Weingut Philipp Kuhn, Top Wines from the Palatinate Limestone
The Philipp Kuhn winery in Laumersheim is among the best in the Palatinate. The family has lived here since the 17th century, and Philipp Kuhn has managed the estate since 1992. Dry Rieslings, refined Burgundies, and powerful red wines, shaped by the rugged, prehistoric limestone.
The Philipp Kuhn winery from Laumersheim in the Palatinate stands for precise dry Rieslings, fine white and red Burgundies, and expressive red wine cuvées. The Kuhn winemaking family has lived and worked in this location since the 17th century. Today, Philipp Kuhn is considered one of the most influential winemakers in the Palatinate; his wines are nationally and internationally acclaimed, and his style remains classic, Francophile, and thoroughly dry.
First vineyard at 16, the winery at 20
Philipp Kuhn took over the winery in 1992 at just 20 years old, when his father fell seriously ill and entrusted the estate to him.
Even when Philipp was 16, his father gave him 2,500 square meters of vineyard, right in the premier Kirschgarten site. A grand gesture and a courageous decision that would pay off handsomely. Instead of choosing the easy path, the young winemaker focused from the start on quality, new grape varieties, and consistently dry vinification.
Thus, the estate grew from a hidden gem to a celebrated top-tier producer. After mastering more than 30 vintages, Philipp can now call himself a veteran who has contributed his share to Germany's small wine miracle. What has remained is the desire to experiment that drove him as a young winemaker.
Laumersheim is located in the northern part of the Palatinate, where the great limestone sites set the tone. The Kuhn family has known these soils for generations—every slope, every parcel, every characteristic. Courage, knowledge, and a keen instinct for the right moment: this is the blend from which wine has been created here for centuries.
Riesling, Burgundy, Cuvées, and Grower's Sparkling Wine
The winery manages about 40 hectares of vineyards around Laumersheim, Großkarlbach, and Dirmstein, planted in roughly equal parts with red and white grape varieties.
Among the whites, the spectrum ranges from the fresh Riesling Tradition and the profound Riesling vom Kalksteinfels to the creamy Grauer Burgunder vom Löss and the aromatic Sauvignon Blanc. Gewürztraminer, Viognier, and Muskateller also grow in the vineyard; the range is vast.
As for the reds, the mysterious cuvée Incognito and the powerful Mano Negra made from Cabernet Sauvignon and Blaufränkisch are convincing. Both mature for a long time in barriques and demonstrate Philipp's instinct for red grape varieties. In addition, there is the sparkling Blanc de Noirs Brut Nature, a grower's sparkling wine made from pure Pinot Noir with long yeast aging.
At the top are the "Große Gewächse" (Grand Crus) from the best sites, led by the Rieslings from the limestone. They are the winery's calling card and rank among the best that the Palatinate has to offer in dry Riesling. Below that, the range is structured from local wines down to the estate wines, which you can find here in the shop.
From light and uncomplicated to profound and age-worthy, the assortment has the right wine for every occasion. It is precisely this variety, paired with a clear signature, that makes the Philipp Kuhn winery so exciting.
Hand-harvesting, Fair'n Green, and dry vinification
All wines are vinified dry, and all grapes are picked exclusively by hand. That is the signature of the house: classic and Francophile.
"It has to be dry," is Philipp's mantra for every one of his wines. Since the 2024 vintage, the winery has been organic-certified; furthermore, it works according to Fair'n Green guidelines, and the wines are vegan. The vineyard sites are situated on limestone, loess, and loess-loam; the prehistoric, rugged limestone in the subsoil gives the wines their tension and fine minerality.
Known single vineyard sites include the Laumersheimer Kirschgarten and the Steinbuckel, the Burgweg in Großkarlbach, the Kallstadter Saumagen and Steinacker, as well as the rare Schwarzer Herrgott. The Kirschgarten is a VDP.Große Lage, where no fewer than three grape varieties may be vinified as Große Gewächse—a true rarity in the Palatinate.
You can taste this care in the vineyard and cellar in every glass. Healthy grapes, gentle pressing, and patience during maturation—this is how the house's clear, straightforward style is born.
Tradition and modernity go hand in hand here. Old vines and inherited knowledge meet a sharp eye for what counts in the glass today: freshness, clarity, and drinking pleasure. Thus, the Philipp Kuhn winery remains true to its roots while never feeling out of time.
Ten-time German Red Wine Award winner
Philipp Kuhn is among the most decorated winemakers in Germany. He has won the German Red Wine Award ten times, in addition to several Riesling awards.
The VDP inducted him into its talent program in 2003 and made him a full member of the Association of German Prädikat Wine Estates in 2008—the first winemaker from the talent program ever to do so. Gault Millau named the winery "Winery of the Year" in 2010, and Eichelmann honored Philipp as "Winemaker of the Year" in 2022.
He has captured the title of Vinum Riesling Champion four times: in 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2020. Falstaff and Der Feinschmecker also rate the estate with top marks. These awards honor the winemaker and his team, earned anew vintage after vintage. Hats off.
Despite all the recognition, Philipp remains grounded. Each vintage brings its own challenges, which the team masters time and again. It is this very consistency, over more than three decades, that is the true hallmark of the house.
The Riesling from the Limestone
It is hard to choose from this assortment, but we do have a few favorites. You will find the perfect wine for every occasion here.
We prefer to enjoy the Riesling vom Kalksteinfels with fried fish and quiet evenings, the Mano Negra with grilled lamb and hearty braised dishes. To toast, we like to serve the Blanc de Noirs Brut Nature, a grower's sparkling wine with thirty months of yeast aging that makes every aperitif festive.
In the summer, we enjoy the fragrant Freistil Muskateller, well-chilled on the terrace, and in the winter, the velvety Incognito with a hearty pasta by the fireplace. Fresh, fruity, Francophile—that is how the white and rosé wines drink throughout the warm season, while the reds are powerful and profound throughout the cold.
Whether as a gift, for a celebratory meal, or simply for a pleasant evening, the wines of Philipp Kuhn bring joy. Anyone who has once delved into this assortment loves to return, because every vintage tells its own story of the limestone. Taste your way through and find your favorite; from light summer wines to profound reds, there is something here for every palate.
