In 1350, with the Black Death ravaging Middle Europe, the Schätzel family planted their first vines on the left bank of the Rhine. Fast forward to 2008, Kai Schätzel, then 27, and his wife Caroline took the helm of the family’s 12-hectare estate in Rheinhessen. Their vineyards lie in Nierstein on the slopes of the Roter Hang (red slope), renowned for its red shale and sandstone soils, and regarded by many as the source of some of Rheinhessen’s most distinguished wines. Schätzel holdings includeplots in many of the region’s most celebrated vineyards, including Heiligenbaum, Hipping, Ölberg, and Pettenthal.
Kai converted the vineyards to organic viniculture, fully certified, and adheres to biodynamic principles. Embracing nature’s balance, the soil remains untilled, while natural ground cover thrives, grazed by sheep or mowed by hand. The canopy is left untrimmed, providing natural shade and reducing evaporation.
Harvesting embodies precision and care, with grapes meticulously handpicked in multiple passes. Fermentation takes place in the estate’s 800-year-old vaulted cellars, where indignenous yeasts work their magic in large wooden casks. Vinification begins with traditional foot crushing, followed by gentle pressing and spontaneous malolactic fermentation. White wines age on their lees in neutral barrels for 11 months, while red wines mature for up to 36 months in 600-liter German oak barrels. Schätzel wines follow VDP classification, spanning estate wines, local wines, Grosses Gewächs, and Prädikat wines.
The guiding ethos of Weingut Schätzel is elegantly encapsulated in their philosophy: “Give nature her space.” This mantra permeates every aspect of their winemaking journey, from the meticulous care of their vineyards to the gentle crafting of their wines. With reverence for tradition and a commitment to sustainability, they honor the land and its bounty, allowing each vine to flourish in harmony with its surroundings. It is this deep connection to nature that infuses their wines with character and complexity, reflecting the unique terroir of Nierstein and the timeless spirit of the Schätzel family.
