Germany ( Marktstraße 62, 67487 Maikammer, Germany )
Immengarten Hof is located in Maikammer famous for its wines and for the invention of the wooden Measure stick, German equivalent to the English rolling rod or measuring tape. Immengarten Hof means home of the bees and you still find many bee hives in the vineyards. It faces east so a good place to give the bees some morning sun and increase honey production. Immengarten Hof has three vineyards, Kapellenberg, Kirchenstück and Heiligenberg. From the latter we get our Pinot Noir which Frank has matured in oak making it an alternative to the smooth and fruitful Pinot Noirs one often finds.
In 1884 Friedrich Höhn started making Wine in Maikammer right in the center of the Palatine. Today his great grandson Frank is running the Farm. Under Franks Father IMMENGARTEN HOF was a run of the mill small winery, selling most of his wines to the local cooperative and the rest mainly to tourists who would pass through this area. When Frank took over this changed. Not that Frank has a problem with tradition he loves the land and wants to preserve it. Therefore he is not using any artificial fertiliser or pesticides. Frank studied winemaking in Weinsberg not far away and met students from Australia and South Africa with whom he stayed in contact. When we visited Boekenhoutskloof in South Africa we discovered that the winemaker was Rudi Gretschel who was in the same class as Frank. What a small world. A generation earlier the main grape was Riesling, well we are in the Palatine, and long gone grapes like Scheurebe, Kerner and Huxelrebe which were replaced with Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Gewürztraminer and Auxerrois. These are all well made honest wines but what Frank really stands for are his reds. Blaufränkisch and Dornfelder are grown in this area since the beginning of time but now Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and it´s siblings Cabernet Dorsa, Cabernet Cubin, Cabernet Franc are more and more grown. The average temperature during the last 20 years has risen by 1,4°C which makes it possible to grow more warm climate varietals with good results. Yes as he shyly admits he is a profiteer of the climate change. He is aware of the inevitable but still is trying to do his bit by not using herbicides or artificial fertilisers. Without seeking bio labels or joining a ‘green growers’ initiative.“ I want to preserve this land for my 5 year old “ he said and while this could be taken as your typical green washing slogan that works well in advertising we have seen his approach and can vouch his sincerity . Frank thinks and than acts without compromising. Consequent to the border of stubbornness. With this attitude Frank has started producing his reds and what helps the wines is his passionate use of Barrique in the cellar. His passion for Barrique started early in his career and was recognised from the outside when he was nominated best Barrique wine maker of the palatine which brought him national attention. He is producing every varietal separately, the blending is done just before bottling to get the best out of each varietal. Flagships like Cupido (Cabernet Cubin, Pinot Noir and Cabernet. Dorsa), Four-Play (Cab Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Dornfelder) or CabMerle ( 70% Merlot 30% Cabernet Cubin) will also surprise weathered red wine drinkers. But also on single varietals like Merlot, his flagship red, Cabernet Franc ( for myself the best pure Cabernet Franc grown in Germany ) or the mentioned Cabernet Cubin and Cabernet Dorsa, great reds with huge ageing potential. – The Cabernet Dorsa is also on the wine list of the Parliament restaurant in Berlin but don’t blame the wine, its more that politicians know what’s good.- From the whites we like the Chardonnay the best as here again the Barrique plays an important role, grown on sandstone south facing, it is fermented in 225Ltr French oak for 12 month which gives the wine a intensive nose of pear and banana. It´s a strong wine very long at the end and has this full silky taste that can compliment a steak or a hearty fish dish.
Frank runs the winery he is the 5th generation. As long as he can remember he has been in the vineyards, knows terroir and grapes very well. Under the rule of his father the winery was run on increasing yield, most of the wine was sold to the cooperative. That changed when Frank took over. He studied winemaking in Geisenheim a place were students from all over the world learn about wine and strong international friendships were found. These new connections widened his horizon and during that time he developed a passion for barrique. All his reds are matured in either French American or Hungarian Oak. As a result he was named best Barrique Winemaker in 2015. As a passionate good cook he creates his wines around certain dishes and when you don’t find him in the vineyard or the cellar he is in the kitchen.
