Klaus Peter Keller Winery – A revolutionary in the Rheinhessen terroir

The Klaus Peter Keller Winery in Flörsheim-Dalsheim is undoubtedly one of the best-known and most influential wineries in Germany. What once began as a regional family business has, under the leadership of Klaus Peter Keller and his wife Julia, developed into an internationally acclaimed flagship of German Riesling .

The estate’s origins date back to 1789, when Johann Leonhard Keller fled the turmoil of the French Revolution from Switzerland and settled in Dalsheim. Thanks to his good relations with the clergy, he succeeded in acquiring the Dalsheim Oberen Hubackers, which has remained in the family’s sole ownership ever since. In 2001, Klaus Peter Keller – who completed his studies in Geisenheim and gained valuable experience in South Africa and Burgundy – took over the vineyard and cellar work from his father. Today, the estate, covering some 21 hectares, is run in its tenth generation by Julia and Klaus Peter Keller, together with their children Felix and Isabella .

The estate’s vineyards are situated in some of Rheinhessen’s most renowned sites. The vineyard layout reflects the estate’s clear focus: 70 per cent Riesling forms the backbone, complemented by 20 per cent Pinot varieties and ten per cent rarities such as Rieslaner and Scheurebe. The winemaking process follows an uncompromising philosophy: low yields, strict selection, hand-picking and minimally invasive vinification . The aim is to capture the pure flavour of the individual vineyard in the bottle. Klaus Peter Keller himself describes his style as “influenced by the terroir, with plenty of energy, elegance and sophistication”. The estate has been a member of the VDP since 2000.

The exceptional quality of the wines is underpinned by top ratings from renowned critics. Gault&Millau named Klaus Peter Keller the only ever “Winemaker of the Decade”, and the estate’s wines are sought after by collectors worldwide. Iconic wines such as the G-Max, the Abtserde GG and the Morstein GG are regularly sold out even before their release and command four-figure prices per bottle. They are regarded as the benchmark for dry Riesling worldwide.