Weingut Faust 

Martinsthal/Rheingau                  

Karl Werner Faust has a very simple philosophy: “Those who always follow the current trend, lose 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.

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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 grape varieties, Riesling of course, dominates.  It is classically completed by Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir) and Weissburgunder (Pinot Blanc).

Instead of using chemicals to protect the vines, Frank decided to make the transition to fully organic wine growing in 2002. Weingut Faust was certified ‘Organic’ by the German Association ECOVIN starting vintage 2008. Turf between the vines,  not chemical fertilization, provides the vines with nitrogen and minerals. Active soils and a lively eco-system is the key to healthy vineyards. The vines are further fungi protected by thinning out the leaves during the growing season. Very intensive work in the vineyards as well as selective hand harvest results in healthy grapes, bursting with flavors.

Riesling and (Weissburgunder) Pinot Blanc are 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.

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 it never left it.