When heritage gets a taste: Hees Winery

Hidden in the small wine village of Auen an der Nahe lies a winery that goes its own way. Weingut Hees combines almost two centuries of viticultural tradition with a clear idea of how good wine should be made: with time, patience, a lot of manual labor, and a deep understanding of their own vineyards.

Since 1824, viticulture has been part of the Hees family's history. Today, Marcus Hees continues this tradition, focusing primarily on wines that do not hide their origin but rather bring it to the glass.

Weingut Hees: Wine from the special microclimate of Auen

Auen is located somewhat off the beaten path of the well-known wine villages of the Nahe. This is precisely what makes the home of Weingut Hees so interesting. The vineyards are mostly located on higher, steep slopes. Due to the special microclimate of the Auener Valley, the grapes benefit from a long growing season and a comparatively late ripening.

The Auener Römerstich plays a special role here. The south-facing slopes, surrounded by forest, reach an incline of up to 60 percent. Weathered sandstone and clay slate characterize the soil here. In the leaner and steeper parcels, Riesling grows predominantly, while areas with a higher clay and loam content offer ideal conditions for Pinot Blanc.

The result is wines where origin is more than just a term on the label.

Riesling and Pinot Blanc in focus

Weingut Hees has deliberately focused on Riesling and Pinot Blanc. Two grape varieties that perfectly suit the climatic and geological conditions around Auen.

Riesling, in particular, benefits from the cool and high-altitude vineyards. The grapes can ripen for a long time on the vine, developing their own character. In addition to the Auener Römerstich, the winery also cultivates areas in Monzinger Halenberg, one of the renowned vineyards on the Nahe. Slate and quartzite, as well as the warmer climate near the river, create completely different conditions for Riesling there.

It is precisely these differences that make the wines from Hees exciting: location, soil, and microclimate are allowed to retain their own expression.

Rediscovering old vineyards

Another special feature of the winery is the recultivation of old vineyard sites. Instead of relying exclusively on easily managed areas, selected old sites are carefully made usable again.

Especially in the steep vineyards, this means a lot of work. But this is precisely where Hees' philosophy becomes evident. Quality should not be rushed. The grapes are given the time they need, and the characteristics of the landscape should later be reflected in the wine.

More than just wine

Anyone who visits Weingut Hees an der Nahe can not only get to know the wines but also experience the region. The family business also includes the country inn Zum Jäger aus Kurpfalz as well as accommodation with guest rooms. Regional cuisine, wine, and the tranquil landscape around Auen combine to create a small piece of Naheland, where it is surprisingly easy to forget everyday life for a while.

And perhaps that is what best suits Hees: no grand staging, but a family winery with history, special sites, and wines that are allowed to show where they come from.

A sip of Hees is therefore not just wine from the Nahe. It is a small piece of Auen in a glass.

WEINGUT HEES 
Zur feuchten Ecke 6
55569 Auen
Tel: (+49)06754-373
info@heeswein.de