Winemaking is an ancient tradition that never ages. Instead, it matures and reaches new levels of complexity over time. In Rheinhessen, winemaking originated in Roman times and has evolved ever since. Every generation advances the art of winemaking while remaining true to the fundamentals. This time, we present you three aspiring young winemakers and businessmen that are taking Rheinhessen’s wine culture into the future.
Thoerle winery
The Thoerle winery in Saulheim is a famous winery in Rheinhessen. Many years ago Rudolf and Uta Thoerle made the brave decision to focus exclusively on high-quality wines. Their sons Johannes and Christoph joined them in 2006. A few years ago, the Thoerle family has successfully handed over their winery to the next generation.
From the beginning, the Thoerle brothers innovated and explored new approaches to winemaking. One of the first decisions was to bring up the quality. Although the Thoerles increased the prices per bottle, the sales continued to rise. Emboldened by this success, the Thoerles expanded and bought additional vineyards. Today the family owns 19 hectares of pristine vineyards in the hills around Saulheim.
The Thoerle winery is an example of innovation and pioneer spirit. Focussing unapologetically on quality and innovation, the Thoerle family has brought international fame to Rheinhessen and its vineyards.
Steins Traube Restaurant
Steins Traube
The story of Steins Traube restaurant is one of continuity and innovation across generations. The wine restaurant near Mainz has been owned by the Stein family for six-generations. A few years ago, Philipp and his wife Alina took over the business from Philipp’s parents and successfully applied for a Michelin-star in 2024.
Together with his wife, Philipp turned the traditional German restaurant into an haute cuisine hotspot. The dishes are exquisitely prepared and presented, yet never over-the-top. The restaurant offers both menus and á la carte with seafood, meats, vegetables and desserts. However, the Stein family also keeps sustainability in mind. Self-reliance is part of the concept and the Stein family grows a variety of vegetables in their backyard, while 25 chickens provide eggs for the kitchen.
Stein’s Traube is a prime example of a family legacy preserved and transformed by the next generation. Philipp Stein took his parent’s successful restaurant and brought it to the next level of fine dining in Mainz.
Ja oder Wein
JAoderWEIN is an unconventional wine store in the historic city center of Mainz. Apart from selling wine, they offer guided wine walks and wine tastings. It’s owners Volker and Thorsten Griebel both come from non-wine related backgrounds. What made them wanting to open a wine shop was the passion for wine and the idea to make the complex world of wines approachable for everyone.
Their aim is to convey as much knowledge about wine with as little technical terms as possible. Every week, Volker and Thorsten offer wine tastings and workshops. Customers can learn how to sample wines using all senses or how to detect bad wines.
Another highlight are the wine walks through the city center of Mainz. Equipped with a pull-along wagon full of wine, Volker and Thorsten guide groups of up to 20 people. The topics of the walks vary depending on the season and range from carnival to Johannes Gutenberg. During each tour, several local wines are sampled right next to local sights like the Mainz cathedral.
The next generation of Rheinhessen winemakers is ready to lead the wine industry into the future. Young and adventurous pioneers like the Thoerle brothers and Philipp Stein and businessmen like Volker and Thorsten Griebel are ready to make their mark on local wine culture. With innovative ideas, persistence and patience, they will carry Rheinhessen’s winemaking tradition into the future.
Further information:
Learn more about Mainz | Rheinhessen Great Wine Capital
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