The Winery
More then 200 Years Schales
… 242 years, to be precise. That needs to be celebrated!
We’re doing it with a new look – after all, we’re known for regularly breaking new ground. Of course, we never lose sight of tradition. It is one of our most important guidelines. Tradition, a love of craftsmanship and time.
We have been producing wines of great charisma and excellent quality since 1783 – now in our 8th generation. For us, living tradition meets genuine passion for wine. Working our vineyards in harmony with nature has been a matter of course for us for a long time. Experience, continuity and expertise are our basis, to which we add a pioneering spirit, a feel for the individual personality of each grape variety and an appreciation of our terroir. Our wines have been proving themselves for many years through their character, elegance and balance.
Schales Wine Philosophy
For as long as we can remember – and much longer – wine has been an integral part of the Schales family. Just as it captivated our ancestors over 200 years ago, it still fascinates us today and shapes our days. 365 a year.
This begins with natural and gentle soil cultivation and careful maintenance of the vines’ health and also runs through our philosophy of consistent quality orientation through consciously controlled yield reduction.
The maxim “As much as necessary, as little as possible” guides our thoughts and actions. Our vineyards are not ironed and groomed, but healthy and alive. This is the only way to produce authentic wines full of life – we are firmly convinced of this.
We know our vineyards like the back of our hand. We have learned to read the signals of nature and the needs of the grapes. This also applies to winemaking. Every vintage, every harvest, every wine is different and so every grape variety, every barrel is treated differently: With foresight, care and individuality.
The Family
We are a family of wine-loving connoisseurs, each with their own character, passions and “quirks”. The intertwining of different skills is the basis for concentrated energy. What unites us is our love of life close to nature, our strong sense of social responsibility and, last but not least, our passion for good taste.
History of the Winery
Today, Astrid Schales, Christian Schales and Annette Schales-Allendorf, the eighth generation of winegrowers, stand in the vineyards and behind the award-winning wines of the Schales Estate. It has been a long road from the founding of the estate, the conversion to pure viticulture to achievements such as the world’s first ice wine sparkling wine and international awards.
But as the saying goes? Wine excellence wasn’t built in a day.
It all begins in 1783: Christian Schales, deeply connected to his homeland and winemaking throughout his life, founds his winery in Flörsheim-Dalsheim.
It is the foundation stone not only for his life’s work, but also for the work of several generations. An exciting journey that will always be characterized by courage, perseverance and vision.
At that time, the 12 hectares of vineyards and 10 hectares of agriculture comprised a mixed farm with livestock and orchards, but the wine became more and more important over time.
Finally, the decisive leap was taken: away from three-field farming and towards pure viticulture. This and the cultivation of new grape varieties acted as an accelerator for recognition and progress. The turn of the millennium brings another decisive breakthrough: for the first time, wines are shipped in barrels to England. The course is set for growth and success.
“Think big” has always been the credo of the Schales family. Because their plans for the future were big, but the old estate and cellar were too small, they decided to move to the outskirts of the village. As a result, the largest underground wine cellar in Rheinhessen at the time was built there.
Another milestone in the Schales family’s long sprint is the gradual switch to pure bottling. At the end of the 1950s, the entire harvest is bottled and marketed independently – an enormous achievement.
After years of training, studying and traveling, the three sons Heinrich, Arno and Kurt Schales gradually return to the winery.This brings a breath of fresh air to the vineyard, which has now grown to 30 hectares. The future cooperation and the forthcoming generational change also bring with it the odd phase of stormy gusts. But friction creates warmth: little by little, each of the brothers finds his place, the individual skills merge into a larger whole and complement each other well.
The years that followed were peppered with plenty of innovations and superlatives.
The Wonnegau’s first ice wine – from Schales – celebrates its premiere. Ice wine will be an important topic in the future.On the day before New Year’s Eve 1964, the first German television station broadcasts the winery’s third ice wine harvest. In 1984, the first ice wine tasting presented by a winery in Germany “from three decades” takes place with 17 ice wines from Schales.
The company wins 12 gold medals in Budapest. Schales also wowed the crowds in Paris and London with their wines, winning numerous prizes. The first gold, silver and bronze medals had already been won in the early 1950s – and the successes continued in the years to come.
