A Fulminant Comeback
Weingut Eppelmann lies in Stadecken-Elsheim, in a quiet, limestone-shaped valley of Rheinhessen — the Selztal. What has been happening here in recent years is one of the region's most exciting developments, here near Mainz, not far from our own premises.
The impulse came from siblings Corinna and Christian Eppelmann, who joined the family estate in 2018. With them came the conversion to organic farming, a clear focus on classical-method Sekt and the Burgundy grape varieties, and a stylistic sharpening. Today Corinna and Christian work hand in hand with their parents Timo and Simone — with the youngest generation's ambition to return to the top of Rheinhessen. Vinum named the estate Rising Star of the Year Rheinhessen 2024 — confirmation of what connoisseurs have been observing for some years now.
Selztal — Limestone and Pinot
The Selz rises at the Donnersberg and flows into the Rhine at Ingelheim. In the lower Selztal, around Stadecken-Elsheim, limestone soils define the vineyards — a small Côte de Selz, ideal for traditional-method Sekt and for the Burgundy family: Pinot Noir (Spätburgunder) and Chardonnay.
Among the estate's most important sites is the Elsheimer Blume — the heart vineyard of the house, in sight of the estate, with vines partly over 50 years old on calcareous loose rock and clay-rich Tertiary deposits. Then there is the Elsheimer Bockstein on brown-loam-limestone for Pinot Noir, and the Ingelheimer Horn — a historic Pinot Noir site on the Roter Hang of Ingelheim, Rheinhessen's traditional red-wine town.
Sekt — Craft in Pure Form
Sekt at Eppelmann is more than a side product — it is its own discipline. The estate is a member of the Verband traditionellet Sektmacher, the association of classical-method German Sekt producers. All Sekte come from their own grapes, are bottle-fermented in the classical method, and mature long on the lees.
The crowning achievement is the Sektmacher Réserves — Corinna and Christian's first independent Sekt line. From the Selztal's Burgundy grapes: Blanc de Blancs from pure Chardonnay, Riesling Sektmacher Réserve from Riesling. Crafted with intensive handwork, in extra brut style, with real ageing potential — Sekt that doesn't want to be drunk in an ice-bucket hour but deserves time. The accessible entry into this world is the Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut.
Pinot Noir and Chardonnay — Site Typicity, Fine Tannins
In the still wines, the Eppelmanns work consistently organic and vegan, without fining agents. The focus is on site typicity and maturation — deliberately late harvest, long ageing in oak, no audible wood.
Three Chardonnays in a vertical: from Terra F as an accessible entry, through the Elsheimer Blume to the Elsheim Alte Reben from vines over 50 years old — precise, mineral, with cool fruit. Three Pinot Noirs from three different sites: Elsheim Alte Reben from the oldest vines, Elsheimer Bockstein with depth and spice, and the Ingelheimer Horn from Ingelheim's Roter Hang — three stylistic directions from one geographic idea.
A Personal Connection
Whoever visits Corinna, Christian and their family in Stadecken-Elsheim senses immediately what makes this estate distinctive: the quiet self-evidence of three generations, paired with the ambition of a new generation pursuing its own idea of Rheinhessen — focused on limestone, on classical-method Sekt, on Pinot Noir with ageing potential. An estate on its way to the top, and exactly for that reason particularly interesting right now.
Our Selection — Direct from the Estate
At Wein & Nielsen you'll find the Weingut Eppelmann range direct from the estate. Organic. Ex-winery prices.
