Summary
Weingut Weishaar is a small, consistently quality-driven family estate in Eichstetten on the Kaiserstuhl – one of Germany's warmest wine-growing areas. Corinne and Markus Weishaar farm around 10 hectares, mainly in the Eichstetter Herrenbuck, where deep loess lies over volcanic subsoil. In the glass this shows as a typical Baden Pinot style: dry Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir with structure, smoothness and a fine minerality. Hand harvesting, no herbicides or insecticides and restrained cellar work following the motto "less is more" define the house style – and wine guides above all highlight the fair value for money.
History
Like many estates on the Kaiserstuhl, Weishaar has its roots in agriculture. The business was originally a mixed farm in which wine was just one of several pillars. From 1989 onwards it gradually developed into an independent wine estate that vinifies and bottles its own grapes.
A visible sign of this change is the cellar: a former horse stable was converted into the wine cellar. Today Corinne and Markus Weishaar run the estate and have made it a fixture among the smaller quality producers of the Kaiserstuhl – without a famous name or association membership, but with growing recognition in the relevant wine guides.
Location & Terroir
Eichstetten lies on the eastern edge of the Kaiserstuhl, an extinct volcanic massif in the Upper Rhine plain north-west of Freiburg. The region is considered one of the sunniest and warmest in Germany; its climate is often described as almost Mediterranean. It is precisely this warmth that makes the Kaiserstuhl the home of the Pinot varieties.
The estate's most important site is the Eichstetter Herrenbuck. Here weathered volcanic soils meet calcareous loess, deposited up to 40 metres deep in places on the Herrenbuck. The loess stores water, is well aerated and absorbs plenty of warmth during the day; the volcanic rock below contributes spice and minerality. This interplay produces wines that combine ripeness and fullness with freshness and structure.
Style & Philosophy
The Weishaar family relies on close-to-nature viticulture and a lot of manual work. According to the estate, no herbicides, insecticides or botryticides are used in the vineyards. Instead, species-rich cover crops and mechanical under-vine cultivation keep the soils alive. All grapes are picked by hand, often in several passes with careful selection.
In the cellar the principle is "less is more": the grapes are gently whole-bunch pressed and the wines are given time on the lees. The single-vineyard wines come from older vines, are fermented spontaneously and aged in wooden barrels. The result is powerful yet elegant, dry wines that show the warm vintage character of the Kaiserstuhl without feeling heavy.
The Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris in particular show how well the Herrenbuck's loess-and-volcanic mix suits these varieties: the wines combine ripe pear and nutty aromas with a creamy but not opulent body and a spicy length. The Pinot Noir is elegant rather than massive, with red fruit and a fine tannin structure. This makes the wines excellent partners for Baden and Alsace cuisine – from asparagus and tarte flambée to game and poultry.
Notable Vineyards & Wines
The range is clearly structured in three tiers:
- Estate wines – fruit-driven and uncomplicated, an ideal way into the house style
- Village wines – from selected plots around Eichstetten, praised by critics as especially good value
- Single-vineyard wines from the Eichstetter Herrenbuck – from old vines, fermented spontaneously and aged in wood
At the centre are Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir. They are complemented by red blends and a Crémant, a sparkling wine made by traditional bottle fermentation.
Awards
In recent years Weishaar has increasingly featured in the major German wine guides. Der Feinschmecker rates the estate at around 3.5 out of 5 "F" and particularly praises the value for money of the village wines. Eichelmann, Falstaff and VINUM have also included and recommended the estate in their current editions. For wine lovers, Weishaar is a genuine insider tip from the Kaiserstuhl: authentic, handcrafted Baden Pinots at fair prices.
