Summary
Weingut Ökonomierat Rebholz in Siebeldingen is one of the best-known addresses in the southern Pfalz and among the leading producers of dry Riesling in Germany. Across around 26 hectares it makes uncompromisingly dry wines that the family described decades ago as „natural": without chaptalisation, without acidification, as unadulterated as possible. The estate is named after grandfather Eduard Rebholz (1889–1966), who held the honorary title „Ökonomierat" and championed this approach early on. Hansjörg Rebholz has run the estate since 1978, farming organically and biodynamically. The precise, mineral „Rebholz style" has become a benchmark for dry Riesling from the southern Pfalz.
History
The Rebholz family has lived and worked at the same site in Siebeldingen in the southern Pfalz for more than a hundred years. The estate owes its name and its philosophy above all to Eduard Rebholz (1889–1966), who held the honorary title „Ökonomierat". At a time when chaptalisation and technical corrections were common, he championed natural wines – wines that reflect the vintage and the site without artificial adulteration. That idea still shapes the house today.
Hansjörg Rebholz has run the estate since 1978, first together with his parents and later with his wife Birgit. Under his direction the estate grew into one of the leading names in the southern Pfalz. In 2024 Hansjörg Rebholz himself was named „Ökonomierat" – a rare distinction that draws a line back to his grandfather. With son Valentin Rebholz, the next generation is already involved.
Location & Terroir
The estate lies in the southern Pfalz on the Southern Wine Route, where the vines on the edge of the Palatinate Forest benefit from a warm, dry climate. The forest and the Haardt escarpment shelter the vineyards from weather extremes, and long, sunny autumns produce ripe yet always fresh grapes.
The real richness, however, lies in the soil. Around Siebeldingen, Birkweiler and Burrweiler, Buntsandstein (coloured sandstone), Rotliegendes (red rock), Muschelkalk (shell limestone) and loamy loess alternate in a very small area. This diversity gives the wines their different signatures: sandstone and red rock yield taut, mineral Rieslings, while limestone and loess bring fullness and elegance. The estate knows how to draw out each site individually – one reason for the precision of the wines.
Style & Philosophy
The estate's style can be summed up in one word: natural. The wines are made uncompromisingly dry, with neither chaptalisation nor acidification. What goes into the bottle should show the vintage and the origin as honestly as possible. The estate has farmed organically since 2005 and biodynamically since 2006, and is certified by respekt-BIODYN – a path that puts the vitality of the soils and the clarity of the wines at the centre.
At the heart is Riesling, which accounts for around 40 percent of the vineyard area. It is joined by the Pinot varieties Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir), Weißburgunder (Pinot Blanc) and Chardonnay, as well as aromatic specialities such as Muskateller and Gewürztraminer. Across all varieties, the clear, precise and profound „Rebholz style" is unmistakable, aiming at power and finesse alike.
Notable Vineyards & Wines
The range is clearly tiered: from accessible estate wines through village wines to the Große Gewächse from the best parcels. Among the estate's most famous sites are:
- Kastanienbusch (Birkweiler) – on Buntsandstein and Rotliegendes; the highest-lying grand cru site in the Pfalz
- Im Sonnenschein (Siebeldingen) – with the famous „Ganz Horn" parcel
- Mandelberg (Birkweiler) – for elegant, finely structured wines
- Schäwer (Burrweiler) – on weathered coloured sandstone
These wines regularly rank among the highest-rated dry Rieslings and Pinot Blancs in Germany.
Awards
For years Ökonomierat Rebholz has consistently earned top marks in the leading wine guides and international tastings. The estate is among the leading producers of dry Riesling and Weißburgunder in Germany and has done much to establish the reputation of the southern Pfalz as a source of great, uncompromisingly dry wines.