratings in various guides. The change to ecological cultivation — the wine-estate is certified since 2012 — has tremendously boosted the operations of Dr. Matthias Corvers and his wife Brigitte, born Kauter, and refined their style.
Meet Matthias, Brigitte, Philipp and Patricia Corvers-Kauter
Estate: Weingut Corvers-Kauter
Region: Rheingau
Vineyards 32 ha
Bioland member
It’s a fascinating mixture of poetry and everyday intense work and delightful results, which inspires me in my work – day after day. -Dr Matthias Corvers
Background
The winery Dr. Corvers-Kauter in its’ todays form exist since 1996, when Dr. Matthias Corvers and Brigitte Kauter merged their two wineries together. Both of their initial wineries, the Kauter family in the well-known village of Winkel and the Corvers family from Rüdesheim, have over 250 years of tradition each.
“But the history is really secondary to us. We look ahead. It is the wine, and its natural potential to be paired with foods, that is our focal point”, Matthias Corvers states. Passion and imagination guide the winemakers care for the wines at every stage of growth, giving every vintage its own personal signature.
At the end of the 2010s it was announced that the renowned winery Langwerth von Simmern from Eltville, which had a long and rich tradition, was planning to end their viticulture in the Rheingau. This gave the possibility to Corvers-Kauter widening their wine cultivation to the eastern part of the Rheingau region, as Covers was able to arrange a long-term lease of 15 hectare in prime locations like Erbacher Marcobrunn, Hattenheimer Nussbrunnen and Rauentaler Baiken. This practically doubled Corvers winegrowing area. The new, gained areas are already undergoing a conversion to ecological farming.
The prime locations make the winery to a Terroir-specialist with diversative grounds (clay, quartzite, marl, decalcified loess and shale). The physical distance is no problem, Matthias has now a proficient colleague in his 23-years old son Philipp. After his studies at Geisenheim as well as studies abroad at Vienna and New Zealand Philipp is now actively involved in the family business.
In each wine you can taste the care and effort, which was put into it. At the end there are selectively harvested Riesling and Pinot Noir -wines from the most prestigious locations. Enjoying a playful dry Riesling reminds one instantly of a fresh mountain stream. Fruity sweet wines like Spätlese, Auslese and Trockenbeerenauslese -qualities are equally appreciated such as off-dry Riesling variations.
Vineyards
Assmannshäuser Höllenberg -site is one of the steepest vineyards in the Rheingau with a slope of 45 percent. The vineyards are located at an altitude of 140 to 160 and oriented to the south and south-southeast. The purple phyllite slate is typical for the Höllenberg – it gives the soils good heat storage properties – the Rhine in turn provides stable temperatures. This single vineyard is known as a Pinot Noir site.
Interspersed with heat-retaining walls, the Rüdesheimer Berg Rottland lies between 100 and 150 meters above sea level on the eastern flank of the majestic Rüdesheimer Berg. Fully south facing the single vineyard is between 15 and 50 percent steep and catches plenty of sunlight from the broad Rhine Valley. The stony, skeletal soils with a high percentage of gray slate and partial occurrences of quartzite and gravel warm up easily and only slowly release the temperature back to the vines. They are partly covered with a thin layer of loess.
The wine estate’s wine bar
The winery’s own wine bar is run by Matthias’ wife Brigitte and their daughter Patricia. The family is very proud of their diverse selection of Pinot Noirs (they account for 20%), which are vinified in barriques. Their specialties are an aromatic red Riesling and a wonderful crisp Silvaner, that exemplifies the type of wine that accounted 90 years ago for 30 percent of the Rheingau area.
In the basement the wine is pressed since 2015 with a traditional basket press. The clearing is then achieved through dismounting, which results in a longer stock on the yeast. The white wines from the first stocks are filled in big wood barrels, which are maximum 1200 liters. Otherwise, the finishing is done in steal barrels.
If you visit the wine estate, there is a recommendation to ask for older vintages.
Lisätietoja: Weingut Corvers-Kauter
Maahantuoja Suomessa: Solera
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