Carl Koch

The Carl Koch winery is located near Oppenheim, in the Rhineland-Palatinate region of Germany, along the course of the Rhine River, southwest of Frankfurt. The estate was created in 1833 by Friedrich Koch, who began by purchasing some vineyards. At the end of the 19th century, his son Carl enlarged the property to its current size of about 12 hectares. Since 2009 it has been managed by Paul Bekes, who represents the seventh generation of the family. Throughout the centuries, the winery has been able to preserve the artisanal spirit of its origins, which translates into a strong rootedness to the oldest traditions of the area and a deep knowledge of the peculiar characteristics of each individual parcel that is part of the estate.
The property is divided into three different terroirs. In Sacktrager, the soils are composed of loess deposits dating back to the Ice Age, resting on deep substrates of limestone marls and clays. These are soils that warm rapidly during sunny summer days, promoting excellent grape ripening. The Kreuz area is located in the beautiful landscape of rolling hills that occupies the area between Oppenheim and Dienheim, further away from the banks of the Rhine. The soils are characterized by the presence of loess beds interspersed with limestone formations of ancient marine origin. The area is particularly suited for the cultivation of red grapes, particularly Pinot Noir. The Herrenberg site enjoys a sunny south-facing, southeastern exposure, well protected from winds. The vines are rooted in limestone marls with the presence of clays, which have proven ideal for growing Riesling.
Love for the land, led the Carl Koch winery to adopt the certified organic farming protocol in 2010, eliminating all chemicals and using only sulfur and copper for vineyard treatments when strictly necessary. Eighty percent of the vineyards are located in the prime area above Oppenheim and Dienheim and are divided into many plots with different characteristics. Typical grapes of the region are grown within the estate. In terms of white varieties: Riesling, Silvaner, Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Müller Thurgau, Gewürztraminer, and Scheurebe; while red varieties include Pinot Noir and St. Laurent. The winery's oenological management is entrusted to Agustin G. Novoa, a native of Argentina who can boast experience, in addition to his native country, in the United States, Italy in New Zealand and other major German estates.