Moselle, Germany

Van Volxem

Van Volxem Roman Niewodniczanski, Van Volxem

In 2000, Roman Niewodniczanski purchased Van Volxem, a winery in Wiltingen once run by Jesuit monks. Roman’s aim was to make defiantly handcrafted Rieslings that were faithful reflections of each of his vineyard sites, emulating the great, highly sought-after Saar wines of the 1900s.

Originally planted by the Romans on steep slopes along the Saar, the Van Volxem estate vineyards are regarded as some of the best in the world. They include such great, iconic sites as Scharzhofberg and Gottesfuss. Since 2000, the winery has added the Bockstein, Geisberg, Goldberg and Altenberg ‘Grosse Lagen’ (grands crus) to its vineyard portfolio.

Man with a vision

Bitburger heir Roman Niewodniczanski bought Van Volxem in 2000, after which he set about restoring and expanding the property. Roman cares deeply about reviving the 1900s heyday of Saar Riesling, when world-class luxury wines like Scharzhofberger and Geisberg were at times more expensive than Bordeaux and Burgundy. The new winery building, a breathtaking facility that complies with the highest environmental and social sustainability standards, is a further symbol of his ambition.

Ungrafted vines, steep vineyards

Weingut Van Volxem currently comprises a remarkable 85 hectares of vineyard. Many of the plantings are ungrafted and date back to the pre-phylloxera era. The vines have an average age of around 35 years. In Wiltinger Gottesfuss, Van Volxem has ungrafted Riesling vines that were planted some 130 years ago. A predominance of old vines gives voice to the different terroirs around the estate, resulting in complex, timeless wines.

Harmonious and delicious

As per tradition, Van Volxem wines are mainly dry and go extremely well with food. Mineral-driven and oozing finesse, they eloquently express the traits of every vineyard. They are concentrated and complex, imbued with ripe fruit, but relatively low in alcohol.

“The highest quality standards, based on precision and perfection – this has always been the mantra informing my work here on the Saar. Besides adding exceptional slate vineyards to our portfolio over the years, we now have the perfect production facility to achieve our vision. This is a huge source of motivation for me and my staff.”

Roman Niewodniczanski

vanvolxem.com

Wines from this producer

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Germany

Moselle

The steep banks of the Mosel are home to mineral-driven, elegant wines. Riesling, sometimes referred to as the king (or queen) of white wines, is the most important grape along the German stretch of the Mosel Valley, accounting for over 5,300 hectares under vine. This makes the Mosel wine region the largest producer of Riesling worldwide. 

More about this region

Moselle