Founded in 1756, in the Pfalz region of Germany, the J.L. Wolf estate (now called Villa Wolf) was a successful and highly regarded winery for more than two centuries. It entered an especially glamorous era with the construction of its Italianate estate house and villa in 1843.
In the latter years of the 20th century, however, the estate languished, lacking a firm hand to guide its wine production. Ernst Loosen, of the Dr. Loosen estate, took over the vineyards in 1996, launching a dramatic turnaround in the estate’s quality and reputation. Erni’s goal at Villa Wolf is to produce wines that express the authentic terroir of the region.
Made in the classic style of the Pfalz, Villa Wolf Rieslings are drier and more full-bodied than Mosel Rieslings, with fully ripe fruit flavors and a characteristic stoniness in the aroma. To preserve the naturally high quality of the vineyards, Villa Wolf practices sustainable viticulture and emphasizes gentle handling of the fruit through traditional, minimalist winemaking.
The estate is managed by a talented winemaker, Patrick Möllendorf, who previously worked in the cellar at Dr. Loosen. He has brought renewed energy and focus to the viticulture and winemaking at Villa Wolf. The estate’s philosophy is based on the belief that great wines must start in the vineyard. So Patrick works closely with nature, using sustainable practices that nurture biodiversity in the vineyards, providing a healthy and diverse microbiology in the soil. This is important for wines to express the character of the grape and the soil in which it is grown. Organic certification for the estate vineyards was achieved in 2021.
This approach is also carried into the cellar, with a focus on gentle handling of the wine throughout the entire process. This approach retains the clean, fresh fruit that represents the Villa Wolf style. The team is committed to traditional vinification methods, such as fermentation and aging in large, neutral oak casks, and spontaneous fermentation with natural yeasts.
With sustainable viticulture, minimal processing, and their constant pursuit of improvement, Patrick strives to capture the purity and special characteristics of the region, vineyard, and grape variety in each of their wines.
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