Outstanding Vinotheks Details

Here in the Rheingau everything runs a little different! This starts with the Rhine River, which flows for most of its 1,200 kilometers in a fairly straight line from the Swiss Alps to the North Sea — but then takes a sharp turn after Mainz, flowing for around 35 kilometers back toward the southwest. Another unusual element: the vinothek at Wein- und Sektgut Barth. It follows the motto of its proprietors: "Always look for the odd angle." 

The Barth Family unveiled their estate's new 100 square meter vinothek in November 2014. Not long after opening their creation in Hattenheim, on the north bank of the Rhine, the "Insider Award," a coveted distinction in the field of interior design, rolled in. The 'odd angles' in question come courtesy of three cubic natural light windows installed diagonally into the ceiling, each facing one of the estate's classified vineyard sites. Thus any visit to the vinothek becomes a journey of discovery, including the presentation of the various soil profiles from the VDP-certified "Große Lagen" sites. 

The brass stripes in the new flooring move past the tasting room and into the interactive zone, where guests can gain insight into the world of winegrowing. A cut-out window inlaid with a glass panel offers a look into the wine cellar. The tasting area keeps to the estate's colors (white, black and gold) and the journey is concluded with a still or sparkling wine in the relaxed fireplace area or directly at the bar. "One appreciates the extraordinary feeling for proportions here, and a sensibility for the space," assessed Professor Klaus Schmidhuber, who oversaw the "Insider Award." 

Sense and sensibility are also well present in Norbert Barth's still wines, produced on almost 20 hectares of vineyards, and his sparkling wines, which have grown to represent 40 percent of his portfolio. The grapes for both still and sparkling wines are hand-selected from the organically cultivated vineyards. The Barths were the first estate to have a sparkling wine product qualify as a "VDP Großes Gewächs." The industry has also shown its appreciation for the estate's efforts with numerous awards and accolades. Beyond three grapes in Gault Millau and three stars in Eichelmann, the Falstaff Wine Guide 2016 has this fine assessment: "The Barth Family, passionate fourth-generation winegrowers, have dedicated themselves to sparkling wine, producing bottles from Riesling, Weißburgunder and Pinot Noir. Many of Champagne's producers might well look nervously on this competition." 

One sees, feels and tastes the passion from winemaker Norbert Barth, son of estate founder Hans Barth. Even as a small boy he helped in the vineyards and today runs the operation with his wife Marion. Daughter Christine and son-in-law Mark, both with degrees in oenology, now work at the estate as well. With much sense and sensibility. A point of honor for the Barth Family.