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Winzergenossenschaft Mayschoß-AltenahrImage: Deutsches Weininstitut
Winzergenossenschaft Mayschoß-Altenahr. In the 19th century, life in the Ahr valley was characterised by bitter poverty and famine. Many inhabitants emigrated to the American continent. Following the suggestion of the itinerant teacher Herrberg, 18 Mayschoßers founded the world's first winegrowers' cooperative in 1868. In the following year, the entry was made in the Koblenz commercial and cooperative register as Winzer Verein zu Mayschoß – Eingetragene Genossenschaft. In 1881, the winegrowers' association already had 141 members. Through the merger with the Winzergenossenschaft Altenahr (1982) and the takeover of the Winzergenossenschaft Walporzheim (2009, since then Weinmanufaktur Walporzheim), a strong community was formed that today handles grapes from 460 winegrowers and cultivates 150 hectares of vines. The historic wooden barrel cellar and the wine museum fell victim to a flood of the century in 2021.

Our Latest Ratings

WinerosédryBlauer Spätburgunder

2024 “Tornado” Spätburgunder Rosé Landwein trocken

Dr. Kauer, Bacharach

Germany

Landwein Rhein • Geschützte geografische Angabe (g. g. A.)

Lot number 24 1 • 11.5 % vol alcohol

15.5🯅

Tasted on 8 September 2026 by Werner Elflein

Salmon pink. A focused, fruit-driven aroma of strawberry and raspberry. Superb freshness, juicy fruit, lively acidity. Hints of grapefruit. Uncompromisingly dry. A straightforward rosé. Very good length.

WinewhitesweetMuskat Ottonel

2021 Muskat Ottonel Beerenauslese

Angerhof Tschida, Illmitz

Austria

Burgenland

Staatliche Prüfnummer E 1948 22 • 8 % vol alcohol

18🯅

Tasted on 7 September 2026 by Werner Elflein

Muskat Ottonel is an aromatic, early-ripening white grape variety that originated in France in the 19th century as a cross between Gutedel and Ingram's Muscat. Today, it is mainly grown in Eastern Europe. Hans Tschida's 2021 Beerenauslese presents itself in the glass as a pale golden-yellow colour with highlights that are partly lighter and partly amber-yellow. On the nose, explosive, tropical-style fruit aromas of ripe lemon, passion fruit, apricot and pineapple. Alongside these are distinct floral notes of blue flowers. On the palate, it is characterised by magnificent juiciness with elegant acidity and, once again, a floral component, which at this stage, however, is more reminiscent of white flowers. A hint of apricot jam. Despite its lush sweetness, the structure is slender rather than broad. The long, complex finish features grated nutmeg and, once again, tropical aromas.

WinewhitedryRuländer

2023 Zell-Weierbach Abtsberg Tannweg Grauburgunder Qualitätswein trocken

VDP.GROSSE LAGE ® / VDP.GROSSES GEWÄCHS ®

Freiherr von und zu Franckenstein, Offenburg

Germany

Baden • Geschützte Ursprungsbezeichnung (g. U.)

Amtliche Prüfungsnummer 506 22 25 • 13 % vol alcohol

18🯅

Tasted on 6 September 2026 by Werner Elflein

Copper-gold. A nose typical of Pinot Gris, with notes of dried stone fruit and subtle toasty aromas of wood and nuts. Herbal and floral notes. Powerful, yet not overpowering, with superb freshness. A creamy, buttery texture. Delicate acidity, with tart, spicy fruit. Very long and persistent.

WinewhitedryWeißer Riesling

2024 Schloss Johannisberg Riesling Qualitätswein Gelblack trocken

VDP.GUTSWEIN ®

Fürst von Metternich-Winneburg'sche Domäne Schloss Johannisberg, Geisenheim

Germany

Rheingau • Geschützte Ursprungsbezeichnung (g. U.)

Amtliche Prüfungsnummer 26026 15 25 • 12.5 % vol alcohol

15🯅

Tasted on 5 September 2026 by Werner Elflein

WinewhitedryWeißer Riesling

2021 Forst Elster Riesling Qualitätswein trocken

VDP.ERSTE LAGE ® / VDP.ERSTES GEWÄCHS ®

Georg Mosbacher, Forst an der Weinstraße

Germany

Pfalz • Geschützte Ursprungsbezeichnung (g. U.)

