Hannes und Claudiu | Pfalz, Germany

Hannes und Claudiu

Hannes Bergdoll and Claudiu Dumea met in Frankfurt, where Claudiu still runs a wine bar called Espresso Espresso. When they decided to try making wine rather than only pouring it, Hannes' family handed over a portion of their vines to find out what would happen.

They work in the South Pfalz around Landau, on granite, with the Palatinate Forest at their back, farming organically and biodynamically. The plantings run wide: Riesling, Scheurebe, Silvaner, Müller-Thurgau, Gelber Muskateller, Huxel, Weissburgunder, Grauburgunder, Chardonnay, Spätburgunder, Dornfelder and Blauer Portugieser.

The wines that carry Solera in the name are blended across several vintages rather than made from one, which is why they arrive without a year on the label. Everything ferments spontaneously, nothing is fined or filtered, and no sulphur goes in at any stage. The results are tart, energetic and easy to keep drinking.