Leidenschaft

hallgarten in the rhine valley

Grapes Fred and Sabine Prinz Hallgartener Jungfer

The vineyards

Harvest by Hand

Passion

Good wine stems from philosophy, not technology. Unique wines can only be cultivated in suitable places and with a healthy portion of hands-on labor. We work passionately down to every detail of our work, taking care of all we do as a family.

A bee collecting honey

Nature

Nature is our most important asset; we live from it and for it. Sustainability is key to our vineyard cultivation, and is reflected again in the organic growing techniques we use.

Competition to the vines

Competition

Allowing vegetation to grow between the rows of vines forms a kind of competition for the grapevines. They begin to “suffer” and are forced to delve deeper into the soil to find nutrients. This, in turn, influences the character of the wine, its very heart and soul.

Fog in the valley, sun at Hallgarten

Elevation

The vineyards in the higher elevations of the Rheingau have always been world renowned. Especially now, in times of global warming, the higher altitudes slopes in Hallgarten, in combination with the meager, stony soils, offer the ideal microclimate for viticulture.

The Biodynamic Growing

Horn-Manure

For this purpose, fresh cow dung is filled into cow horns and buried in the earth over the winter months. It is sprayed onto the ground in very small doses to revitalize and structure it and to stimulate the growth of plant roots.

Horn-Silica

Horn-Silica consists of quartz ground to dust, which is buried in cow horns during the summer months. During the growth and ripening phase of the vine, the preparation is sprayed over the vines in a highly diluted form to help the plant grow in a more balanced and organized manner.

Compost

The compost, which consists mainly of cow dung and has been mixed with the six compost preparations, is the key to a healthy and living soil. In the vineyards where no compost is spread, the cow pat preparation according to Maria Thun is spread.

Quarz in Kuhhörnern

Single vineyards

Hallgartener Hendelberg

Hendelberg

steep slope facing south-southwest
wind-exposed, full sun exposure
residual slate soil

Hallgartener Frühernberg

Frühernberg

facing south-southwest
wind-protected, like an amphitheater; full sun exposure
gravely, sandy, meager

Hallgartener Schönhell

Schönhell

facing south-southwest
wind-exposed slope
gravel, sand, loess

Hallgartener Jungfer

Jungfer

facing south-southeast
wind-exposed slope
gravel, quartzite, loess

11.1

Hectare

90%

Riesling

5%

Pinot Noir

ripe grapes

The cellar

Good winemaking focuses on retaining the quality the grapes have brought in from the vineyards.

Careful transportation from the vineyards to the wine press to ensure undamaged grapes; dumping the fruit into the press; slow, gentle, whole cluster pressing. These are the keys to quality. Allowing the must to settle naturally for at least 24 hours until it is clear, followed by a carefully monitored fermentation which will last several weeks, captures the individual vineyard expression in each wine. Bottling begins in the spring after the wines have rested on the lees to retain a crisp succulence.

Our Pinot Noir vinification follows the method of tried and tested tradition: open-vat maceration, maturation in large German oak or small French oak barrels using a mix of barrel ages, bottling after malolactic fermentation and no earlier than 10 months after the harvest.

Barrique barrels

The wines

Gutsweine - 'regional wines'

These wines celebrate the winery and the varietals. The winery’s calling card.

  • - Riesling
  • - Pinot Noir
  • - Sauvignon Blanc
  • - Red Riesling
  • - Traminer
  • Ortswein - 'village wines'

    Reflects the specific soils of the Hallgarten vineyards. These wines are selected from our Erste and Große Lagen vineyards.

  • - Riesling
  • Erste Lagen - 'first-class wines'

    range from dry to dessert wines which stem from our Hendelberg and Frühernberg vineyards. Typically ripe, fruity wines with mineral notes.

  • - Riesling
  • - Pinot Noir
  • Große Lagen - 'the peak of the pyramid'

    Schönhell and Jungfer offer highly expressive wines called 'Großes Gewächs', as well as fruity and dessert wines with subtle flavors and great depth.

  • - Riesling
  • 60.000

    bottles a year

    65

    hl/ha

    Fred Prinz

    voices from the press




    4 of 5 stars at Eichelmann
    'One of the best collections in the area!'
    'A Pinot Noir paradigm, such as is not often found in the Rheingau'
    Complete text

    3 of 5 grapes at Gault Millau
    'And once again, the performance curve of this reliable organic winegrower is on the rise this year.'

    'Prinz shows how small wineries continue to set the benchmark for quality in the Rheingau.'
    - Stuart Pigott


    Contact

    Open by appointment and at the following times:
    Wednesday: 9 - 14 | Saturday: 10 - 14

    Fred Prinz

    Phone

    +496723/999847

    Adress

    Im Flachsgarten 5,
    65375 Hallgarten
    Germany

    We look forward to hearing from you!