Amtliche Prüfungsnummer 5112066 22 22 • 12 % vol alcohol

17🯅

Tasted on 4 September 2026 by Werner Elflein

Bright lemon yellow. A delicate, subtly smoky aroma of peach and peach pit with green herbal, vegetal, and floral nuances. On the palate, it features ripe, well-integrated acidity. Both elegant and expressive. Vibrant minerality. Outstanding length and persistence. A classic Forster Riesling.

17🯅

Tasted on 8 March 2025 by Werner Elflein

Pale yellow in colour. Nose typical of its origin (coloured sandstone) with clear aromas of peach and tropical accents. Animating freshness and piquant acidity, vibrant, with a certain, fine melting quality despite its stringency. Outstanding length.

16.5🯅

Tasted on 19 October 2023 by Werner Elflein

WinewhitedryWeißer Riesling

2021 Deidesheim Paradiesgarten Riesling Qualitätswein trocken

VDP.ERSTE LAGE ® / VDP.ERSTES GEWÄCHS ®

Georg Mosbacher, Forst an der Weinstraße

Germany

Pfalz • Geschützte Ursprungsbezeichnung (g. U.)

Amtliche Prüfungsnummer 5112066 26 22 • 12 % vol alcohol

17🯅

Tasted on 4 September 2026 by Werner Elflein

Pale lemon yellow. On the nose, it is somewhat more reserved than its counterpart from Forst Elster. A delicately spiced, subtly smoky bouquet with typical red sandstone minerality and subtle hints of green apple. Juicy on the palate, with a consistently strong presence and a piquant, ripe acidity. Demonstrates the great potential of this often somewhat underrated vineyard site. Outstanding length.

17🯅

Tasted on 31 August 2024 by Werner Elflein

Light, reflex-rich straw yellow colour. Partly vegetal, partly reductive notes on the nose, characterised by citrus aromas, apricot skin and yellow plum, underpinned by a fine herbal spice. Slender, cool, dry Riesling with a delicate structure, fine juicy fruit and vital acidity. Vibrant, with mineral spice and an ethereal freshness on the finish. Outstanding length.

Symbols
🯅The rating of the wine is based on a single taster. The taster is named in the context of the rating. The tasting was either open or blind. In case of a blind tasting, it is explicitly labelled as such.
🯅🯅The rating of the wine is based on two tasters. The tasters are named in the context of the rating. The tasting was carried out according to the four-eyes principle, in which both tasters agree on a joint rating.
🯅🯅🯅The rating is based on a tasting by our jury and indicates the Mean value calculated by us from the individual ratings of the tasters. Our mean value is based on the median.
⚖The wine was evaluated in a blind tasting. We have strict rules for blind tastings. The tasters do not receive any information that would allow them to identify the wines. The tasters are only given access to further information that goes beyond the subject matter if it is absolutely necessary for understanding the wines.
🕓We only had limited time to taste the wine  - typically during an open tasting event, such as a wine fair. It was therefore not possible to observe the development of the wine in the glass over a longer period of time. The informative value of our rating may therefore be limited under certain circumstances.
⛬The wine was tasted as a barrel sample or before an official test number (Amtliche Prüfungsnummer or Staatliche Prüfnummer) was issued. We only accept samples of unfilled wines in exceptional cases, and then only if we can assume sufficient stability in the bottle for a period of at least three months.
▲During our tasting, the wine showed conspicuous sensory characteristics. This does not necessarily have to be a wine fault. We categorise the quality and quantity of the abnormality and include it in the rating. Wine faults such as cork taint or an atypical ageing generally lead to a complete rejection.
Tastings that refer to the same bottle of a wine are visually summarised by a dotted line.

Our Latest Posts

Satire

Wellness for the Vineyards

Massage Techniques for Vines are Revolutionising Viticulture
Image: weinfreaks.de
In spring, even before the vines begin to bud, the first seasonal workers are already busy tending the vines in the Saar vineyards. At the famous Scharzhofberg, the focus is not on pruning or tilling the soil. Instead, you see the workers bent over the vines, massaging the wood with their hands just a few centimetres above the root zone.
Facts

The Rescue of Moselle Apollo and Steep-Slope Viticulture

Melanargia and Deutsche Umwelthilfe Have Lost at the Court, Rescue Measures for the Moselle Apollo are Effective
Image: Detlef Mader
At the end of 2023, we reported for the first time on the serious threat to the Moselle Apollo butterfly. In April 2025, a report was published on the feared imminent extinction of the unique knight butterfly and the absurd lawsuit brought by the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Melanargia – Rheinisch-Westfälischer Lepidopterologen (AGL) and the Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH) for a ban on helicopter spraying in steep-slope viticulture on the Moselle, which has since been rejected by the administrative courts in four rulings. Therefore, there are now renewed hope.
Facts

