Ahr
Wine Estates
Ahr
Style & Philosophy
- Broad portfolio
- Classic Ahr Pinot Noir
- Also sparkling wines and gastronomy
Key Vineyards
- Ahrweiler Daubhaus
- Neuenahrer Sonnenberg
Signature Wines
- Brogsitter Pinot Noir “No. 1”
- Sekt Cuvées
Style & Philosophy
- Fruit‑driven, approachable Pinot Noir
- Also strong in white varieties (rare for Ahr)
- Family‑run with modern facilities
Key Vineyards
- Heppinger Sonnenberg
Signature Wines
- Sonnenberg Spätburgunder
- Cuvée “R”
Style & Philosophy
- Spicy, structured Pinot Noir
- Schiefer‑driven minerality
- Traditional craftsmanship
Key Vineyards
- Mayschosser Mönchberg
- Altenahrer Eck
Signature Wines
- Mönchberg GG
- Cuvée Max
Why It Matters
- Deeply terroir‑driven wines
- One of the valley’s most characterful producers
Style & Philosophy
- Small, artisanal production
- Pure, mineral Pinot Noir
- Strong vineyard work
Key Vineyards
- Dernauer Hardtberg
Signature Wines
- Hardtberg Spätburgunder
- Frühburgunder
Status:
- One of the Ahr’s most prestigious Pinot Noir specialists
- Current VDP.Ahr chairman Wein+Markt VDP: DIE PRÄDIKATSWEINGÜTER
Style & Philosophy
- Elegant, structured, age‑worthy Pinot Noir
- Long aging potential
- Precision and purity over power
Key Vineyards
- Recher Herrenberg
- Recher Hardtberg
Signature Wines
- Herrenberg GG
- Hardtberg GG
Why It Matters
- Benchmark for classic Ahr Spätburgunder
- Multi‑generation family estate with deep terroir knowledge
Status:
- Historic estate; former VDP.Ahr chairman Wein+Markt: DIE PRÄDIKATSWEINGÜTER
Style & Philosophy
- Silky, refined Pinot Noir
- Focus on finesse and aromatics
- Traditional vinification with modern precision
Key Vineyards
- Ahrweiler Rosenthal
- Ahrweiler Silberberg
Signature Wines
- Rosenthal GG
- No. 1 Spätburgunder
Why It Matters
- One of the oldest and most respected Ahr families
- Wines known for elegance and longevity
Status:
- Top‑tier Ahr producer listed among the region’s best vinum.eu
Style & Philosophy
- Balanced, mineral Pinot Noir
- Also strong Frühburgunder
- Combines traditional Ahr style with modern clarity
Key Vineyards
- Hardtberg
- Pfarrwingert
Signature Wines
- Spätburgunder GG Hardtberg
- Frühburgunder Reserve
Why It Matters
- Consistently high quality
- Strong vineyard holdings in Dernau
Status:
- One of Germany’s most influential Pinot Noir estates
Style & Philosophy
- Powerful, dark‑fruited, structured Spätburgunder
- Long maceration, barrique aging
- Modern, international style with Ahr minerality
Key Vineyards
- Pfarrwingert (Dernau)
- Sonnenberg
- Kräuterberg
Signature Wines
- Spätburgunder “S”
- Grosses Gewächs from Pfarrwingert & Kräuterberg
Why It Matters
- The estate that put Ahr Pinot Noir on the world map
- International projects in South Africa & Portugal
Heritage & History
- The estate traces its roots back to 1479, documented in a historical rent record showing Peter Nelis farming a vineyard at the Landskrone site wein-nelles.de.
- This makes Nelles one of the oldest continuously operating wine estates in the Ahr Valley.
- Still family‑owned today, now led by Philip Nelles, who has modernized the cellar and elevated quality in recent years ahrtal.com ahrtal.com.
Vineyards & Terroir
- 9.5 hectares of vineyards, mostly steep south‑facing slopes weingut-nelles.de.
- Over two‑thirds of the vineyards have a slope of more than 30% weingut-nelles.de.
- Four Grosse Lagen (Grand Cru sites):
- Heimersheimer Landskrone
- Heimersheimer Burggarten
- Bad Neuenahrer Sonnenberg
- Bad Neuenahrer Schieferlay
Winemaking Style
- Combines tradition and innovation: centuries‑old vineyard sites with modern cellar techniques under Philip Nelles ahrtal.com ahrtal.com.
- Focus on:
- Precision
- Terroir expression
- Elegant, structured Pinot Noir
Ratings & Recognition
- Listed among Germany’s top 100 wineries by Vinum weingut-nelles.de.
- 4 stars in Falstaff weingut-nelles.de.
- 4 grapes in Gault Millau weingut-nelles.de.
- Highly regarded for both red and white Burgundian varieties.
Style & Philosophy
- Cool‑climate, slate‑driven Pinot Noir
- Increasingly terroir‑focused
- Younger generation pushing quality
Key Vineyards
- Altenahrer Eck
- Altenahrer Burggarten
Signature Wines
- Eck Spätburgunder
- Frühburgunder Reserve