Andi Weigand farms 10 hectares in Iphofen, producing wines that are all about balance and drinkability. He began making wine in his early twenties and took over his family’s 10 hectares in 2015, shifting the vineyards into a new phase of organic farming and natural wine. The area is well-known for winemaking, but Andi’s decision to pursue low intervention methods caused plenty of controversy with local, more conventional winemakers. For Andi this serves as encouragement rather than a deterrent, certain that pushing boundaries in pursuit of better tasting wine and healthier soil can only mean progress. The vineyards are situated on Keuper soil, full of ancient stone and minerals, and planted predominantly with Silvaner alongside a number of other varieties including Weissburgunder, Scheurebe, Riesling, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Muskateller and Bacchus. Intimate knowledge of the vineyards and their soil is essential: cover crops are not automatically repeated year to year, but adjusted according to what the soil is craving. The greening between the vines is a mixture of naturally occurring flora as well as a hand sown mix including buckwheat, borage, sunflowers, and parsley.
This rosé is a great example of how fresh and juicy the wines from Keuper can be. Pinot Noir, Domina and Dornfelder grapes from 37 years old vines are direct pressed and left for 9 months on the lees in old oak barrels. 2023 was a hot, dry year but, with a bit of rain in August, the grapes at harvest were in great condition and had reached a perfect ripeness. Similar to the previous vintage but with more juice and power, Rosé ’23 is best enjoyed chilled alongside a hearty dish of paella.