When Wine Disappears

On the Erosion of a Culture of Enjoyment
Image: Pixabay
Wine is more than just a matter of taste or fashion. It is a structural element of everyday life and has long been embedded in social rituals and cultural habits. In the post-war period, especially from the 1950s onwards, wine became a symbol of stability, routine and prosperity. The integration of wine into everyday life was not a luxury phenomenon, but rather an expression of the social and economic conditions of the time, which were characterised by predictable career paths, stable incomes and clear social milieus.
Comment

Dry January

Moral Imperative or Cultureless Dogmatism?
Image: Pixabay
At the beginning of each year, the collective abstinence parade known as Dry January begins anew. A whole month without alcohol, marketed as an act of self-control, as a contribution to physical regeneration, as a signal of a “sensible lifestyle”. Those who opt out of this ritual quickly find themselves under pressure to justify their decision. What appears to be a voluntary health initiative, however, on closer inspection turns out to be a media-driven standardisation project that suppresses enjoyment, culture and differentiation in favour of simple messages.
Obituary

Remembering Hans-Günter Schwarz

On the Death of the Legendary Winemaker
Image: Wikipedia
Germany's wine world is in mourning. Hans-Günter Schwarz passed away on 21 November 2025 at the age of 84. For decades, Schwarz was arguably the most prominent figure in the German wine scene. He established the international reputation of the Müller-Catoir winery and trained many young winemakers to become top producers. His achievements remain unrivalled to this day.
Comment

Terroir and Misunderstanding

Why the Grape Variety Matters
Image: weinfreaks.de
“A spectre is haunting the world of wine. Its name is terroir.” [translated] With these words, Reinhard Löwenstein once opened his famous essay “Vom Öchsle zum Terroir” (From Oechsle to Terroir), published in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung in October 2003. The article was preceded by years of discussion that had shaped the German wine scene since at least the late 1990s. Löwenstein's essay was of enormous importance to the discourse at the time. In many respects, it is still highly topical. Nevertheless, the headline itself contains a serious misunderstanding.
Tasting

Bordeaux: 2022 a Vintage of the Century?

Great Wines despite Great Drought
Image: weinfreaks.de
Apostrophising a vintage as the vintage of the century even before a centenary has passed may seem premature. However, with regard to the 2022s from the Bordeaux region, the assessment that exceptional wines were produced in that year is undoubtedly anything but bold. Of course, not all châteaux were able to triumph. Moreover, the 2022 was anything but a sure-fire success. The course of the vintage presented the winemakers with major challenges. However, in many cases, the result in the bottle can be downright inspiring. We tasted a cross-section of the vintage on the occasion of the presentation of the Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux at this year's ProWein.
Comment

ProWein in Decline

Large Drop in Exhibitors and Visitors at the International Wine Fair in Düsseldorf
Image: Messe Düsseldorf
In its press release, Messe Düsseldorf celebrates ProWein 2025 (16–18 March) as a success. However, the facts speak a different language. Only 4200 exhibitors, 20 per cent fewer than last year, were spread across the eleven exhibition halls. The number of visitors also fell, by a good ten per cent to 42000 compared to 2024. While the trade fair continues to emphasise the outstanding importance of ProWein for the international wine industry, the exodus of German wine producers in particular has reached a new dimension. Only around 900 exhibitors came from Germany in 2025.

A selection of our previous posts

Tasting

Turning One into Three

Kilian Schmitges' Three-Barrel Experiment
Image: weinfreaks.de
Middle Mosel winemaker Kilian Schmitges from Erden embarked on an unusual experiment in autumn 2016, distributing the grapes from his best dry Riesling evenly across three different containers. What makes it special: In addition to a steel tank and an oak barrel, a granite barrel was also used. While the three wines (labelled Steel, Stone and Wood) were still very similar in the first year after bottling, they now reveal significant differences as they mature. Initially, the stainless steel version was ahead of the granite version, but with the appropriate time lag, we have a completely different ranking.
Facts

Pesticides or Climate Change?

Population of the Apollo Butterfly on the Lower Moselle Endangered
Image: Pixabay

In the biological nomenclature, the Apollo butterfly is listed under the name Paranassius apollo. In the Lower Moselle valley, the subspecies Paranassius apollo vinningensis lives mainly in the steep vineyards between the municipality of Winningen and neighbouring Kobern. For a long time, the Apollo butterfly symbolised the successful coexistence of ecology and viticulture. But now the butterfly species is seriously endangered. New pesticides that have been used in viticulture for the past ten years are said to be to blame. On closer inspection, however, the connections are much more complex.

