Tuesday, March 6, 2018

Tour, Tasting, Dinner and Overnight Stay at Weingut Kruger Rumpf, Nahe, with Stefan, Cornelia and Georg Rumpf – Germany-North Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours

Picture: Tour, Tasting, Dinner, and Overnight Stay at Weingut Kruger Rumpf, Nahe, with Stefan, Cornelia and Georg Rumpf

Last year on the Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours, we also payed a visit to Weingut Kruger-Rumpf. But the visit took place in Bingen at the wine tavern Altes Rathaus, which the Rumpf family had taken over in that year. See: Wine-pairing Dinner at Weingut Kruger-Rumpf's Wine Tavern Altes Rathaus in Bingen, with Stefan Rumpf – Germany-North Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours

Pictures: At Wine Tavern Altes Rathaus in Bingen, with Stefan Rumpf

This year, we went back to the winery in Münster-Sarmsheim, which also includes a fantastic restaurant. Not only that, just opposite of the winery on the other side of the street, Weingut Kruger-Rumpf also disposes of a bit more than a handfull of guest rooms. The Rumpfs have the permit to add more rooms to the existing ones. But Georg Rumpf and his brother are not eager to go that route. They want to refocus on the winery and the production of wines.

Anyway, we stayed overnight at Weingut Kruger-Rumof this time. The visit started with a short tour of the winery, lead by Stefan Rumpf. We then had a wine-pairing at the restaurant of Weingut Kruger-Rumpf. Stefan and Georg poured the wines and joined us from time to time. The latter had returned this morning from a Skurnik/ Theise sales trip in the US. The evening ended with dinner. 

We then had a good night's sleep and a wonderful breakfast in the Kruger-Rumpf restaurant in the morning.

In the Gault&Millau WeinGuide Deutschland 2018, Weingut Kruger-Rumpf has 4 (out of 5) grapes. See: Gault Millau WeinGuide Deutschland/ Germany 2018: The Climbers

Weingut Kruger-Rumpf is represented in the US by Michael Skurnik/ Terry Theise and widely available in the country.

Pictures: Welcome, Annette Schiller and Georg Rumpf

Weingut Kruger-Rumpf

“In our family, viniculture has been tradition since 1708 - a tradition that we have been cultivating in our vineyards as well as in our manor house which was built back in 1830” said Georg Rumpf. Stefan Rumpf, Georg’s father, brought Weingut Kruger-Rumpf up to where it is today: After completing his studies in agricultural sciences, including stints in Californian wineries, and conducting research at the Geisenheim research institute, Stefan Rumpf took over the estate from his parents in 1984. Up until then, the wines were sold almost entirely in bulk. Stefan Rumpf changed this and started to bottle his wines and to market the bottles himself. Less than 10 years later, in 1992, Weingut Kruger-Rumpf was invited to join the VDP, the about 200 German elite winemakers, a clear sign of what Stefan Rumpf had achieved over the course of just 8 years.

Today, Weingut Kruger-Rumpf has 4 (of 5) grapes in the Gault Millau WeinGuide Deutschland. The vineyard area totals 22 hectares and the annual production is 14.000 cases. The top sites are: Münsterer Dautenpflänzer (slate with sandy loam); Münsterer Pittersberg (slate); Münsterer Rheinberg (weathered quartzite and sandy loam); Binger Scharlachberg Rheinhessen (Rotliegend and porphyry).

Grape varieties: 65% Riesling, 10% each of Silvaner and Weissburgunder, 5% each of Chardonnay, Grauburgunder and Spätburgunder. In fact, Kruger-Rumpf was the first estate in the Nahe region to plant Chardonnay.

Georg Rumpf has taken over the winemaking aspect of Weingut Kruger-Rumpf, while his father is now more focusing on sales and general management. Georg's brother Philipp Rumpf has recently joined the operations.

