Dönnhoff

The Dönnhoff family have been farming in the beautiful village of Oberhausen on the banks of the river Nahe in southwest Germany, between the Mosel to the west and Rheinhessen to the east. 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.

But it was Helmut Dönnhoff who transformed the family estate into one of Germany’s greatest names from his first vintage in 1971. His unwavering, meticulous approach to vineyard management across some of the Nahe's most prized sites yields pure, energetic Rieslings that have helped cement the region as one of Germany's most exciting. Today, Helmut's son Cornelius has taken over the reins, and there is no doubt that he has inherited his father's talents and work ethic. The estate will maintain its position as one of the finest and most followed in Germany.

Not many wines in the world share the level of purity and transparency as found in Dönnhoff's Rieslings. Each wine is a testament to the diverse and dramatic patchwork of vineyards from which they are born. From the volcanic slopes of Kupfergrube, the cool sandstone and slate of Hermannshöhle, the steep Brücke vineyard and the slate-rich Leistenberg. Each site speaks its own language, which is so clearly translated by careful, considered winemaking.  

It is always dangerous to make wild, hyperbolic claims such as "these are the greatest wines in the world". But we do firmly believe that Dönnhoff make spellbindingly beautiful Riesling, unrivalled by any producer or region. We are proud to offer a brilliant, evolving selection of Dönnhoff's wines.

“Extraordinary wines are based on extraordinary vineyards. I‘m fortunate to have had the opportunity to acquire several world-class sites and in some cases to resume cultivation. It remains very much a privilege for me to produce wine from vineyards of such exceptional quality. It‘s more than I ever could have dreamed when I first started working.”

- Helmut Dönnhoff