Peter Jakob Kühn is a family estate with more than two centuries of roots in Oestrich-Winkel, in Germany’s Rheingau. Knowledge of its vineyard sites has passed through generations, but the decision to adopt biodynamic farming in 2004 gave that inheritance a fresh direction. Today, Peter Bernhard Kühn continues the family’s work, with Riesling overwhelmingly the principal grape and a small proportion of Pinot Noir. Vineyards shaped by quartzite, slate and varied riverbank soils provide the starting point for wines that place origin at the centre of their character.
The estate is especially respected for expressive dry Riesling, from the welcoming Jacobus to more concentrated, site-specific bottlings. Hand harvesting, gentle pressing and fermentation without added cultured yeasts allow the wines to develop at their own pace. Extended maturation is an important part of the approach, giving even the estate and village wines time before release. Its standing is supported by formal recognition: the Gault & Millau 2017 guide awarded Peter Jakob Kühn its maximum five-grape rating. Behind that acclaim is a thoughtful family philosophy, combining a long understanding of Rheingau vineyards with a commitment to living soils and patient winemaking.
