Weinhaus Hauck - Bermersheim vor der Höhe, Rheinhessen

I always get really excited when we get wines from Weinhaus Hauck on the shelves. It's not just wine – it's a family story that tastes of passion and genuine craftsmanship. The Hauck family has been working the land in Rheinhessen since 1727, but it wasn't until around 2000 that they really went all in on wine production – and you can taste that!

Their fields of approximately 30 hectares are located in Bermersheim and the surrounding area, where the soil alternates between limestone, clay and sand. This really gives the wines a bold character that is both crisp and full-bodied at the same time. The best thing is that they don't just press the wine out of the grapes - they tend the fields with love and respect for nature, and you can feel it in the glass.

We especially love their Spätburgunder – this Pinot Noir with silky tannins and depth that leaves you wanting more. It’s aged in French barriques, which gives it a beautiful spicy edge without being overpowering. But it doesn’t stop there, as they’re also experimenting with new things like Albariño, which actually suits today’s climate and tastes perfectly.

The coolest thing about Hauck wines is that they have edge and personality, without being snobbish. It's real wine with soul, made by a family who is truly passionate about it. And every time I open a bottle, I almost feel like I'm sitting there with them in the vineyard.

When we talk about Weinhaus Hauck, we can't avoid the area they come from – namely Rheinhessen. It is Germany's largest wine region, but also one of the most exciting right now, because the winegrowers here are really experimenting and breaking new ground, without forgetting their proud traditions.

The climate in Rheinhessen is quite unique: it is mild and relatively dry, with lots of sunshine and warm days, which creates perfect conditions for the grapes. This means that the harvest often takes place in late September to early October – and because the temperatures are typically stable, the grapes are allowed to ripen slowly and develop both depth and freshness.

The soil in the area is varied, ranging from calcareous slate and clay soils to more sandy areas. This mix gives the wines a nice balance between fruit, minerality and structure – and that's exactly what you taste in Hauck's wines.

In general, wine production in Rheinhessen is about finding the right balance between tradition and innovation. Many producers – and Weinhaus Hauck is a perfect example – are really committed to sustainability and letting the vineyards work with nature rather than against it. This means low yields, lots of manual labor and a huge respect for the terroir, which is the very soul of a good wine.

The harvest is often done manually, especially on the best plots, to ensure that only the best grapes are included – you can feel it in the taste, where each bottle tells its own story of soil, climate and love.