ABOUT THIS EPISODE
We visit Oliver Schell of Weingut O. Schell in Rech on the Ahr, the fourth generation of an estate founded in 1921, with 70 % of its eight hectares on steep terraces. He explains why this narrow valley makes great red wine and how the flood changed his winemaking. We taste his first PIWI, a Sauvignon Gris called "I can't believe it's a PIWI", and his Spätburgunder from the Recher Herrenberg, and talk about north-facing sites and the new problem of too little acidity.
Interview in English.
📍 Rech, Ahr, Germany
In the glass
1. „I can't believe it's a PIWI“ 2023: Sauvignon Gris from the Dernauer Burggarten (steep slate); Auslese ripeness, fermented dry, 15 % alcohol, five hours on the skins, second-use barrel; 497 bottles; label by his wife, an homage to Roy Lichtenstein
2. Spätburgunder Recher Herrenberg 2022: 18 months in barrique, 50 % new oak after the flood, 13.5 %; light colour, cherry, raspberry, wild strawberry, red flowers and spice
Chapters
0:00 Welcome to the Ahr and Weingut O. Schell
0:52 If not a winemaker: a chef
1:21 His influence: his grandfather
2:28 His personality as a wine: a bolder Pinot Noir
3:43 Nature: the one thing we can't control
4:32 Weingut O. Schell: since 1921, 70 % steep
5:47 Why the narrow Ahr valley makes red wine
6:44 "Come and see it yourself"
7:34 Tasting: „I can't believe it's a PIWI“ 2023
8:58 15 % alcohol you don't taste
9:23 Flint, quince and an autumn touch
11:10 The label: pop art and Roy Lichtenstein
12:56 Planting Sauvignon Gris: "a very good mistake"
13:46 After the flood: new ways to sell wine
14:46 Easy wines are like learning a language
16:10 A warmer Ahr: shaded sites and new grapes
18:24 What the flood taught him: let things roll
19:46 Tasting: Spätburgunder Recher Herrenberg 2022
21:37 50 % new oak after the flood
22:24 Cherry, wild strawberry and spice
23:20 The new problem: too little acidity
24:24 Harvest under pressure on steep slopes
25:02 Burgundy, Chablis and the Ahr style
26:20 Five years from now
27:15 See you in Copenhagen
📺 Watch the video: https://youtu.be/pZmaiHTK0Z4
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