Tasting

Terra Preta for the Vineyard

Andreas Huppert and the Black Earth of the Indies
Image: Weingut Huppert
Researchers stumbled upon a mystery in the Amazon region at the end of the 19th century. They discovered a deeply dark but extremely fertile soil that did not at all fit the natural conditions. The soils of the tropical rainforests are anything but rich in nutrients. The researchers found answers among the Indians. Already thousands of years ago, the indigenous people practised shifting cultivation with slash-and-burn methods. To improve the fertility of the soil, they mixed plant residues, composted waste, human faeces and plant charcoal. Through fermentation, this resulted in terra preta, the black earth.
Tasting

The Single Vineyards' Common Thread

Geological Diversity in the Tesch Winery
Image: Deutsches Weininstitut
The Tesch winery in Langenlonsheim can look back on a good three hundred years of history. The winery is a prime example of the successful synthesis of tradition and modernity. The microbiologist, who holds a doctorate, consistently cut off old habits. He banned the obsolete natural cork in favour of a screw cap and left the regional association of the Verband Deutscher Prädikatsweingüter on the Nahe because his marketing concept did not fit the ideology of the elitist association. However, Tesch is by no means an avant-gardist. Rather, he knows how to present his dry Rieslings in a contemporary style. These, in turn, show no stylistic ingratiation with the zeitgeist. On the contrary. Soils, exposure of the vineyards, microclimate and vintage are reflected unadulterated in the six single vineyard wines.
Tasting

Draught Horse HE

Palatinate Pinot Noirs in Burgundian Style
Image: Pixabay
“Prago”, “Arthos”, “Melandor”. This is how winemaker Uli Metzger from Grünstadt-Asselheim calls his three best Pinot Noirs. Their first vintage, 2012, is now sold out at the winery. Not least because “Arthos” was one of the winning wines at the VINUM German Red Wine Award last year. The young 2013s are already tasting very promising and even indicate an increase compared to the previous year. However, there is not much room for improvement. Uli Metzger's advisor knows that, too. For Hans Erich Dausch, the three Pinot Noirs are in the same league as the best red wines of Burgundy. Dausch can judge that. He knows Burgundy like the back of his hand and is a welcome guest at Romanée-Conti. In his Palatinate homeland, he is better known by his abbreviation HE than by his civil name.
Tasting

Between Vienne and Valence

White and Red Wines from the Northern Rhône
Image: Pixabay
Geologically and climatically, the northern part of the Côtes du Rhône differs significantly from the southern. Between Vienne in the north and Valence in the south, the river flows through a valley bordered by the foothills of the Massif Central in the west and the Alps in the east. On the sometimes very steep, often terraced slopes, Syrah is mainly grown as the only red wine variety permitted in the various appellations. The share of white wines has increased in recent years and is now almost 20 percent. The main grape variety here is Viognier. However, Marsanne Blanche and Roussanne are also gaining some importance.
Tasting

… at the End, the Germans Always Win

The Pinot Noir Country Competition
Image: Pixabay
Although the Pinot Noir is better suited than any other red wine variety to produce unique and incomparable, elegant, finesse-rich and multi-layered wines in a comparatively cool climate, after the Second World War German winegrowers mainly produced pale-coloured, thin drinks smelling of raspberry syrup. It was not until the 1980s that a few ambitious German winegrowers began to think about cultivating and developing Pinot Noir. They drastically reduced yields, separated from inferior high-yielding clones and perfected barrique ageing. Only gradually did this work bear fruit. Today, as our blind tasting shows, German Pinot Noirs are quite capable of not only catching up with their Burgundian competitors, but in some cases even surpassing them in quality.
Tasting

90 Percent Riesling

The Ruwer Trumps
Image: Deutsches Weininstitut
The vineyards in the Ruwer valley belong to the Moselle wine-growing region, which was still called Mosel-Saar-Ruwer until the law was changed in 2006. Riesling dominates the steep slopes. A proud 90 percent of the area is planted with the noble white wine grape. Nowhere else is the proportion of Riesling in the grape variety list higher. Although the filigree and subtle Rieslings from the Ruwer are very similar to those from the Moselle and Saar, they have their own distinctive character. As a result of a longer growing season and lower average temperatures compared to the Moselle Valley, the Ruwer Rieslings are much more acidic and have a pronounced green herbaceous aroma, especially in cooler years.