The winery is located in the municipality of Forst (Mittelhaardt/Deutsche Weinstraße area) in the German wine-growing region of Pfalz. It was founded in 1950 by Günther Lucas and his mother Margareta. Today, the farm is run by Franz and Elisabeth Lucas. After training and studying, they have been supported since 2011 by their son Martin and daughter Yvonne, who have been taking over responsibility bit by bit ever since.
The vineyards cover 17 hectares of vines in the single vineyard sites Jesuitengarten, Musenhang, Pechstein and Ungeheuer (Forst), as well as Herrgottsacker (Deidesheim). They are planted with the white wine varieties Riesling (70%), Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Auxerrois, Sauvignon Blanc, Rieslaner and Scheurebe, as well as with the red wine varieties Pinot Noir, Dornfelder, St. Laurent and Blauer Portugieser. Since 1999, we have been working according to the guidelines of controlled environmentally friendly viticulture in Rhineland-Palatinate. These include species-rich cover crop, controlled fertilisation with manure and own compost, as few pesticides as possible and the promotion of beneficial insects. The aim is to preserve biodiversity (species diversity) and to protect the vineyard as a habitat for many plants and insects.
The product range is divided into the lines Basis (litre wines), Kernstück (varietal wines) and Spitze (single vineyards). After destemming, the red wines are fermented in mash fermentation tanks with repeated punching down (pigeage). They are then matured in traditional large wooden bar rels and sometimes in barriques. The white wines are fermented under temperature control and matured in stainless steel tanks. The premium wines of the house are Rieslings from Forster's top vineyards Ungeheuer, Pechstein and Jesuitengarten as well as the red wine Spätburgunder SPITZE. Around 140,000 bottles of wine are produced annually. Sparkling wines, secco, grape juice, brandy, wine jelly, kirsch and fig liqueur are also produced. The winery is a member of the Generation Riesling, Generation Pfalz, Winechanges and Vinissima associations.
