Cornelius Dönnhoff leads a Riesling-focused Nahe estate seeking clear, complex and long-lived wines that reflect their origins.
The producer
With Cornelius Dönnhoff as owner and cellarmaster, the family estate centres its plantings on Riesling, which accounts for 80%; Grauburgunder and Weissburgunder share the other 20%. Its aim is Riesling that is clear, complex, long-lived, mineral, refined and expressive of origin. The six-bottle selection runs from Dönnhoff Riesling Trocken through Dellchen, Felsenberg and Hermannshöhle Grosses Gewächs, Niederhäuser Klamm Riesling Kabinett and Niederhäuser Hermannshöhle Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel.
Known for
Clear, long-lived Riesling wines
Notable facts
Cornelius Dönnhoff is both owner and cellarmaster.
Riesling accounts for 80% of plantings, with Grauburgunder and Weissburgunder comprising the remaining 20%.
Dönnhoff seeks Rieslings that are clear, complex, long-lived, mineral, refined and expressive of origin.
From the atlas
Weingut Dönnhoff
A long-established Nahe family estate led by Cornelius Dönnhoff, with Riesling at the centre of its plantings and range.
At A Glance
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| Region | Nahe, Germany |
| Family base | Oberhausen an der Nahe |
| Leadership | Cornelius Dönnhoff |
| Focus | Riesling-led wines |
The Producer
The Dönnhoff family has been established in Oberhausen an der Nahe for more than 250 years. Helmut Dönnhoff led the estate's winemaking for more than four decades. His son Cornelius now continues the family line as owner and cellarmaster.
Plantings are 80% Riesling. Grauburgunder and Weissburgunder together make up the remaining 20%.
Place
The estate's holdings extend across Niederhausen, Oberhausen, Schloßböckelheim, Norheim, Roxheim and Bad Kreuznach. Its listed geology includes volcanic rock, slate and coloured sandstone. The property encompasses dozens of rock and soil types, with their diversity reflected in the wines.
Wines
Dönnhoff hand-harvests its grapes and uses spontaneous fermentation with native yeasts. Maturation typically takes place in neutral oak or stainless steel. The intended Riesling profile combines mineral character and complexity with refinement and the length to age.
The selection contains four dry wines: Dönnhoff Riesling Trocken 2024 and three Grosses Gewächs bottlings, Dellchen Riesling Trocken 2024, Felsenberg Riesling Trocken 2023 and Hermannshöhle Riesling Trocken 2024. Grosses Gewächs identifies a dry wine from the highest vineyard tier in the VDP classification. Niederhäuser Klamm Riesling Kabinett 2024 and Niederhäuser Hermannshöhle Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel 2022 carry Prädikat designations based on grape ripeness, with Auslese above Kabinett. Goldkapsel marks a selected Auslese bottling but is not a separate statutory Prädikat.