Württemberg Region

Wines

Rainer Schnaitmann

Riesling Label

Rose and Red Wine Label

Fellbacher Lämmler Vineyard

Schnaitmann Estate

Württemberg, Germany

We first took note of Rainer Schnaitmann when he took first place for two consecutive years, winning the European Pinot Cup. This is a feat not yet duplicated to this day. Last year, in the 2007 Gault Millau German Wine Guide, he was chosen “Newcomer of the Year.” This too was unique, because the honor had never before been bestowed upon an estate less than ten years old. Rainer’s story reads like a fairy tale. His father owned 6 acres of vineyards and was a member of the Fellbach growers association. In 1997, only with the condition he could do his “own thing” Rainer joined his father. He took his father’s vineyards, left the growers association, and started making his own wines. In less than ten years the estate has grown to over 38 acres. Rainer has also constructed an impressive new cellar. We first visited Rainer about a year ago and were amazed at the consistent quality he showed us, from the lowest priced wine to the most expensive. Rainer’s wines and style parallel, very closely, the wines we seek to represent in our portfolio. They are crystalline pure, refined, and reflective of their terroir. The wines offer great balance and will age for decades. It follows that Rainer never has enough wine to satisfy demand which ranges from local connoisseurs to the top brass at Mercedes and Porsche. Schnaitmann is a member of the V.D.P.

With Bach’s B Minor blasting away (it is good for the wine says Rainer), each of our four visits to Schnaitmann have offered up a mindboggling array of wines. He reminds us a lot of Paul Furst up in Franconia, he’s truly an oenological mad man. After our third visit, we agreed to establish a working relationship with Rainer. With supply extremely limited, we don’t expect Schnaitmann to set the US market on fire, however for connoisseurs and top sommeliers, Schnaitmann’s wines will be jewels in their collections. We feel honored and privileged to represent both Rainer and his wines.