Weingut Wasenhaus
Baden

In the rolling hills of southern Baden, Weingut Wasenhaus has become one of the most intriguing stories in modern German wine. Alexander Götze and Christoph Wolber, the two winemakers behind it, bring years of hands-on experience from some of Burgundy’s most respected cellars and apply that knowledge to a small collection of vines in their home region. Working across just a few hectares, they focus on Pinot varieties that show remarkable purity, finesse, and a real sense of place — with Spätburgunder above all, but also Weissburgunder and Chardonnay. As their importer Vom Boden notes, the wines display “an uncommon lightness and clarity; a finesse that embarrasses most other German Pinot Noirs.” They typically reveal a captivating perfume of ripe strawberries and raspberries, silky-elegant texture, vibrant red fruit, crunchy minerality, and an ultra-fine, Burgundy-like precision that retains a distinct Baden lift and energy.

History and Background

Alexander Götze and Christoph Wolber’s paths first converged in Burgundy, where each spent nearly a decade honing their craft at some of the region’s most respected domaines. Götze, originally from near Dresden, initially studied landscape architecture before a chance job in a winery redirected his career. He embraced organic and biodynamic practices early on, gaining experience first in Tuscany and later in Burgundy. There, he worked at Pierre Morey and served as vineyard manager at Domaine de Montille. Wolber, a native of Baden, discovered his passion for wine after tasting a memorable Burgundy and set off west on his motorcycle. He gained extensive hands-on experience at renowned estates including Leflaive, Comte Armand, Bernhard van Berg, Domaine de la Vougeraie, and others in the Côte d’Or.

The two met in the Beaune area — initially as flatmates in Meursault and Volnay — and quickly bonded over their shared admiration for Burgundian finesse. Eventually, they decided to return to Germany together. In 2016, they established Weingut Wasenhaus, taking the name from the old horse farm in Staufen where Wolber grew up. They began modestly with just half a hectare and gradually acquired old, often overlooked parcels across southern Baden.

Their rigorous Burgundian training provided an exceptional foundation, which they have thoughtfully adapted to local terroir and conditions. By choosing to return to Baden rather than remain in France, they set out to revive the region’s long-underappreciated potential for Pinot varieties, drawing on historic plantings and forgotten sites that had largely fallen out of favour.

“Reminding many of the wines of Coche-Dury.”

by Charles Curtis MW, Decanter on the 00 Wines Chardonnays

Vineyard and Terroir

Wasenhaus focuses on a handful of carefully selected sites in southern Baden, primarily around Ehrenstetten in the Markgräflerland, as well as smaller pockets in the volcanic Kaiserstuhl further north. These are steep, hand-worked parcels with naturally low yields — precisely the type of vineyards that cooperatives and mechanised operations tend to overlook.

The soils vary from limestone-rich clays and gravels to dark volcanic basalt, each imparting its own distinct character: the limestone sites deliver vibrant minerality and tension, while the volcanic soils contribute depth, structure, and a darker fruit profile.

As Germany’s warmest wine region, Baden enjoys a favourable microclimate along the Rhine Valley, with dry summers and excellent ripening potential. The estate works almost exclusively with old vines and emphasises ancient Pinot clones that trace their roots to the Burgundian monks who first brought the variety to the region centuries ago.

Farming follows organic principles with biodynamic leanings, driven by a desire to nurture healthy, expressive fruit from living soils rather than rigid ideology. On the steep slopes, all work is done by hand, allowing gentle handling and intimate observation of each individual parcel.

Winemaking Philosophy

Minimal intervention defines the Wasenhaus approach. Deeply influenced by their Burgundian experience, the winemakers have thoughtfully adapted these lessons to suit Baden’s riper fruit and warmer climate.

Whites are whole-cluster pressed in an old screw press, yielding a turbid must rich in solids that encourages natural fermentation and subtle reductive complexity. Reds ferment in open-top vats with gentle extraction and are aged exclusively in neutral French oak. All wines receive minimal sulfur additions only after malolactic fermentation and are bottled unfined and unfiltered.

The guiding principle is to let the fruit and site express themselves clearly, with little oak influence or excessive manipulation. As Götze and Wolber have noted, the techniques they learned in Burgundy are not applied rigidly; instead, they are carefully adapted to local conditions while preserving energy, balance, and freshness.

