Weingut Dr. Bürklin-Wolf, located in Pfalz, is one of the largest family-owned wine estates in Germany. It was originally established in 1597 by Bernhard Bürklin, and today is best known for its varied expressions of Riesling from some of the region's top vineyard sites in Wachenheim, Forst, Deidesheim and Ruppertsberg.
The estate has eschewed the traditional German vineyard classification system, instead adopting a more Burgundian approach. Dr Bürklin-Wolf classifies its own vineyards according to its own strict criteria, ranking them as Grand Cru or Premier Cru (appearing on labels as "GC" and "PC").
The best sites include Forster Kirchenstück, Wachenheimer Rechbächel, and the 7.5 hectare (19 acre) monopole Ruppertsberger Gaisböhl. In total, there is 110 hectares (247 acres) of biodynamically farmed land, with 85 hectares (210 acres) under vine.
Grapes intended for the estate's cru wines are handpicked at dawn and whole-cluster pressed. The Premier and Grand Cru wines are fermented with ambient yeasts and age in traditional oak casks – the Premier Cru wines until the first May after harvest and the Grand Cru wines until the first July after harvest.
