Commitment
Hans-Jochen Ratzenberger is one of the founding fathers of the regional VDP.Mittelrhein wine-growers’ association. When in 1987 the roughly 470 hectares (1,160 acres) of vines in the Middle Rhine Valley became part of the traditional Verband Deutscher Prädikatsweingüter, an association of Germany’s top wine estates, our winery was a representative of the first hour. We are still dedicated members of the VDP today and champion the concept of quality wine cultivation with reduced yields. Hans-Jochen Ratzenberger took over from founder chairman Fritz Bastian as president of the VDP.Mittelrhein at the end of the 1990s; Jochen Ratzenberger has been president of the regional association since 2011.
The cooperative relationship with other estates is not only nurtured by the colleagues of the VDP but also actively practised in Bacharach. In the steep vineyards of the Middle Rhine Valley especially, where grape growing is often something of a challenge, this partnership is a great boon.
Our family also endeavours to live in harmony with nature above and beyond our viticultural activities. Forestry is also an established tradition for us; we began heating our premises with wood many years ago. Furthermore, we hunt and are committed to our regional history and various cultural and social causes, among other things.
