Weingut Künstler – A Family Tradition for Over 370 Years

Foundation of the winery in Hochheim

1965:
Founding of the estate in Hochheim

After dispossession and expulsion from the region that had been his family's home since the 12th century, Franz Künstler reformed the estate in 1965 in Hochheim am Main, in the Rheingau region. The estate’s philosophy of uncompromising quality remained unchanged, and the wines soon garnered critical acclaim and awards.

 

Gunter Künstler bottling his first vintage

1982:
At the tender age of 19, Gunter Künstler is tasked with bringing his first vintage through to bottling

 

 

Gunter Künstler in the estate cellar

1988:
Studies completed in Geisenheim

Gunter Künstler earns his degree in Geisenheim and takes up responsibility for the cellar at his parents' estate.

 

Entry to Weingut Künstler in 1992

1992:
Gunter Künstler assumes control of wine estate from his father

Son Gunter assumed leadership of the estate in 1992, continuing his father’s legacy side by side with wife Monika and a young, highly dedicated team. Year for year, national and international awards and prizes attest to the estate's status as one of the finest in Germany and the world.

 

[Translate to English:] Logo VDP Prädikatsweingut

1994:
Accepted as member of the VDP

 

 

Relocation of Weingut Künstler to the defunct "Aschrott" estate

1996:
Relocation to "Aschrott'sches Weingut"

For many years, the Künstler winegrowing estate was located in the private residence of the Künstler family. In 1996, Gunter Künstler was offered the opportunity to acquire the former "Aschrott" wine estate. The purchase included several prized Hochheim vineyard sites, helping establish the critical mass he needed to become an estate of notable size and quality.

 

Accolade in Wein Plus 2001 - 100 points for Weingut Künstler

2001:
Awards from Wein Plus

100 points

 

Cellarmaster Rolf Schregel draws a sample from a barrique cask

2004:
Rolf Schregel becomes operations manager

Relocation of Weingut Künstler to the defunct "Burgeff" sparkling winery

2006:
Relocation to "Sektkellerei Burgeff"

In summer 2006, we moved from Hochheim's traditional center to the edge of the city. Our new premises: the empty but richly historical Burgeff sekt cellars, which dated back to 1837.

 

View across the Rhine and the vineyards of Rüdesheim

2011:
Rüdesheim

The 2011 vintage marked the first Grosses Gewächs from the BERG ROTTLAND site. This site is notable for its slate influence, forming a mineral counterpoint to our Hochheim wines.

 

"Assmannshäuser Höllenberg" sign in vineyards

2014:
Assmannshausen

We were very fortunate to acquire vineyards in Assmannshausen, an island of red wine in the Rheingau, from a friend and fellow winemaker.

 

[Translate to English:] Logo Fair'n Green

2016:
Membership in Fair and Green

Sustainability is very important to us, which is why we stopped all use of herbicides back in 1992. It's also why we're members in Fair and Green. A sustainable system for conventional and organic winegrowing.

Over 370 years of tradition

Annual production
350 000

Employees
20

VDP Membership
since 1994

50.5 hectares of vineyards

White wines
79 % Riesling
2,7 % Chardonnay
1,6 % Sauvignon blanc
0,4 % Grüner Veltiner
1,1 % Alvarinho

Red wines
14,8 % Spätburgunder
0,4 % Merlot

8 VDP.GROSSE LAGE sites

Hochheimer
Hölle (9,6 ha)
Reichestal (8,5 ha)
Kirchenstück (2,4 ha)
Domdechaney (0,3 ha)

Kostheimer
Weiss Erd (1,3 ha)

Rüdesheim
Berg Rottland (0,3 ha)
Berg Schlossberg (0,1 ha)

Assmannshäuser
Höllenberg (0,4 ha)

Wine guide ratings

Eichelmann 2020
4 Stars

Falstaff 2020
5 Stars

Vinum 2019
4 Stars

Gault&Millau 2019
4 black grapes

Eichelmann 2019
4 Stars

Our young team never stops pushing for maximum quality. Good is simply not good enough. Each employee is part of a larger whole, united in a belief in the estate and its philosophy. Our office and sales teams work hard to get your orders to you as quickly and smoothly as possible.

Monika & Gunter Künstler

Rolf Schregel

Managing Director & Cellarmaster

Kristina Kammer

Marketing & Events

Gregor Breuer

Sales Director for Restaurants & Retail

Ursula Endler

Order Processing

Anne-Katrin Himmel-Honold

Bookkeeping

Natalie Kussmaul

Housekeeping

Daniel Winterfeld

Vineyard managers

Christoph Appelmann

Vineyard managers

Stephan Bigus

Vineyard managers

Marc Schmunk

Warehouse

Vladimir Ungemacht

Labelling/Warehouse

Monika & Gunter Künstler

Rolf Schregel

Managing Director & Cellarmaster

Kristina Kammer

Marketing & Events

Gregor Breuer

Sales Director for Restaurants & Retail

Ursula Endler

Order Processing

Anne-Katrin Himmel-Honold

Bookkeeping

Natalie Kussmaul

Housekeeping

Daniel Winterfeld

Vineyard managers

Christoph Appelmann

Vineyard managers

Stephan Bigus

Vineyard managers

Marc Schmunk

Warehouse

Vladimir Ungemacht

Labelling/Warehouse