Nestled in the heart of Germany's Pfalz region, Reichsrat von Buhl is a winery that boasts an impressive seven Grosses Lage vineyards under the VDP's Grosses Gewächs classification. This is a rare and remarkable achievement, as many of Germany's other top Estates only have one or two such vineyards. This abundance of high-quality terroir is a testament to the Estate's long-standing presence in the region, having been founded in 1849 by Franz Peter Buhl.
The core of the Estate lies in the basaltic vineyards surrounding the village of Forst, including the renowned Kirchenstück, Jesuitengarten, Ungeheuer, and Pechstein vineyards. These are complemented by Erste Lage vineyards in the village of Deidesheim, as well as a selection of exceptional but unclassified sites scattered across the Mittelhaardt hillside.
After a period of instability, Reichsrat von Buhl is now under the ownership of the Niederberger-Seeger family, who have brought stability and a forward-thinking approach to the Estate. This, combined with the talents of skilled winemakers such as Stephan Weber, Matthieu Kauffmann, and now Simone Frigerio, has resulted in a resurgence of quality and recognition for Von Buhl.
Kauffmann's tenure in particular saw a focus on producing site-specific, dry Rieslings with low yields, low intervention, and organic viticulture. This approach, coupled with a preference for larger oak fermenters, natural yeast fermentations, and minimal use of sulphur dioxide, has resulted in wines that truly reflect the unique mineral-rich soils of the Pfalz region.
Our core offering from Reichsrat von Buhl is a dry Riesling exclusively bottled for Bibendum. This wine showcases the Estate's signature style of pulpy, mineral-driven fruit with a touch of pithiness and a bone-dry finish. With Simone Frigerio now at the helm, the future of Reichsrat von Buhl looks to be in capable hands, and we can't wait to see what the next chapter holds for this historic and revered winery.
