Weingut Keller

History of Keller

Weingut Keller traces its roots back to 1789, when the Keller family began cultivating vines in the small village of Flörsheim-Dalsheim in Rheinhessen. For many years, the family produced solid, traditional wines, but it wasn’t until the 20th century that the estate began to evolve into the world-class producer we know today.

The modern Keller story truly began with Klaus-Peter Keller, who took over from his father, Klaus Keller, in the late 1990s. Under Klaus-Peter’s leadership, the style became more refined, and the focus shifted toward extremely precise, terroir-driven wines, often from steep, limestone-rich vineyards.

Today, Klaus-Peter and his wife Julia Keller run the estate, with their son Felix Keller already active in the family business, marking the transition to the next generation. The family owns about 19 hectares of vineyards, many of which are located on some of the finest parcels in Rheinhessen.

Keller's Philosophy and Winemaking Methods

Klaus-Peter Keller is known as a perfectionist and a true interpreter of terroir. His winemaking philosophy can be summed up in one word: authenticity. He strives to produce wines that express their origin — not the hand of the winemaker.

The estate follows biodynamic and sustainable principles. Fertilization is natural, pesticides are avoided, and all vineyard work is carried out with great respect for biodiversity. Harvesting is done exclusively by hand, often in several passes, to ensure perfect ripeness.

In the cellar, Keller practices minimal intervention: spontaneous fermentation with natural yeast, long contact with the lees (sur lie), and aging in large, old fuder casks made of German oak. This approach gives the wines natural texture and complexity without overshadowing the character of the grapes or the soil.

Keller is especially known for his dry Grosses Gewächs (GG) Rieslings, which are often compared to the finest Grand Cru wines of Burgundy, both in style, complexity, and price.

FUN FACT: Klaus-Peter Keller is known for his humility and collaborative spirit — he has worked with legendary winemakers such as Aubert de Villaine of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti.

Keller's Vineyards and Location

Keller’s vineyards are located around the villages of Dalsheim and Westhofen in southern Rheinhessen. The area benefits from a special microclimate and an underground layer dominated by limestone, which gives the wines their signature character — mineral, precise, and often with a salty edge.

The most famous vineyard sites Keller produces from include:

• G-Max (secret vineyard): The estate’s most famous and mysterious wine, made in microscopic quantities from a confidential Grand Cru parcel.

• Abtserde (Westhofen): Known for its chalky soils and its ability to produce intense, age-worthy wines with saline minerality.

• Morstein: One of Germany’s most iconic vineyards; producing wines of great depth, complexity, and structure.

• Kirchspiel: A south-facing, sunny slope yielding wines with rich fruit and floral finesse.

• Hubacker: One of the estate’s oldest vineyards, known for elegance and clarity.

• Bürgel (Dalsheim): Produces red Pinot Noir (Spätburgunder) of international caliber.

Keller also owns small parcels outside the core zones, used for experimental cuvées and micro-productions.

FUN FACT: The Keller family often harvests G-Max grapes at dawn, using only the very best clusters — the exact vineyard location remains a closely guarded family secret.

Top 10 Vintages of Keller

Although Keller produces outstanding wines every year, some vintages stand out as truly monumental. Below is an overview of ten of the finest and most celebrated Keller vintages:

• 2001: Classic and taut, with purity and high acidity; the beginning of the modern Keller style.

• 2004: Elegant, mineral, and exceptionally long; a vintage of great precision.

• 2007: Sunny and ripe, full-bodied and concentrated; still youthful.

• 2009: Harmonious, round, and generous; perfectly balanced between ripeness and acidity.

• 2011: Rich but precise; approachable early but with unmistakable Keller DNA.

• 2013: A cool, classic year; extremely precise wines with long aging potential.

• 2016: A winemaker’s dream; combining freshness and complexity beautifully.

• 2019: Dense, energetic, and perfectly balanced; a modern Keller classic.

• 2020: A warm year, yet with exceptional structure and freshness; very age-worthy.

• 2021: Cool and precise, with high acidity and unusual purity and praised by critics as one of the most classic recent vintages.

These vintages highlight the breadth of Keller’s portfolio and demonstrate how even subtle variations in climate and terroir express themselves vividly in the wines.

Overview of Keller’s Cuvées

Keller’s range spans from entry-level wines to some of the world’s most sought-after cuvées — many of which are regularly traded on the secondary market. Here’s an overview:

Rheinhessen Riesling Trocken

The entry-level wine, yet already a textbook example of Keller precision.

von der Fels

A “mini-GG,” made from younger vines in top vineyards; remarkable value for money and often found on ShareWine.

Kirchspiel GG

Elegant, floral, and mineral.

Hubacker GG

Tighter and more structured; very age-worthy.

Abtserde GG

Deeply complex, chalky, and saline; one of the estate’s most beloved wines.

Morstein GG

Powerful, concentrated, and built for long-term aging.

G-Max

The mythical flagship wine, produced in microscopic quantities and often sold at high auction prices.

Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir)

Burgundy-inspired yet distinctly German in precision, particularly from the Bürgel vineyard.

FUN FACT: The family also produces small quantities of Silvaner and Pinot Noir, both of which have achieved near cult status in recent years.