Schales’ first image brochure goes to press. It is a prime example of innovative and creative (self-)marketing. Two years later, the family launches the first 4-color grape variety brochure in Germany: a benchmark in terms of marketing. It also contains a detailed presentation of the estate’s 18 different grape varieties.
In the mid-1970s, the starting signal was given for the soon very popular house wine fairs. The wide-ranging assortment is presented there primarily to specialist retailers and discerning exporters. With the opening of the first German private wine museum, Schales is included in the museum guide.
200 years of the Schales winery! 1983 is an anniversary year. Celebrations are held on a grand scale, with tastings of rarities dating back to the 1945 vintages. Two years later, the first wine auction of old vintages takes place in Herrnsheim Castle.
As much as the Schales family love their homeland, their wines are also drawn to the wider world.
With self-confidence and a sure instinct, the family has succeeded step by step in opening up international markets for themselves. A total of almost a thousand gold, silver and bronze medals from national and international competitions testify to the high quality standards and sheer inexhaustible drive of the winegrowing family.
The year marks the start of exports to Japan. This is followed by the registration of worldwide property rights for the specially developed dry menu wine “Trullo”® – the accompanying brochure is also published in English and Japanese.
Victory all along the line: The Schales winery takes the first three places at the first European Auslese tournament in Mainz. Win!
Trullo® GmbH is founded to promote the worldwide export of the estate’s wines.
Higher, faster, further? Of course. Around the mid-90s, exports to China, Vietnam, New Zealand and Taiwan are launched. This year also sees the presentation of the winery’s first ice wine sparkling wine worldwide.
The family could actually rest on their laurels for a while. But the past twenty years have shown that Schales does not stand still. Extensive tastings, wine seminars and cultural events also characterize the time after the turn of the millennium. It is also worth noting that the winery has one of the largest private cellars of rare wines in Rheinhessen.
The 8th generation also knows how to make great wine and how to sell it properly. In 2003, Astrid Schales took over the management of the company, and since 2006 Annette Schales-Allendorf has managed the worldwide distribution of Trullo® GmbH. Together with cousin Christian Schales, the two sisters have been successfully managing the traditional company since 2010 – a task that is as honorable as it is challenging.
Schales takes home the “Best European Riesling” award at the largest top Riesling test in the New World to date in Canberra (Australia).
And another victory in Canberra: at the big Australian Riesling tasting, the 2011 Riesling Classic scored an incredible 94 points and was awarded the gold medal.
To mark the 200th anniversary of Rheinhessen, the family invites you to a wine tasting event in the family’s own museum that is unique in Germany. Moderated by Arno Schales.
Our Wines
Wines from Schales – for every occasion, for every budget, for every taste.
We not only live wine, we also love it. We pass on this love with heart and soul – to a diverse community of connoisseurs. And our wines can be just as diverse.
Our portfolio is broadly diversified because we want to let each grape variety stand on its own and let every wine drinker find their own wine.
On our soils, which are characterized by shell limestone, we grow mineral and crisp wines as well as fruity and smooth wines, which we bottle with great care and according to their respective type. Our white wines, matured in steel tanks, are allowed to retain their freshness and lightness of being, while we give our red wines a stay in wooden barrels and, above all, plenty of time.
CARDINALIS
Great wines internationally awarded
Exceptional – Exquisite – Excellent
Without exception, these wines are grown in our large Dalsheimer Hubacker and Dalsheimer Steig vineyards. The focus is on yield reduction right from the pruning stage. This enables us to achieve exceptionally high quality wines with enormous ageing potential.
MONT DONNERRE
Terroir wines in dry style
The former Napoleonic department of Mont Tonnerre gives its name to our mineral-rich, long-lived local wines from the Mont Donnerre line.
horrido!
our red wine cuvée
for all game lovers and nature enthusiasts.
We have been hunting with passion and care for four generations. Our horrido! is the crowning glory of our home-prepared game dishes.
Bring on the good life!
Discover the good life!
Our three local wines have a fresh, young look: White, red and rosé – uncomplicated and quaffable.
Schales estate wines
Diverse grape varieties and flavors. Uncompromisingly quality-oriented, typical of the variety & developed with respect for nature.
