It’s no coincidence that this is the third time we’re featuring Max sein Wein! One of the young guns in the natural wine world, Max is a master of cuvées whose practice is founded in respect for the soil, and patience in the cellar. Max has always been certain that he would work with wine. His great-grandfather was one of the founders of the local cooperative, where grapes were gathered to be turned into wine, and in 1989 Max’s father, Martin, cut loose and created the Baumann winery. The winery lies near the river Main, the longest tributary of the Rhine. After gaining invaluable experience with a number of prolific wineries, Judith Beck and Gut Oggau included, Max returned here, to Dertingen, with a new outlook on farming and winemaking. His philosophy in the cellar is: ‘as little as possible, as much as necessary’ and it was on this basis he created that label ‘Max sein Wein’, releasing his first vintage in 2016.
‘Blanc’ is a blend of Müller-Thurgau and Silvaner. The vines grow on 6.2ha of fossiliferous limestone soil; soil which retains moisture in dry weather but also offers good drainage in cooler months. The grapes are macerated for 6-10 days before ageing in barrels for 11 months, followed by a further 6 months in the bottle. Max’s wines always need some time and air, and this one asks for a gentle inversion before opening. Aromatic, fruity and fresh - this is one for natural wine newbies and die-hards alike.