| The Vineyards | |
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The quality and unmistakable identity of a wine originate in the vineyard. The renown of a site, which is determined by historical as well as climatic and geological circumstances, plays a role, but strict quality-oriented vineyard management is the decisive factor. The vineyards of Weingut Robert Weil are grouped around the "Kiedricher Gräfenberg" and number among the Rheingau's finest sites. They are cultivated in an environmentally-friendly manner, i.e. organic fertilizer is used as needed; green cover is planted in alternating rows to optimize the humus content of the soil; herbicides are not used; plant protection measures are used sparingly and with respect for the habitat of useful organisms. Stringent pruning to control yields, thinning after flowering, and timely removal of excess foliage and fruit are all part of the estate's quality-oriented philosophy. Maintaining low yields and achieving the highest must weights within each Prädikat category are self-imposed goals. As such, the harvest seldom begins before mid-October and continues for at least eight to ten weeks. During this time, the grapes are harvested by hand, with an extremely critical selection that involves up to seventeen rounds through the vineyards. The goal is to reap the finest fruit possible to make Riesling wines of every Prädikat level, including Eiswein and Trockenbeerenauslese - a goal that has been realized every year without exception since the 1989 vintage. |
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