Karthäuserhof
Karthäuserhof
Few estates in the world can rival the legacy of Karthäuserhof, established in 1335 by Carthusian monks in the Mosel’s Ruwer Valley. For nearly 700 years, this singular property centered on the famed Karthäuserhofberg vineyard has produced some of Germany’s most precise, mineral-driven Rieslings. Now stewarded by the Tyrell and Behler families, the estate remains fiercely committed to the low-intervention winemaking and organic and biodynamic farming practices that captures the clarity and energy of its cool-climate terroir.
We’re proud to feature two striking examples of the estate’s range. The 2018 Karthäuserhof Eitelsbacher Alte Reben Riesling Trocken is a perfect showcase for how Riesling ages with grace. Sourced from old vines, it delivers layers of crunchy apple, stone fruit, nutmeg, and white pepper, underpinned by the hallmark slate-driven minerality of the Ruwer. It’s structured and complex, yet still bright and full of cut. The 2022 ‘Bruno’ Dry Riesling is an invigorating younger expression—breezy, clean, and linear, with a subtle touch of petrol on the nose. Classic notes of white berries and wet slate make it endlessly drinkable and food-friendly.
Even the bottles themselves tell part of the story. Karthäuserhof’s distinctive label placement isn’t just a quirky design choice, it’s a piece of estate history. In the 19th century, owners Wilhelm and Kathinka Rautenstrauch enjoyed cooling their bottles in the Eitelsbach stream that flows through their garden. But the paper labels kept slipping off and drifting away. Wilhelm solved the problem by placing the label high on the bottle’s neck, out of the water’s reach. That practical fix became a timeless trademark, making Karthäuserhof bottles instantly recognizable.
We’re proud to feature two striking examples of the estate’s range. The 2018 Karthäuserhof Eitelsbacher Alte Reben Riesling Trocken is a perfect showcase for how Riesling ages with grace. Sourced from old vines, it delivers layers of crunchy apple, stone fruit, nutmeg, and white pepper, underpinned by the hallmark slate-driven minerality of the Ruwer. It’s structured and complex, yet still bright and full of cut. The 2022 ‘Bruno’ Dry Riesling is an invigorating younger expression—breezy, clean, and linear, with a subtle touch of petrol on the nose. Classic notes of white berries and wet slate make it endlessly drinkable and food-friendly.
Even the bottles themselves tell part of the story. Karthäuserhof’s distinctive label placement isn’t just a quirky design choice, it’s a piece of estate history. In the 19th century, owners Wilhelm and Kathinka Rautenstrauch enjoyed cooling their bottles in the Eitelsbach stream that flows through their garden. But the paper labels kept slipping off and drifting away. Wilhelm solved the problem by placing the label high on the bottle’s neck, out of the water’s reach. That practical fix became a timeless trademark, making Karthäuserhof bottles instantly recognizable.
