Weingut Karl May, Osthofen, Rheinhessen, and a name that comes with a built-in gag. Yes, same name as the German author famous for writing Wild West adventure novels, and brothers Peter and Fritz May leaned right into it with their Blutsbruder cuvées, red and white, dressed up in full hardcore Wild West label regalia. Sounds like a joke, and it kind of is, but the wine inside is seriously good.
Behind the humour there's real history. The Liebenauer Hof was first mentioned in a document in 1309, and the May family's ancestors picked it up in 1815. Sixth generation now, with Karl and Irmgard supported by their kids Carolin, Fritz and Peter, who each did their time elsewhere, Pfalz, France, New Zealand, before coming home and pushing things forward. The old half-timbered house got a full renovation, there's a vinotheque, and the courtyard hosts a proper hoffest every spring.
About 14 hectares across Geyersberg in Bechtheim, plus Goldberg and Liebenberg in Osthofen. Organic since 2007, no herbicides, no synthetic chemicals, and a philosophy of intervening as little as possible once the grapes come in. Riesling, Silvaner, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Scheurebe, Kerner, even Huxelrebe, plus Pinot Noir and Frühburgunder in red. Their Goldgeyer Pinot Gris is the one that gets people talking, creamy and full without being heavy-handed on oak.
Their own mantra says it all, make good wines and wait for someone to notice. People are noticing. Osthofen's quietly getting on the map.
Weingut Karl May, Osthofen, Rheinhessen, and a name that comes with a built-in gag. Yes, same name as the German author famous for writing Wild West adventure novels, and brothers Peter and Fritz May leaned right into it with their Blutsbruder cuvées, red and white, dressed up in full hardcore Wild West label regalia. Sounds like a joke, and it kind of is, but the wine inside is seriously good.
Behind the humour there's real history. The Liebenauer Hof was first mentioned in a document in 1309, and the May family's ancestors picked it up in 1815. Sixth generation now, with Karl and Irmgard supported by their kids Carolin, Fritz and Peter, who each did their time elsewhere, Pfalz, France, New Zealand, before coming home and pushing things forward. The old half-timbered house got a full renovation, there's a vinotheque, and the courtyard hosts a proper hoffest every spring.
About 14 hectares across Geyersberg in Bechtheim, plus Goldberg and Liebenberg in Osthofen. Organic since 2007, no herbicides, no synthetic chemicals, and a philosophy of intervening as little as possible once the grapes come in. Riesling, Silvaner, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Scheurebe, Kerner, even Huxelrebe, plus Pinot Noir and Frühburgunder in red. Their Goldgeyer Pinot Gris is the one that gets people talking, creamy and full without being heavy-handed on oak.
Their own mantra says it all, make good wines and wait for someone to notice. People are noticing. Osthofen's quietly getting on the map.
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