State Winery Bad Kreuznach

🍷 Brief report: Bad Kreuznach state winery

The Staatsweingut Bad Kreuznachis a special kind of winery. As a model operation for research, teaching and practice, it combines over 125 years of viticultural history with a forward-looking, ecological vision. Under the management of operations manager Rudolf Schunck, it is now an indispensable institution for the entire wine-growing region.

📜 History & mission

The institute was founded in 1900 as a Prussian provincial training centre for viticulture, fruit growing and agriculture. The foundation was approved by the Provinzial-Landtag on 9 ... . The aim was to create a model operation in which new developments in viticulture could be tested and promoted in order to serve as a model for all winegrowers.

This institute gave rise to today's "Staatsweingut Bad Kreuznach", owned by the state of Rhineland-Palatinate, which has retained a unique mission as a teaching and experimental facility that goes beyond pure wine production.Even today, numerous experiments are still carried out here, the findings of which are communicated in a practical manner in training and further education - a living link between theory and practice. In its more than 100-year history, the estate has always been a driving force for innovation in the region.

🌱 Vineyards, grape varieties & ecological change

Today, the winery cultivates 20 hectares of vineyards in the best locations around Bad Kreuznach, which are among the most renowned in the entire Nahe region.

Top sites:
- Kreuznacher Kahlenberg: Probably the most famous site, located directly above the state winery. It was first mentioned in a documentin 1499and was already one of the best vineyards back then. With its long tradition, the historic vineyard is closely linked to the history of the estate.
- Other vineyards in Bad Kreuznach: Forst, Hinkelstein and Vogelsang.
- Norheimer Kafels: A renowned site outside Bad Kreuznach that is part of the estate's portfolio.
Grape varieties: The winery has a strong focus on Riesling, which accounts for half of the vineyard area (50%). The range is rounded off by a wide range of other classic varieties, including Silvaner, Pinot Blanc, Müller-Thurgau, Pinot Gris, Scheurebe and Pinot Noir. International varieties such as Merlot are also used for cuvées.
Organic farming: A decisive turning point was in 2012, when the entire estate was converted to organic viticulture - a commitment to sustainable quality and environmental protection.

🌟 Philosophy & specialities

The Staatsweingut combines research, teaching and wine production in a unique way. It is a living viticultural museum of modernity, where tradition and modern expertise go hand in hand to shape the viticulture of the future.

A special feature of the estate is the historic "Kreuznacher Kahlenberg" vineyard, whose name is presumably derived from the bare shape of the hill, which is characterised by the shallow soil cover typical of this altitude. The vines grow here on barren ground, which gives the wines a special minerality and complexity.

🏆 Awards

The outstanding work of the state winery is confirmed by a wealth of national and international awards:

District Award of Honour 2025: the state winery was awarded the Bad Kreuznach District Award of Honour at the renowned wine and sparkling wine awards of the Rhineland-Palatinate Chamber of Agriculture . The award recognises the exceptional achievements in the areas of quality, craftsmanship and regional winegrowing culture.
Top ratings from wine guides: As early as the beginning of the 2000s, the estate was praised by Gault Millau as an "up-and-comer" and was awarded the second grape for its collections. It was also awarded two stars inthe Eichelmann wine guide.
Gold medals and international recognition: The estate was awarded a gold medalfor the 2000 Norheimer Kafels Riesling Eiswein (95 points) and another gold medal from the international magazine "Alles über Wein". The estate also won the international "best of Riesling" competition and received top marks in New York.