Reichsgraf von Kesselstatt

Few wine estates anywhere in the world can trace a documented lineage back to 1349, yet Reichsgraf von Kesselstatt does exactly that. The estate takes its name from the von Kesselstatt family, who held the title of Imperial Counts (Reichsgrafen) and accumulated vineyard holdings across the Mosel region over several centuries. The modern estate footprint was largely shaped between 1854 and 1889, when four former Maximiner monastery complexes and their associated vineyards were acquired: Josephshof, Domklausenhof, Abteihof, and St. Irminenhof. These monastic properties brought with them some of the Mosel's most storied terroirs, including the Josephshöfer, which the estate holds as a monopole to this day. The von Kesselstatt family retained ownership until 1978, when the estate passed to the Reh family, and 2024 marked the estate's 675th documented anniversary.

• Documented founding year of 1349, one of Germany's oldest wine estate records
• Four former Maximiner monastery vineyard complexes acquired between 1854 and 1889 form the estate's core landholdings
• Von Kesselstatt family held the title Reichsgraf (Imperial Count) and owned the estate until 1978
• The Josephshöfer monopole in Graach has been part of the estate since the monastery acquisition era

The Reh family purchased Reichsgraf von Kesselstatt in 1978, beginning a stewardship that has now extended across two generations. The most consequential figure of this era was Annegret Reh-Gartner, who took charge in 1983 and led the estate until 2016. Under her direction, the estate underwent significant quality improvements alongside a deliberate reduction in vineyard size, honing focus on the highest-performing sites. In July 2020, Dr. Karsten Weyand assumed the role of sole manager, signalling a new chapter in estate leadership. David Nicolay serves as Kellermeister, overseeing day-to-day cellar operations. The estate is a member of the VDP (Verband Deutscher Prädikatsweingüter), Germany's association of leading quality producers, and from January 2025, national distribution is handled through a partnership with Mack and Schühle of Owen.

• Reh family acquired the estate in 1978; Annegret Reh-Gartner led it from 1983 to 2016 with quality-focused reforms
• Dr. Karsten Weyand became sole manager in July 2020, with David Nicolay as Kellermeister
• VDP member with representation at VDP.Grosse Lage level across Mosel, Saar, and Ruwer
• National distribution partnership with Mack and Schühle took effect January 2025

Reichsgraf von Kesselstatt's defining characteristic as a producer is its reach across all three of the Mosel-Saar-Ruwer's river valleys, an unusual breadth that gives the estate a near-encyclopedic range of Riesling terroirs within a single portfolio. The estate covers 46 to 50 hectares and holds VDP.Grosse Lage parcels in 11 to 15 classified sites. On the Mosel, key holdings include the monopole Josephshöfer in Graach, Piesporter Goldtröpfchen, Bernkasteler Doctor, Brauneberger Juffer Sonnenuhr, Wehlener Sonnenuhr, Graacher Domprobst, Ürzig Würzgarten, and Erden Treppchen. On the Saar, the estate holds parcels in Scharzhofberger, Wiltingen Gottesfuss, Wiltingen Braunfels, Wiltingen Scharzhofberger Pergentsknopp, and Ockfen Bockstein. The Ruwer is represented by Kaseler Nies'chen and Kaseler Kehrnagel. Vineyards are planted 97% to Riesling and 3% to Pinot Blanc.

• Josephshöfer in Graach is a monopole vineyard, solely owned by the estate, on the Mosel
• Saar holdings include Scharzhofberger, one of the valley's most celebrated classified sites
• Ruwer sites include Kaseler Nies'chen in Kasel, a benchmark for the valley's delicate, mineral style
• Total of 46 to 50 hectares across three valleys; 97% Riesling, 3% Pinot Blanc

Winemaking at Reichsgraf von Kesselstatt is rooted in minimal intervention and respect for site character. Fermentation across the range relies on spontaneous, naturally occurring yeasts rather than inoculated commercial strains, a choice that promotes complexity and site-specific expression. The top dry wines, bottled as Grosse Gewächs under the VDP classification, are aged on their lees in traditional oak casks, adding texture without obscuring the estate's signature Riesling clarity. The rest of the range is fermented and aged in stainless steel, preserving the precise, high-toned fruit and tension that defines Mosel-Saar-Ruwer Riesling. The portfolio spans the full Pradikat ladder, from Kabinett and Spätlese through to Trockenbeerenauslese at the Piesporter Goldtröpfchen site, as well as dry GG expressions from the Josephshöfer and other Grosse Lage parcels.

• Spontaneous fermentation used across the range, with no addition of commercial yeasts
• Top Grosse Gewächs wines aged on lees in traditional oak casks; remainder fermented and aged in stainless steel
• Portfolio spans Kabinett through Trockenbeerenauslese as well as dry GG bottlings
• Josephshöfer Riesling GG is the estate's flagship dry wine; Scharzhofberger Kabinett and Spätlese anchor the off-dry tier

Reichsgraf von Kesselstatt occupies a singular position in German wine. No other estate combines a documented history stretching to the mid-14th century with active, high-quality viticulture across all three of the Mosel-Saar-Ruwer's distinct valleys. The Josephshöfer monopole is one of the Mosel's most historically significant single-vineyard sites, and the estate's parcels in Scharzhofberger, Bernkasteler Doctor, and Piesporter Goldtröpfchen represent some of Germany's most recognised terroirs. For students of German wine, the estate is a living case study in how the VDP classification system maps onto diverse Riesling styles, from steely, mineral Saar Kabinett to lush, botrytised Mosel Trockenbeerenauslese. For collectors and enthusiasts, it offers a rare chance to compare the same producer's expression of Riesling across fundamentally different geological and microclimate conditions.

• 675-year documented history makes this one of the world's oldest continuously active wine estates
• Unique among German estates for equal representation across Mosel, Saar, and Ruwer in a single portfolio
• Josephshöfer monopole is one of the Mosel's most historically significant and legally protected single-vineyard designations
• VDP membership with Grosse Lage holdings in up to 15 classified sites across three valleys