Gustavshof is a Biodynamic winery in the Rheinhessen region of Germany owned by the Roll family, namely Andreas Roll (born 1999) and his parents Jutta (mother) and Hans-Jürgen (father). Gustavshof is named after Andreas Roll’s great-grandfather, Gustav Becker I, who created it from 1924, a mixed farm with vineyards. From 1976 Andreas’s parents moved the estate to more specialised wine production, and planted the first red wine grapes in this area. Pinot Gris and Riesling are the family’s flagships grape varieties.

Vineyards: 2014 18 hectares (45 acres) of vines in Gau-Heppenhim (70%) and Dittelsheim (30%), the village directly east of Gau-Heppenheim.

Biodynamic certification: 2007 was the first vintage with full organic certification. 2012 was the first vintage with full Demeter Biodynamic certification.

Biodynamic practices: At Millésime Bio January 2015 I was told the family learnt Biodynamics by going to seminars rather than via a consultant. They use all nine Biodynamic preparations. They make their own horn manure 500 and horn silica 501 vineyard spray preparations, and they collect wild Common Horsetail to make the Equisetum arvense 508 vineyard spray preparation. The Biodynamic compost preparations 502-507 are applied to the vineyard via Maria Thun’s Barrel Compost soil spray (‘Fladenpräparat’) rather than via solid Biodynamic compost. All sprays are stirred (dynamized) by hand).

Sparkling wines

Pino Secco: Dry sparkling wine from Pinot Blanc (Weißburgunder) and Pinot Gris (Grauburgunder).

Holunder Secco: A wine infused with elderflowers.

Heppy Secco: ”Mild Secco² reminiscent of berries with a cocktail character. With its matching sweetness and sparkling nature, it is an ideal evening companion, say the owners.

L Hoch 4*: A semi-sparkling pink wine.

Secco Muscat: Fruchtig prickelnder Secco² aus der Traube des Gelben Muskateller.

Pinot Brut Natur: Traditional method sparkling wine. Grauburgunder & Chardonnay. 12 months on the lees.

Riesling Sekt Trocken: Sparkling Riesling.

White wines

Cabernet Sauvignon Blanc de Noir: 2010 A white wine made from Cabernet Sauvignon.

FrühburgunderTrocken:

Grauburgunder Signatur (R)Trocken:

GrauburgunderTrocken:

Grauburgunder Classic:

Huxelrebe Spätlese:

Johanniter: A skin-contact Johanniter white wine (‘Orange wine’) from this fungus-resistant variety.

Riesling Dittelsheim: Riesling from the family’s vines in Dittelsheim

Riesling Kalkstein: An Ortswein. 2012 Well made. Bit soft and simple at Millésime Bio 2015.

Riesling Signatur Trocken: From the family’s best site, the Weinberg Eideswiese. Special micro-climate. Calcium-rich soil. 2014 Very nice texture at Millésime Bio 2016.

Riesling HochgewächsTrocken:

Riesling Feinherb:

Silvaner Trocken

Würzer Trocken: Dry white. 2014 Nice acid if a bit chalky at Millésime Bio 2015.

Würzer Mild: An off-dry Würzer.

Pink wines

Heroldrebeweissherbst:

St Laurent Weissherbst:

Red wines

J O MA X [sic] Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir), St. Laurent and Portugieser. 24m in oak vats.

Cuvée Gustav B:

Dornfelder Classic: Spends 12 months in oak.

Dornfelder Trocken:

Dornfelder Halbtrocken

Frühburgunder Trocken

Heroldrebe Halbtrocken:

Heroldrebe Lieblich:

Lemberger Trocken: 2011 Two years in barrel (30% new, 70% 2nd fill) tasted at Millésime Bio Jan 2016 but made no note.

Portugieser Lieblich:

Regent Halbtrocken

St Laurent Trocken 2011 Fluid, some toffee notes (Millésime Bio Jan 2015).

Schwarzriesling Trocken Pinot Meunier.

Schwarzriesling Halbtrocken: Pinot Meunier.

Schwarzriesling Lieblich, Pinot Meunier

Spätbugunder Lieblich Pinot Noir:

Alcohol-Free

Holunder Secco Alkoholfrei: Elderflower juice (alcohol-free).

Eiswein

Silvaner Eiswein: 140° Dessert Beerenauslese mit mehr als 140° Oechsle.

Contact

Weingut Gustavshof

Hauptstraße 53

55234 Gau-Heppenheim, Germany

Tel+49 (0)6731.42544 | Website: www.gustavshof.de