Peter Jakob Kuhn
Summary
Peter Jakob Kühn is a twelve-generation family estate managing 20 hectares across the middle Rheingau's diverse soils, producing primarily Riesling wines that express the region's distinctive minerality from south-facing vineyard sites. The estate pioneered biodynamic viticulture in Germany with Demeter certification since 2007, employing spontaneous fermentation with indigenous yeasts and utilizing both traditional wooden barrels and clay amphorae for fermentation and aging.
Heritage & Leadership
Peter Jakob Kühn is a family-owned wine estate established in 1786 in Oestrich-Winkel, a town in Germany's Rheingau region. The winery has remained in the Kühn family for twelve generations, maintaining a tradition of winegrowing that spans over two centuries. Today, the estate is led by Peter Jakob Kühn and his wife Angela, who took over operations in 1979. Their son, Peter Bernhard Kühn, joined the family business in 2004 after completing his viticultural studies, representing the next generation of leadership.
A significant turning point for the winery came in 2004 when the Kühns converted their entire vineyard holdings to organic viticulture. By 2007, they had fully implemented biodynamic practices across their estate, receiving Demeter certification—the most rigorous biodynamic standard in agriculture. The winery is also a member of the prestigious VDP (Verband Deutscher Prädikatsweingüter), Germany's association of top wine estates, and belongs to Respekt-BIODYN, a biodynamic winegrowers' association committed to strict quality standards.
## Vineyards & Wines
Peter Jakob Kühn cultivates 20 hectares of vineyards spread across the middle Rheingau region. Their holdings include parcels in several classified sites: Doosberg, Hendelberg, Nikolaus, St. Nikolaus, and Schlehdorn. Riesling dominates their plantings, accounting for approximately 90% of their vineyard area, with the remainder dedicated to Pinot varieties including Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir).
The estate's vineyards benefit from the Rheingau's unique microclimate, where the Rhine River flows east to west rather than north to south, creating optimal sun exposure on south-facing slopes. The soil composition varies across their holdings but primarily consists of loess, loam, quartzite, slate, and limestone—elements that contribute distinctive mineral characteristics to their wines. Vineyard elevations range from 90 to 240 meters above sea level.
The Kühn portfolio includes dry Rieslings from their classified sites, each expressing the specific terroir characteristics of its origin. They also produce traditional Prädikat wines (Kabinett, Spätlese, Auslese) in vintages when conditions permit, along with a selection of Pinot Noir and sparkling wines.
## Philosophy & Practice
The Kühn family follows a non-interventionist approach guided by biodynamic principles. Their vineyard management incorporates biodynamic preparations and follows the lunar calendar, practices they have maintained since their Demeter certification in 2007. Cover crops grow between vine rows to promote biodiversity and soil health, while vineyard work is performed manually to minimize soil compaction and foster intimate knowledge of each vine.
In the cellar, fermentation occurs spontaneously with indigenous yeasts. The Kühns use a combination of traditional wooden barrels (primarily 1200-liter stückfass), stainless steel tanks, and clay amphorae for fermentation and aging. Their amphorae program, initiated in 2004, represents one of the earliest adoptions of this ancient vessel in modern German winemaking.
Sulfur additions are minimal and occur only when necessary for wine stability. The estate practices extended lees contact for many of their wines, sometimes for up to 30 months, to develop complexity and natural stability. Filtration is gentle or avoided entirely, depending on the wine. This methodical approach to winemaking reflects the Kühns' commitment to producing wines that authentically express their vineyard sites while adhering to biodynamic principles throughout the production process.
Vineyards & Wines
Peter Jakob Kühn cultivates 20 hectares of vineyards spread across the middle Rheingau region. Their holdings include parcels in several classified sites: Doosberg, Hendelberg, Nikolaus, St. Nikolaus, and Schlehdorn. Riesling dominates their plantings, accounting for approximately 90% of their vineyard area, with the remainder dedicated to Pinot varieties including Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir).
The estate's vineyards benefit from the Rheingau's unique microclimate, where the Rhine River flows east to west rather than north to south, creating optimal sun exposure on south-facing slopes. The soil composition varies across their holdings but primarily consists of loess, loam, quartzite, slate, and limestone—elements that contribute distinctive mineral characteristics to their wines. Vineyard elevations range from 90 to 240 meters above sea level.
The Kühn portfolio includes dry Rieslings from their classified sites, each expressing the specific terroir characteristics of its origin. They also produce traditional Prädikat wines (Kabinett, Spätlese, Auslese) in vintages when conditions permit, along with a selection of Pinot Noir and sparkling wines.
## Philosophy & Practice
The Kühn family follows a non-interventionist approach guided by biodynamic principles. Their vineyard management incorporates biodynamic preparations and follows the lunar calendar, practices they have maintained since their Demeter certification in 2007. Cover crops grow between vine rows to promote biodiversity and soil health, while vineyard work is performed manually to minimize soil compaction and foster intimate knowledge of each vine.
In the cellar, fermentation occurs spontaneously with indigenous yeasts. The Kühns use a combination of traditional wooden barrels (primarily 1200-liter stückfass), stainless steel tanks, and clay amphorae for fermentation and aging. Their amphorae program, initiated in 2004, represents one of the earliest adoptions of this ancient vessel in modern German winemaking.
Sulfur additions are minimal and occur only when necessary for wine stability. The estate practices extended lees contact for many of their wines, sometimes for up to 30 months, to develop complexity and natural stability. Filtration is gentle or avoided entirely, depending on the wine. This methodical approach to winemaking reflects the Kühns' commitment to producing wines that authentically express their vineyard sites while adhering to biodynamic principles throughout the production process.
Philosophy & Practice
The Kühn family follows a non-interventionist approach guided by biodynamic principles. Their vineyard management incorporates biodynamic preparations and follows the lunar calendar, practices they have maintained since their Demeter certification in 2007. Cover crops grow between vine rows to promote biodiversity and soil health, while vineyard work is performed manually to minimize soil compaction and foster intimate knowledge of each vine.
In the cellar, fermentation occurs spontaneously with indigenous yeasts. The Kühns use a combination of traditional wooden barrels (primarily 1200-liter stückfass), stainless steel tanks, and clay amphorae for fermentation and aging. Their amphorae program, initiated in 2004, represents one of the earliest adoptions of this ancient vessel in modern German winemaking.
Sulfur additions are minimal and occur only when necessary for wine stability. The estate practices extended lees contact for many of their wines, sometimes for up to 30 months, to develop complexity and natural stability. Filtration is gentle or avoided entirely, depending on the wine. This methodical approach to winemaking reflects the Kühns' commitment to producing wines that authentically express their vineyard sites while adhering to biodynamic principles throughout the production process.