Karl May Winery

Karl May Organic Winery from Osthofen in Rheinhessen

Weingut Karl May is a family-run organic winery from Osthofen in the Wonnegau region of Rheinhessen. In the family since 1815, it is now run by the seventh generation, Fritz and Peter May, and has been organic since 2007. Clear, terroir-driven wines ranging from estate wines to "Große Lage" (Grand Cru) quality.

Weingut Karl May is a family-owned organic winery from Osthofen in the Wonnegau, the southeastern-most tip of Rheinhessen. The family has been producing wine here since 1815, and today brothers Fritz and Peter May manage the estate in the seventh generation. Their wines are clear, terroir-driven, and balanced, and—coincidentally—they share the same name as the famous author.

In the seventh generation in Osthofen since 1815

The roots of the winery date back to 1815, and for seven generations, the family has remained true to themselves and their wine.

Today, brothers Fritz and Peter May share the work, both in the vineyard and in the cellar, complementing each other like two people who truly value one another. In recent years, Weingut Karl May has grown to around 35 hectares, and that is where it will stay, as both brothers want to know every parcel personally rather than just managing them.

Anyone running a winery that is genuinely and honestly named Karl May is allowed to have a little fun with the name. That is exactly what the two do with their "Blutsbruder" (Blood Brother) wines—a tongue-in-cheek nod to Winnetou and Old Shatterhand. But behind the fun lies serious work, which you can taste in every glass.

Two brothers running a winery together is not a given, but with Fritz and Peter May, it seems like the most natural thing in the world. One focuses on the vines, the other on the cellar, and in the end, they decide together when to harvest and when to bottle. This unity, this "forever united" spirit, even inspired the name of the Blutsbruder line.

From estate wine to village wine and Große Lage

The range is clearly structured, from the uncomplicated estate wine to the robust village wine and the profound single-vineyard wine, with the same care applied to every level.

The primary grape variety is Riesling. The spectrum ranges from the light, juicy Riesling estate wine and the wood-aged village wine to the Morstein Riesling from a "Große Lage" (Grand Cru site) and the mineral-driven Osthofen Goldberg Riesling. If you like Riesling, you will find everything this grape is capable of here, from everyday wines to collector's items.

Alongside these are the Burgundian varieties: a juicy Pinot Blanc, a smooth Pinot Gris, as well as an aromatic Yellow Muscat, a fragrant Sauvignon Blanc, and—for the curious—the skin-fermented orange wine "NOrange" made from Silvaner. In reds, the range extends from fine Pinot Noir to the quaffable "Kleiner Bruder" cuvée and the powerful Blutsbruder Red.

The Blutsbruder wines in red, white, and rosé are a category of their own, each marrying a local grape variety with an international one. For summer evenings, there is the fruity RosaRot Rosé, and for festive moments, a sparkling wine (Winzersekt) aged on the lees for seven years. This assortment never gets boring.

Organic since 2007 in the warm Wonnegau

Weingut Karl May has been organically certified since 2007, under control number DE-ÖKO-039.

A more natural approach to the soil—without herbicides or synthetic fertilizers—and to the vines, through gentle pruning and yield reduction, has visibly benefited the wines. They are straightforward, clearly express their terroir and variety, and possess great aging potential, from the estate wine to the single-vineyard selection.

The Wonnegau is one of the warmest and sunniest corners of Rheinhessen. The many hours of sunshine allow the grapes to ripen well and reach physiological maturity, which particularly benefits the red varieties, which account for about 30 percent of the vineyard area, such as Pinot Noir, Merlot, and Cabernet.

The vineyards extend from Bechtheim through Westhofen to Osthofen. The calcareous sites of Bechtheimer Geyersberg and Osthofener Goldberg, in particular, produce spicy, mineral-rich white and red wines, and the famous "Große Lage" site, Westhofener Morstein, is among the best Riesling addresses in Rheinhessen. Harvesting is done by hand, fermentation is spontaneous, and the wines are aged in stainless steel, large wooden casks (Stückfass), or barriques, depending on the wine.

The light estate wines remain fresh in stainless steel, the village wines mature for six months on the lees in wood, and the sparkling wine undergoes traditional bottle fermentation with years of lees contact. Every wine receives exactly the treatment it needs, nothing more and nothing less.

A willingness to try the unusual is also part of it. With "NOrange," the winery ventures into a skin-fermented orange wine—unsulfured and unfiltered—showing that a traditional estate can certainly remain curious. At Karl May, old roots and fresh ideas meet without one competing against the other.

Four stars in Eichelmann and more

Weingut Karl May is one of the recognized addresses in Rheinhessen, which is reflected in its ratings.

The Eichelmann guide lists the winery with four stars, Gault Millau with three grapes, and Vinum with three stars. The Morstein Riesling 2021 received 94 points from James Suckling, the Osthofen Goldberg was honored with gold and 95 points at the Decanter World Wine Awards, and the Pinot Noir from the Geyersberg won a silver medal at the same competition.

The Blutsbruder wines have also frequently placed highly at the German Red Wine Awards, which is anything but a given for red cuvées from Rheinhessen. Such awards honor the producers, not us, but they demonstrate that the work here is done with seriousness and skill. Kudos to them.

The full scope of the range

What we recommend from the assortment depends entirely on the occasion, and there is a suitable wine here for almost everyone.

For everyday, we like the fresh Riesling estate wine; for summer evenings, the RosaRot Rosé; and for the big bottle on the weekend, the powerful Blutsbruder Red. If you want something festive, opt for the Grand Cuvée Sekt; for something exciting, the NOrange; and if you are looking for a single-vineyard wine as a gift, you can never go wrong with the Morstein. And if you cannot decide, that is perfectly fine—with this range, you can feel free to try them one by one.

Browse through the range at your leisure, from white wine to rosé and red wine. And if you would like to get to know the entire Blutsbruder family at once, you will find all three colors in our tasting pack. Try your way through—with these brothers, it is definitely worth it.