Signature Wines

The winery’s portfolio centres on Pinot varieties, labelled as Landwein to prioritise purity over strict appellation rules. Its Spätburgunder wines stand out for their lightness and clarity, often regarded as among the finest in Germany. The estate-level bottling offers approachable charm— “a captivating perfume… freshly picked ripe strawberries & raspberries and lovely silky-elegant on the palate”— while the single-vineyard expressions display greater nuance and depth.

Vulkan, from volcanic soils, delivers bold minerality and complexity, described as “precise, elegant, and layered with red berries, night flowers, fried sunflower seeds, and spices,” with tasters noting candied fruit, crystalline purity, and an initial touch of reduction that opens beautifully with air. Kalk, from limestone sites, shows finesse and lift, frequently called the standout: “The mineral core was so prevalent with beautiful red berries and herbal notes… lively acidity and freshness that grabs your attention.” Individual parcels such as Bellen, Kanzel, Möhlin, and Hohlen each tell their own story through distinctive structure, fruit purity, and fine tannins, revealing the estate's ability to translate site-specific terroir into wines of restraint, purity, and beauty.

Weissburgunder (Pinot Blanc) surprises with unexpected depth and complexity, qualities rarely found in German examples. It delivers floral, vivid, and crystalline characters along with serpentine acidity that cleanses and recharges the palate. The wine bursts with verve, linear pulsating energy, and wonderfully crushable freshness carved from stone.

Chardonnay from cooler limestone sites achieves an elegant balance between richness and vibrant acidity. It gains gentle texture while staying fine and elegant, with tasters noting a touch more richness that enhances rather than dominates.

 The range is further enriched by smaller-production wines, including skin-contact Gutedel (Chasselas) and occasional Riesling, all crafted with the same thoughtful minimalism.

Recognition and Impact

Since its early vintages, Wasenhaus has earned widespread acclaim. Stephan Reinhardt of The Wine Advocate has described the wines as “shockingly pure, drop-dead gorgeous juice that completely redefines German Pinots… currently the most exciting one in all of Baden”. Their remarkable finesse and transparency have cultivated a devoted cult following, with limited quantities selling out rapidly to sommeliers and collectors around the world.

Beyond the praise, the estate makes a meaningful contribution by rehabilitating historic vineyard sites, preserving old vine clones, and showcasing Baden’s potential beyond the region’s traditional Riesling stereotypes. In an area still dominated by cooperatives, Wasenhaus quietly demonstrates that exceptional quality, sustainability, and a distinctive personal vision can flourish. In the process, it is helping to redefine what Baden is truly capable of.

Weingut Wasenhaus brings Burgundian finesse and sensibility back to Baden’s own soils and climate. Alexander Götze and Christoph Wolber approach their work with meticulous care —seeking out old vines, intervening lightly in the cellar, and allowing each site to express its unique character. As a result, their wines reflect their attention to being clear, balanced, graceful, and never forced. Above all, they have quietly revived overlooked corners of southern Baden, breathing new life into neglected sites while demonstrating that German Pinot can achieve genuine elegance and expressiveness. For those who prize subtlety, layered complexity, and the quiet thrill of something truly distinctive, Wasenhaus offers wines that feel like a gentle yet compelling redefinition of the region.

2017 Clos des Papes • Chateauneuf du Pape

He blends grapes from his different plots to co-ferment in large vats, after which he then re-blends in to large 20-55 hectoliter wooden foudres (casks) to mature for 15 months. New or small barrels are never used, “I like the oak to make an indirect impact – I only want tannins from the grape skins not even the pips and certainly not the stalks” says Avril. And though it may not be widely known, this domaine has been buying corks from the same producer in Portugal ever since 1926!

The wines are no doubt enticing, garnering great praise from many publications and critics such as Wine Spectator who awarded their 2005 vintage as “Wine of the Year”, stating that “in the Southern Rhône's recent trio of great vintages starting with 2003, no other Châteauneuf-du-Pape domaine has produced better wines than Clos des Papes”. But the accolades don’t stop there, as Robert Parker followed on to pronounce the 2007 vintage “the greatest Chateauneuf du Pape made since 1978 and 1990”.

We at Ginsberg+Chan are extremely proud to be the exclusive distributors of Clos des Papes, and with good volumes of both red and white back vintages too, we can ensure you a wide range of drinking windows for your cellar.

Available Wines From Weingut Wasenhaus