Weingut Krueger-Rumpf sells 70% of its production in Germany and exports the remaining 30%. Accordingly, “80% of the wines we produce are dry wines” said Georg “and 20% are fruity-sweet and noble-sweet wines.”

Pictures: Cellar Tour at Weingut Kruger-Rumpf in Münster-Sarmsheim, Nahe

Vineyards

Here is a good description of Weingut Rumpf's vineyards, from Skurnik/ Terry Theise.

Münsterer Dautenpflänzer – loesss, subsoil is quartz – Daute means “shoot” and pflänzer means “plant”, an homage to the fact that this was once a nursery. South facing, the older section is steep, and the vineyard is an amphitheater shape.

Münsterer im Pitterberg – slate (Devonian weathered grey) – this is a Grosse Lage (Grand Cru) steep south facing site.

Münsterer Rheinberg – weathered quartzite and sandy loam– southeast facing, from very steep on the higher sections to gentle slopes with richer soils in the lower sections.

Binger Scharlachberg Rheinhessen – quartz and red sandstone/red slate – The name means scarlet hill, planted in terraced sections rather than straight slopes. Just across the Nahe to the east of Münster, this vineyard is technically in the Rhienhessen in its far northwest boundary.

Bingerbrücker Abtei im Ruppertsberg – phyllite, which is essentially mica slate – south facing very steep hillside. Abtei means abbey and this vineyard belonged to the abbey at Bingen, home to Hildegard vom Bingen. Most northern vineyard in the Nahe.

Dorsheimer Burgberg – volcanic Permian era conglomerate, and quartz – quite steep and very small vineyard in Dorsheim, one village south of Münster.

Münsterer Kapellenberg – quartz, with some red slate – several sections which are very steep, but similar to Rheinberg where the lower sections have richer soils.

Pictures: Annette and Christian G.E. Schiller in the Vineyard with Georg RumpfPictures: In the Vineyard with Georg Rumpf during a previous Visit of Weingut Kruger-Rump.
See: Wine Dinner with Tour at Weingut Kruger-Rumpf in Münster-Sarmsheim, Nahe, with Georg Rumpf – Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Country Restaurant Kruger-Rumpf

One of the (many) assets of Weingut Kruger-Rumpf is the lovely country restaurant, which is part of the winery. It opened its doors in 1994. They call it a wine tavern, but for me it is a country restaurant. Whatever you call it, it is a lovely place, where you can have a great time with traditional, upscale cuisine and Kruger-Rumpf wines in the cozy atmosphere of a family-run country restaurant.

Pictures: Stefan Rumpf and Cornelia Rumpf, with Georg Rumpf, his Wife and Daughter. (A second daughter, Magdalena Johanna, was borne in early 2018)

The rooms are decorated with appropriate accessories depending on the season. Painted stucco ceilings, historic tiled stoves, wooden floors, warm wall paint as well as furniture in country-house style provide for a comfortable living room atmosphere. The bright rooms are located on the ground floor of the manor house.

In addition, there is an idyllic garden. Especially during the summer, the garden restaurant of the winery provides you with the opportunity to enjoy the evening in a cozy al fresco atmosphere with a hearty meal and a good glass of wine. In fact, we did the tasting and had the dinner in the garden restaurant.

Pictures: Tasting with Stefan and Georg Rumpf at Weingut Kruger-Rumpf

I love to wine and dine at Weingut Kruger-Rumpf. Towards the end of the year, after the harvest, Weingut Kruger-Rumpf always organizes two winemaker dinners. These are exceptional events, because of the wines, the food and the ambiance. When we are in Germany during that period, we always try to participate.

