Just a short drive south of the famous Rheingau region, along the verdant banks of the Rhine River, Rheinhessen is the largest of the thirteen wine regions of Germany and boasts a history that dates back to the Romans. Once known for quaffing wines like the mass-produced Liebfraumilch, the region’s quality has greatly improved over the years thanks to increased focus on the noble Riesling varietal and the dedicated, quality-minded producers, including today’s Becker-Landgraf family, who farm the vines. Julia Becker Landgraf and Johannes Landgraf bring a shared family history that goes back to the 17th century. The Becker estate was established in 1783, and the Landgraf history reaches back to the mid-1700’s. When Julia and Johannes joined forces, the Becker-Landgraf Estate joined two of the Rheinhessen’s most quality-driven dynasties. 

Today, the fourth-generation, self-titled, “J2,” couple meticulously farm eight hectares and produce 5,000 cases of handcrafted wines. The winery is nestled at the foot of the celebrated Petersberg mount where some of the finest vines of the entire region are grown. Derived from vineyards of Gau-Odernheim and the Petersberg rise, their estate Riesling is from sourced soils that have a cultivated history from at least the time of Charlemagne. The 246-meter-elevation, Petersberg mount, where 98% of the 8 hectares are found, provides complex alluvial deposits of chalky clay, loess, loam and limestone that include Pectunculus shells scattered through the vines. The minerality is distinct to this special site and provides a unique contrast to the slate minerality of Germany’s Mosel. The passionate winemaking duo firmly believes that great wine is made in the vineyard; as such, they strive to translate their special terroir in the glass in as natural a transition as possible. Incredibly eco-conscious, they eschew irrigation, artificial fertilizers and use only natural humus to enrich the soil. Yields are kept extremely low, which results in wines of ample concentration with the unique fingerprint of their special pocket of the Rheinhessen. They hand-harvest their vines over numerous pickings to ensure that only perfectly ripened, pristine fruit makes its way into their wines. Wine is fermented with wild, natural yeast in wooden barrels without the use of any additives. The wine is bottled without fining and delivers a snapshot of absolute purity and layered expression of place.