“For me, FAIR’N GREEN is the modern alternative to existing sustainability, environmental and eco audits. My own motto is “con natura – no invicem”, that is with nature and not against it. For me it is self-evident that great wines can only be produced and the viticulture related cultural landscape can only be preserved for future generations, if work is done with nature and its environment and not against it. So far this corporate philosophy has not been communicated externally with an audit label or the membership in an association. With FAIR’N GREEN this is now happening and, in my opinion, according to the best and holistic manner. FAIR’N GREEN does not only commit to the protection of the environment and the sustainable management, but also includes fair, social, societal and cultural interactions. This means taking sustainability one step further ahead.”
The winegrower Nik Weis
Ockfener Bockstein Piesport
Tradition and Commitment
Our family life has always been impacted by wine. Our deep respect for tradition in our region asserts the particular quality of our wines. That is why we work both in the vineyard as well as in the cellar attentively and in accordance with nature. The vineyard St. Urbans-Hof was established 1947 by Nicolaus Weis. His grandson runs the business in the 3rd generation. It is well reputed for its excellent spectrum of sitings which expand over the rivers Mosel and Saar. With 34 hectares of property the vineyards St. Urbans-Hof is one of the largest privately run vineyards in the region.
Philosophy
Riesling is one of the most traditional wines in Germany and. for centuries, has been home to the steep hills of Mosel, Saar and Ruwer. It produced fruity wines full of elegance. We committed entirely to this noble wine and therefore produce Riesling that reflects the terroir of the individual sitings. We engage in traditional cultivation methods that have been used for centuries. For example, this includes the single pile education where the wine is bound in a heart shaped to the pile. This way the bend wine is standing parallel to the slope and frontally to the sun and ensures a maximised leaf area that can capture the sun rays. An intensive manual soil work allows the slate to remain absorbent for the wine. This is the basis for the mineral character of our wines. Through thorough labour with the leaves, the sun can penetrate to reach the grapes which is important for building up aroma.
We always hold in respect to have low yields that we achieve with short cuts and the partial elimination of the grapes in late summer. Moreover, it is important to harvest as late as possible to assert a long phase of maturing and a good development of aroma. We only harvest manually and carry the grapes in so-called “Hotten” on our backs from the vineyard. Also the processing of the grapes is carried out in a considerate manner. They are squeezed shortly by crushing facilities that are located above the squeezing machines to facilitate the disintegration of the aroma. After squeezing in pneumatic stainless steal squeezers the grape must runs, without pumps, into containers where the turbid material can settle overnight. From there the clear grape juice runs into stainless steel tanks where the fermentation takes place. The slow and temperature controlled fermentation and the subsequent maturation in traditional “Fuder” – barrels asserts harmonic and polished wines that, even after years, still have a fresh taste.
Our sitings
Leiwener Laurentiuslay, Ockfener Bockstein, Piesporter Goldtröpfchen, Wiltinger Schlangengraben, Mehringer Blattenberg, Schodener Saarfeilser Marienberg
For further information, visit:
http://www.urbans-hof.de/cms/en_start-1002.html