But how do you communicate this important issue? How do you talk about the ‘big white elephant’ in the room? The best way is to tell a story using a striking symbol.
When winemaker Kristian Dautermann introduced his winery to wine sales expert Axel Gesser, the latter was very impressed by the theme of inclusion in viticulture.
Sometimes all it takes is a spark of inspiration, and a brilliant idea is born. By chance, a few days after meeting Kristian Dautermann, Axel Gesser encounters the artist and ‘Blue Shepherd’ Rainer Bonk, who, under the patronage of the European Parliament, has created the performance art project ‘The Blue Sheep Peace Flock’ to promote mutual understanding and tolerance. The unmistakable symbol has been found!
Blauschaf Sekt
The “Blauschafwein” project is set to launch in 2022: the first “integration wines” will be bottled with Blauschaf labels. Dautermann is offering four wines in this special edition: a Pinot Noir red wine, a Spätburgunder Blanc de Noir, a Chardonnay-Pinot Blanc white wine cuvée and a Pinot Blanc sparkling wine. “The response to our project has been overwhelming: both private and corporate customers have reacted extremely positively!” say Kristian Dautermann and Axel Gesser.
Authentic terroir: The grapes come from the Ingelheimer Kirchenstück monopole – a historic site renowned for producing top-quality wines.
“I’m the older one!” emphasises Klaus Dautermann when showing visitors around the winery. Inclusion is evident here: several times a year, people with disabilities from the ‘in.Betrieb’ programme help out at the winery with work in the vineyard and enjoy being out in the fresh air. “Mutual respect on equal terms – that’s our ‘message in the bottle!’” emphasises the estate manager Kristian Dautermann. Sam, a former employee of ‘in.Betrieb’, is now a permanent member of staff at the winery.
The work involved at a winery is particularly well suited to people with disabilities – there are several examples of this in the international wine world.
The project is not intended as a marketing tool – the integration team delivers genuine quality and tells an authentic story. The Dautermann Winery donates part of the proceeds from the Blauschaf wine project to the inclusive enterprise ‘in.Betrieb’ in Ingelheim.
A winery serving as a ‘best practice’ example of inclusion – this project is also of interest to companies: many support the Blauschaf project. Once a year, the partner companies meet at the ‘Social Days’ held at the winery. 
Sustainability is a recurring theme at Dautermanns – from work in the vineyard to how people are treated: Kristian’s mother, Karin, is a wonderful hostess; she welcomes guests and looks after the guesthouse.
And let’s not forget: the family-run winery, with a tradition stretching back over 125 years, produces highly acclaimed red and white wines – primarily Burgundy varieties – from around 17 hectares of vineyards.
The quality of the wines forms the basis for sustainability.
The K.&K. Dautermann Winery has been awarded the Great Wine Capitals Best of Wine Tourism Award 2026 in the ‘Sustainability in Wine Tourism’ category. The expert jury has recognised the winery for its ‘genuine inclusion of people with disabilities’.
Author: Wolfgang Junglas
Photo credits: © Weingut Dautermann