Winemaker Kauffmann joins Reichsrat von Buhl

One of the Champagne region’s most prominent winemakers has been recruited by the winery Reichsrat von Buhl, owned by German investor Achim Niederberger. Mathieu Kauffmann will be directing the 2013 harvest in one of Germany’s most renowned estates and will relocate to the Palatinate with his family this summer.

Kauffmann had been ‘chef de cave’ and head winemaker at Bollinger for 12 years. He was educated as an agronom and winemaker in Montpellier (SupAgro Montpellier Institute). Marian Kopp, incoming managing director of the estate, praises the experienced winemaker for his “outstanding achievements” with Champagne Bollinger and underlines the task to “produce some of Germany’s crown jewels of wines and sparkling wines” at Reichsrat von Buhl. The heritage of the winery with its stunning vineyards demands “only the best”.

About the estate:

Founded in 1849, the Reichsrat von Buhl estate has been a family-owned business for over 150 years and is now owned by businessman Achim Niederberger. Since 1989, the estate has been leased to an operating company but, by the end of this year, operations will be taken back and headed up by the newly appointed managing director Marian Kopp.

Since the 2008 vintage, the estate has been involved in an official procedure to obtain certification for organic cultivation. This step was not motivated only by idealism, but by the conviction that this will help create even better qualities.

One of the grand old estates that were at one time part of the pioneering Jordan estate (the other two were Bassermann-Jordan and von Winning), the estate and its buildings are protected as a national monument. In the 19th century, Armand von Buhl was key in promoting the estate internationally. In 1869, his Rieslings were served at the opening of the Suez Canal. The estate has significant holdings throughout the ‘Mittelhaardt’. In the villages of Forst, Deidesheim and Ruppertsberg, the estate has significant ownership in several Grand Cru vineyards such as: Kirchenstück, Pechstein, Ungeheuer, Jesuitengarten, Paradiesgarten.

The 60 ha estate is planted 88% with Riesling, 8% Pinot Noir and 4% to Scheurebe, Rieslaner and Sauvignon Blanc. It also produces superb sparkling wines especially the single vineyard Pechstein. The von Buhl Estate is a member of the VDP and is farmed organically.

10 June 2013 - Felicity Murray