The traditional winery is located in the municipality of Forst (Mittelhaardt-Deutsche Weinstraße area) in the German wine-growing region of Pfalz. It has been family-owned since 1620, making it one of the oldest wineries in Germany. Today it is run by Markus Spindler, the 11th generation of the family. There is an adjoining estate pub, open all year round, where local dishes and wines from the estate's own production are served. The vineyards cover 20 hectares of vines in the single vineyard sites Elster, Freundstück, Jesuitengarten, Kirchenstück, Musenhang, Pechstein, Stift and Ungeheuer (Forst), Herrgottsacker (Deidesheim), as well as Nußbien and Reiterpfad (Ruppertsberg).
They are 85% planted with Riesling, as well as the varieties Pinot Blanc ( Weißburgunder), Pinot Gris ( Grauburgunder), Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir ( Spätburgunder). Since the 2015 vintage, production has been carried out according to certified organic viticulture rules. These include natural cover crop, organic fertilisation with compost from our own production, straw and rock flour, as well as the use of the confusion method against the grape berry moth and the avoidance of herbicides and insecticides.
80% of the grapes are harvested selectively by hand, at single vineyards in two to three passes. The grapes are processed gently using a pneumatic press. During vinification, only minimal mechanical stress is required due to three levels and no pumping over is necessary until the first racking. In some cases, fermentation takes place spontaneously. Depending on the type of wine, this takes place in double-piece wooden barrels or stainless steel barrels, with the wine being stored on its fine lees for a longer period of time. Strictly separate, single-varietal ageing preserves maximum typicity in terms of varieties and sites, resulting in delicately fruity and pure-toned wines. The product range is divided into Gutswein, Ortswein, Erste Lage and Grosse Lage according to the VDP classification model. Sweet wines are labelled with the predicate. Bottle-fermented sparkling wine and marc brandy are also produced. The winery is a member of the Wine Changes association.
