The wines of Karthäuserhof open portals into the wonderful world of Riesling. With almost a millennium of history behind the estate, it’s safe (and correct) to say that this wine is hundreds of years in the making. This is one of those producers we feature again and again, due to their ability to achieve brilliance year after year. If, for some reason, you still haven’t pulled the trigger on one of their wines, here’s an affordable launching pad. Caution: Once the floodgates have opened, there is no turning back. You’ll have a relentless craving for dry, prismatic Riesling!

Deep in the heart of the Mosel, Weingut Karthäuserhof calls the small river town of Eitelsbach home; its estate vineyard lies along the Ruwer River just before intersecting with the iconic Mosel. Peppered with ancient trees and an impressive manor house, the lay of the land here feels sequestered from the frenetic rush of this world. The name of this bucolic estate translates to “Farm of the Carthusians” and its rich history dates to the 11th century when it was first established as a monastery. The past six generations of winemaking have belonged to the same family, with legend Christoph Tyrell overseeing operations since 1986 (he was awarded “Winemaker of the Year” in 1997). 

Karthäuserhof’s new “Bruno” series is an homage to Bruno of Cologne, the founder of the Carthusian order. It’s an affordable take on Karthäuserhof’s name that doesn’t sacrifice the foundations of this ancient estate: “steep vineyards, slate soil, and manual work.”