Fitz-Ritter Riesling Dry Durkheim
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The Fitz-Ritter family estate dates back to 1785 and is today owned and managed by the 9th generation in succession, Johann Fitz. His parents, Konrad & Alice Fitz have retired. Johann's predecessors made names for themselves in their era, one being a member of the first German Parliament in the Pauls Church in Frankfurt, while another was the spokesman for the vintners at the Hambach Festival of 1832, which is accredited as being the first hour of German democracy. The wine estate is today certified organic and one of the founding members of the elite VDP โVerband Deutscher Pradikatsweinguterโ (Association of German Predicate Wine Estates). The sparkling wine production dates back to 1837, and is thus one of the oldest in Germany. Viticulture at Fitz-Ritter At Fitz-Ritter estate, there is no use of herbicides, insecticides or industrial nitrogen fertilizer, only organic fertilizers are used. Seeds, stems and skins of our own grapes as well as horse and chicken manure are worked into the soil. There is use of other green fertilizers, such as the planting and mulching of a wide assortment of grasses and clovers between vineyard rows. In winter, every row is planted with these soil enriching plants and, in summer, every other row is mulched, thus introducing nutrients into the soil. There is no use of heavy machinery that compresses the soil in the vineyards. Instead, the vineyards are worked primarily by hand, using extensive canopy management (hand cutting of leaves to leave the grapes exposed to the sun, able to dry more quickly etc.). They maintain rigid yield control through strict pruning of the vines, thus ensuring highest quality, fuller-bodied wines with greater density. The grape yield per hectare at Fitz-Ritter never exceeds 6,500 liters per hectare (695 gallons per acre). The Great Growth wines never exceed 3500 liters per hectare (374 gallons per acre). Fitz-Ritter is a member of the "KUW" (Krontolliert Umweltschonender Weinbau) or "Controlled Environmentally Friendly Viticulture." Every 3-4 years, a detailed soil analysis is taken to maintain and control optimal health standards for the vineyards. Our philosophy is to work our vineyards as gently as possible in order to give them sustainable growth.