Small VDP family estate at Pfeffingen on the edge of Bad Duerkheim, with a German-benchmark dry Scheurebe alongside dry Riesling from the Ungsteiner Herrenberg.
Tip: Visit Pfeffingen for the dry Scheurebe; the cassis-grapefruit-fennel register is the estate's signature, and there are few better dry Scheurebes in Germany.
Address: Weinstrasse 8a, 67098 Bad Duerkheim-Pfeffingen, Germany, Pfalz
Freinsheim VDP family estate run by the Rings brothers, with dry Riesling and a serious Spaetburgunder programme from the warmer northern Pfalz villages.
Tip: Visit Rings for the dry Spaetburgunder programme; the Freinsheim Pinots sit alongside Friedrich Becker as one of the strongest northern-Pfalz Pinot pours.
Suedliche Weinstrasse family estate at Flemlingen, working precise dry Rieslings and Spaetburgunder from southern Pfalz villages including Burrweiler and Gleisweiler.
Tip: Try the Burrweiler Schaewer Riesling alongside the dry Spaetburgunder to read the southern Weinstrasse style; the estate vinothek is among the quieter VDP visits in the Pfalz.
Single-hillside Suedliche Weinstrasse family estate above Godramstein, working the Muenzberg Schlangenpfiff and Rosenkranz for dry Riesling, Weissburgunder and Spaetburgunder.
Tip: Visit the small estate vinothek to taste the Muenzberg Schlangenpfiff and the Weissburgunder side by side; the hilltop terroir reads cleanly in the Pinot Blanc.
Northern Pfalz family estate at Zellertal-Zell, with limestone Schwarzer Herrgott Riesling and Spaetburgunder under Stephan and Georg Schwedhelm.
Tip: Try the Schwarzer Herrgott Riesling alongside the Spaetburgunder to read the cool Zellertal limestone style; the estate vinothek is among the quietest in the northern Pfalz.
Bad Duerkheim VDP family estate working historic Michelsberg, Spielberg and Fronhof sites for classical Mittelhaardt dry Riesling at quieter prices.
Tip: Visit Karl Schaefer for the Duerkheimer Michelsberg and Spielberg Rieslings; the estate sits a few minutes from the Wurstmarktplatz with very calm tasting space.
Birkweiler family estate working the red-slate Kastanienbusch in the Suedliche Weinstrasse, with precise dry Riesling, Weissburgunder and Spaetburgunder.
Tip: The Birkweiler Kastanienbusch GG is the wine to find here; visit the estate to taste it next to the dry Weissburgunder for the southern Pfalz house style.
