Martinsthal/Rheingau
 

Karl Werner Faust has a very simple philosophy: “Those who always follow the current trend, loose their identity.”  His goal is to produce real Rheingau Riesling. Not more, not less.



The Faust family has over one hundred  years of wine making experience. Generation five and six are now working together. Senior Karl Werner is mainly involved in sales and administration. His son, Frank, has total control over the wine making process. He is responsible for 8.5 hectare of vineyards in the district of Martinsthal, Eltville and Walluf, all of which are located in the east Rheingau region and very close to the beautiful State capitol city of Wiesbaden.
‘KW’ Karl Werner Faust



The vines are from single vineyards such as Martinsthaler Wildsau and Martinthaler Rödchen.


Deep loess and loam soil grows very fruity wines, even in dry years. Different minerals in the soil, embedded in layers of slate and gravel, create site-specific aromas and tastes.

    

 


When it comes to growing different grape varieties, Riesling, of course, dominates. It is classically completed by Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir) and Weissburgunder (Pinot Blanc).  

“As much as necessary, and as little as necessary” is the slogan of Faust when it comes to chemicals in the vineyards. The young winemaker, Frank, is an extremely careful user of chemicals. He adamantly believes in environment-friendly wine growing. Turf between the vines, not chemical fertilization, provides the vines with nitrogen and minerals. The vines are kept safe by thinning out the leaves during the growing season and, at the end of the year, very intensive work in the vineyards by selective hand harvest.

Riesling and (Weissburgunder) Pinot Blanc ferment in steel tanks. The Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir) is fermented in traditional French Oak.


   There is something about this winery... German ‘Gemütlichkeit’, and exceptional friendliness of the people who work the winery. And then there is the ‘Strausswirtschaft’. Always in spring and fall, KW and Annette open their private quarters, serve delicate tidbits and organize wine and food pairings with celebrity chef’s. These events are open for the public and everybody is warmly welcomed.

 
The customer is priority at Faust. The goal is simple: Deliver the best quality wines and stay honest to your beliefs. Other wineries are remorsefully coming back to this philosophy. This small but very fine winery didn’t have to, because they never left it.