The von Hövel winery is located in Oberemmel, a wine-growing village in a side valley on the lower Saar. A founding member of the VDP Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, it has been family-owned for over 200 years and is now managed by Max von Kunow. On 21.5 hectares of vineyards, 87% Riesling is cultivated, along with some Weissburgunder (Pinot Blanc) and Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir). In addition to 2.85 hectares in the world-renowned Scharzhofberg, the winery also owns two monopole vineyards. One is Oberemmeler Hütte, a 5-hectare vineyard classified as a GROSSE LAGE by the VDP, whose fruit-driven Rieslings with their pronounced exotic aromas are the winery's flagship. The other is Kanzemer Hörecker, a parcel of approximately 0.5 hectares, which can rightly be called the "prime cut of Kanzemer Altenberg"! The wines from this site also impress with their opulent fruit and fine spicy notes and are usually found at the annual wine auction in Trier. Furthermore, the winery cultivates parcels in Oberemmeler Karlsberg, Oberemmeler Rosenkamm, Wiltinger Klosterberg, and, since taking over a business from the "Konzer Tälchen," also parcels in Krettnacher Silberberg, Krettnacher Euchariusberg, and Krettnacher Altenberg. The winery receives excellent ratings in the relevant trade press. For example, Gault & Millau awards 3 red grapes, Eichelmann gives 3.5 stars, and Feinschmecker awards four "F's". In addition, the specialist magazine Feinschmecker honored Max von Kunow with the internationally highly respected Wine Award "Newcomer of the Year 2016" – the provisional crowning glory of his work. In addition to developing his winery, winemaker Max von Kunow is also passionate about professional and cultural exchange with winemakers from other regions and countries. Thus, the winery is a member of the "Twin Wineries Initiative." This association is a network of German and Israeli winemakers who exchange ideas about the problems and challenges of winegrowing today. This aims to promote a cultural exchange between Jewish and German winemaking and to make the wines of both countries better known through joint activities. Furthermore, the von Hövel winery was a co-founder of the "WURZELWERK & WINZERS BEITRAG" project. In this project, winemakers from Germany and Austria exchanged grapes from their best sites to find out whether the site or the winemaker has a greater influence on the wine. The von Hövel winery is thus a traditional and innovative enterprise rolled into one! A look at its interesting history is also worthwhile:

The Von Hövel Winery was formerly church property and belonged to the St. Maximin monastery estate in Trier. Under the reign of Napoleon Bonaparte, many ecclesiastical institutions in the region were dispossessed. Thus, during the secularization in 1803, it came into the possession of Emmerich Grach. The Trier merchant bought the winery, including arable land and other properties, and founded the Von Hövel Winery. His son, Johann Georg Grach, continuously developed the winery. His granddaughter married the royal forester Balduin von Hövel in 1902, who took over the winery and gave it its current name. Finally, in 1950, Balduin von Hövel's granddaughter, Irmgard von Kunow, together with her husband Friedrich, took over the winery from an inheritance community. It was her son, Eberhard von Kunow, who helped the business achieve its current fame. He managed the winery until 2010, and his aromatic Rieslings with delicate fruit delighted enthusiasts worldwide. In 2011, his son and current owner, Maximilian von Kunow, finally took over responsibility for the traditional winery. After his winemaking training at the famous Baden winery Salwey, he studied "International Wine Business" at the renowned Geisenheim University of Applied Sciences and then worked for years as a consultant for Luxembourgish private winemakers. He brought the diverse impressions of his formative and journeyman years into the family business, which he now manages in the 7th generation. During his time in Luxembourg, a great friendship also developed with the renowned Luxembourgish Michelin-starred chef Lea Linster. Together with her, he launched the "CrossMosel" wine project in 2010 and created the off-dry Riesling "LMEAAX," which has enjoyed great popularity since its premiere with the 2010 vintage. For Max von Kunow, his first vintage at the winery was a grand success anyway, as his Von Hövel Scharzhofberger Spätlese feinherb 2010 was immediately awarded by Gault & Millau as Germany's best off-dry wine! Last but not least, 2010 was a complete success for him because Max von Kunow followed in his father's footsteps that year and has since headed the traditional Prädikat wine auction in Trier as auctioneer of the Großer Ring Mosel-Saar-Ruwer.

Weingut von Hövel has gradually converted its outdoor operations to organic farming methods in recent years. This means pesticides, herbicides, and mineral fertilizers are no longer used, in order to promote biodiversity in the vineyard. Consequently, the vines are fertilized exclusively with organic matter and cultivated in a near-natural way. However, organic certification is not sought, as the winery wishes to retain the option of using fungicides in years with high disease pressure. Instead, the winery bears the FAIR'N GREEN label. This organization not only focuses on sustainable, environmentally friendly cultivation but, in the spirit of a holistic approach, also incorporates other factors, such as fair treatment of its employees. In autumn, the grapes are harvested selectively by hand as late as possible, often not until mid-October, and brought to the winery. Here, depending on the wine type, the grapes are either pressed whole directly, or first lightly crushed and left to macerate on the skins for several hours in a chilled state before pressing. The must is then left to settle overnight in a stainless steel tank, allowing the coarse lees particles to collect at the bottom of the tank. The next morning, the clear must is transferred to its fermentation vessel, where it undergoes spontaneous fermentation with natural yeasts. Depending on the wine type, fermentation takes place either in stainless steel tanks or in 1,000-liter oak barrels. Over 40 of these traditional fuder barrels are located in the winery's historic, over 1,100-year-old vaulted cellar. After fermentation, the wines are allowed to mature on their lees until bottling, which gives them a fine, silky texture and inner balance.

The style of von Hövel wines can be described as elegant and light-footed. A delicate fruit runs through all the wines, paired with distinctly herbal/mineral notes. On the palate, the wines are incredibly juicy, well-structured, and equipped with an animating ripe acidity and low alcohol. Excellent drinkability and a lot of enjoyment in the glass are guaranteed here!