His peers consider Armin Diel is one of Germany’s most acclaimed Riesling
producers. His family has owned the celebrated estate of Schlossgut Diel in
Burg Layen in the Nahe River Valley since 1802. Involved in the estate from the
early years of his childhood, Armin assumed management of the winery, a 12th
century medieval castle and its prestigious vineyards, the best known being
Goldloch (pebbles), and Pittermännchen (slate), in 1987. Ten years later, Armin
acquired Burgberg (quartz), another outstanding vineyard on the eastern side of
Goldloch. All three parcels have been classified on an official ground tax map
in the highest rank since 1901 giving them status comparable to a Burgundy
Grand Cru.
Schlossgut Diel is international renowned for its white wines, predominately
Rieslings, across a wide range of styles. The intense Goldloch wines are
similar to the great Rheingau-Rieslings, the Pittermännchen Rieslings are more
like the refined Middle Mosels, and the Burgberg is a brilliant source for
great dry Rieslings. Schlossgut Diel is also highly regarded for its rare sweet
Eisweins and Ausleses. The estate is a member of the prestigious “Verband
Deutscher Prädikatsweingüter” (VDP) and Armin is president of the VDP-Nahe
section.
Armin is also one of Germany’s leading wine writers (though he never comments
on his own wines). He is co-editor of the German Gault Millau WineGuide and
writes frequently about French and German wines for Alles über Wein, Germany’s
leading wine review.
Armin and his wife Monika live in Burg Layen. He and his wife have a grown son,
Victor, and a daughter, Caroline, who just completed her studies in enology in
Geisenheim – Germany’s UC Davis equivalent.
Schlossgut Diel
|