The winery is located in the municipality of Bad Dürkheim (Mittelhaardt-Deutsche Weinstraße area) in the German wine-growing region of
Pfalz. It was founded by the doctor Dr. Christian Schaefer, who acquired the classicist manor house, now a protected cultural monument, in 1843. The winery was given its present name by his son Karl Schaefer, a pioneer of bottling. Today, the estate is run by Dr Job von Nell and Marianne von Nell, already the sixth generation of the family, who are supported by a young team. The vineyards cover around 17 hectares of vines in the single vineyard sites
Fuchsmantel,
Michelsberg and
Spielberg (Bad Dürkheim),
Fuchsmantel and
Gerümpel (Wachenheim),
Pechstein (Forst), as well as
Herrenberg and
Weilberg (Ungstein).
The old terraces with many dry stone walls have been preserved in their original form and provide a retreat for rare animals and plants. They are planted with the white wine varieties Riesling (85%), Pinot Blanc, Chardonnay, Scheurebe, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris, Rieslaner and Muskateller, as well as with the red wine varieties Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Dornfelder and Merlot. The farm is certified according to the guidelines of
organic viticulture. The soil-conserving cultivation is mostly done by hand with only little use of machinery. The wines are carefully vinified according to the winery's definition of "lean, puristic, mineral and dry by tradition". Since the 2012 vintage, the wines have been produced in the four-stage
VDP classification. Bottle-fermented sparkling wines and noble brandies (pomace) are also produced. The winery is a
VDP member (Association of German Prädikat Wine Estates).
