Wine in the Family Since 1668
Weingut Peter Stolleis writes a story that has become rare in Germany: wine in the same family for over 350 years. In 1668 the first vineyards were acquired in Gimmeldingen — when the Pfalz, almost depopulated after the Thirty Years' War, was attracting new settlers with favourable land offers. For centuries wine was at first a sideline next to the family stone-quarry business. Only in 1863 did the namesake Peter Stolleis found the estate proper.
Today, in the twelfth generation, Hans-Christoph Stolleis carries the house forward, with Florian Haas as cellar master. Since the handover in 2020 a new, younger line has been clearly felt: more rigorous organic farming, more Spätburgunder, the reintroduction of spontaneous fermentation, and a clear stylistic idea: modern, precise, honest. Tradition as a foundation, not as convention.
Gimmeldingen — Mittelhaardt at Its Best
Gimmeldingen lies in the heart of the Mittelhaardt, nestled between the Pfälzer Wald and the Rhine plain. What makes the vineyards here so special is the interplay of Buntsandstein and so-called "limestone islands" — small limestone deposits that break up the otherwise sandstone-dominated area. It is precisely this mixture that gives Stolleis wines their multi-layered character.
The most important vineyards lie around Gimmeldingen: Biengarten with the famous König-Ludwig-Pavillon at its highest point, the Mandelgarten as a top Spätburgunder address, the Meerspinne for Riesling and Pinot, the Kapellenberg for elegant Riesling. Add to that parcels in Königsbacher Ölberg and Idig, Haardter Herzog and Mussbacher Eselshaut — a portfolio that Mittelhaardt lovers know well.
What additionally shapes these wines: the cool evening air from the Pfälzer Wald, which after hot days cools the grapes — and so preserves the tension and freshness so characteristic of Stolleis wines.
In the Cellar — Tradition, Reinterpreted
In the cellar Stolleis combines tradition and new clarity. The single-vineyard wines mature in large oak casks, partly in Stückfässer from the time of Hans-Christoph's grandfather — wood that has been in use for decades and no longer gives off any wood character, only structure. The estate wines remain in stainless steel — fresh and unadorned.
Spontaneous fermentation has been reintroduced since 2019. Harvest is 70–80% by hand, deliberately early for lively, clearly structured wines with moderate alcohol. Organic-certified, Fair Choice certified since 2023, with no purchased grapes — everything from their own vineyards.
The Result — Wines That Don't Need to Shout
What this style means in the glass: Rieslings with precise acid structure, clear fruit, mineral backbone — the Pfalz as it should be, without exaggeration. Spätburgunders with fine-grained tannins and the typical cool of the Mittelhaardt limestone islands. Weißburgunder with depth and creaminess. And a Crémant Brut Nature aged for over three years on the lees — a patience that few houses can afford.
A style that finds recognition: at Meininger Best of Riesling 2025 — the world's largest blind-tasted Riesling competition — two Stolleis Rieslings placed in the top three of the dry single-vineyard Rieslings category. A fine confirmation of what arises here in Mußbach-Gimmeldingen with patience and clarity.
What We Particularly Value
At Wein & Nielsen we carry the central line of the estate. The Riesling range from Gimmeldingen shows the village's character across four different parcels: Biengarten, Kapellenberg, Meerspinne, and the Riesling Gimmeldingen Réserve as Ortswein. Add to that the Rieslings from neighbouring villages — Königsbach as Ortswein and the Königsbacher Ölberg as a single-vineyard wine from one of the Mittelhaardt's most renowned sites. The Gimmeldinger Meerspinne Spätburgunder as Grosse Lage and flagship of the growing Pinot line. The Weissburgunder Mussbach and the rare Unikat Sauvignon Blanc Fumé. And as a sparkling-wine specialty, the Crémant Brut Nature — three years on the lees, no dosage.
A Personal Connection
Whoever visits the family in Mussbach-Gimmeldingen senses immediately what makes this estate distinctive: the quiet self-confidence of a long family line, paired with the ambition of a new generation pursuing its own idea of Pfalz wine. Tradition as a grown foundation, not as a corset — and wines that show this balance precisely in the glass.
Our Selection — Direct from the Estate
At Wein & Nielsen you'll find the Weingut Peter Stolleis range direct from the estate. Organic-certified, ex-winery prices.