The Wines Stefan and Georg Rumpf Poured

2015 Weingut Kruger-Rumpf Sauvignon Blanc trocken

Everyone seems to be making a little, and notwithstanding my skepticism as to whether the variety actually belongs in Germany (where it is very trendy) I allow myself to be won over by the yummy ones. This is barrel-fermented in (1,000-liter) Stück, without temperature control, and it’s a seriously pretty slinky sorta SB, neither paprika nor gooseberry but instead smoky and current-leafy; the palate is racy and juicy and the finish really snappy. I like it a lot, but watch out if you require a “smooth” finish. — Terry Theise

2016 Weingut Kruger-Rumpf Weisser Burgunder trocken

NV Weingut Kruger-Rumpf Rosé Brut

“Moderate dosage, 36 months on the lees, this is arrestingly delicious; it’s 90% PN and 10% Riesling both wood-fermented, no malo in the Riesling, and the disgorgement date is on the label. This is racy, sea-spray, rose-hip; a fine richness here, jammed with flavor; less meaty than (some) pink Champagnes, and of course no chalk, but otherwise a serious contender with deftly balanced wood. Surprise!” – Terry Theise 


2016 Weingut Kruger-Rumpf Münster Riesling trocken

The next step up into the Village-wine (in the sensible VDP scheme; I don’t hate everything they do…) and it has wonderful slate aromas and a palate with lots of apple-y fruitiness; the dryness here is stylish and accommodating. — Terry Theise

2016 Weingut Kruger-Rumpf Dorsheim Riesling trocken


2015 Weingut Kruger-Rumpf Münsterer Pittersberg Riesling trocken
2015 Weingut Kruger-Rumpf Münsterer Kapellenberg Riesling trocken


2015 Weingut Kruger-Rumpf Abtei Riesling trocken

This is a new vineyard for Georg; it’s the site closest to the Rhine, with a phyllite soil (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phyllite) similar to that of the supernal Rheingau vineyard Rauenthaler Baiken. It’s a sponti from old vines on steep slopes, and to me it tasted a little like (Kamptal’s) Gaisberg. A bit clipped in its infant-stage, the palate vibrates between slate and exotics, and the wine is potent and promising. – Terry Theise

2015 Weingut Kruger-Rumpf Münsterer Rheinberg Riesling trocken


2015 Weingut Kruger-Rumpf Im Pitterberg Riesling GG trocken
2015 Weingut Kruger-Rumpf Dautenpflänzer Riesling GG trocken

Wonderful exotic aromas like if irises had orgasms; ferrous and almost like a Wachau wine or a Piri from Nigl; mizuna and grill- marks and leaf-smoke; stern and dry but assertively expressive, but it’s not a wine for sensual hedonists. – Terry Theise


2015 Weingut Kruger-Rumpf Münsterer Rheinberg Riesling Kabinett feinherb

An orgy of apples along with their skins, animated and contrapuntal, cox-orange flesh against granny smith skins; solid acid driven finish, and beautifully balanced; soulful texture from cask aging. A leap not forward but down, into truth and foundation. This isn’t a “little” Kabinett anymore. — Terry Theise 


2016 Weingut Kruger-Rumpf Im Pitterberg Riesling Spätlese

For me this was the pick among the Späts, especially if you like Saar Riesling’s grapefruity tang; limey yet rich and extractdense; the mid-palate recalls the “Uralte Reben” from Selbach, with perhaps more heft and a harder backbone. Soul in spades! – Terry Theise 


2013 Weingut Kruger-Rumpf Spätburgunder M trocken


Dinner

After the tasting we had dinner. Dinner was lovely. The evening ended late. But it was a short walk to the guest rooms of Weingut Kruger-Rumpf for a good night's sleep.

Pictures: Dinner at Weingut Kruger-Rumpf

Breakfast

When we had breakfast the next morning, Geor, Stefan and Cornelia came by to say good-bye. Thank you very much Cornelia, Stefan and Georg for a great evening.

Pictures: Breakfast

Postings: Germany-North Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours: Quintessential German Riesling and the Northernmost Pinot Noir (Posted and Forthcoming)

Germany-North Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours: Quintessential German Riesling and the Northernmost Pinot Noir

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