8 editor-picked estates growing Chardonnay in Rheingau.
Where to taste Chardonnay in Rheingau: the estates that grow it, how the region expresses the grape, and how to book a visit.
Gunter Kunstler's Hochheim estate, family-owned since 1648 and VDP member since 1994, working 68 ha across Hochheimer Holle, Domdechaney, Kirchenstuck and Stielweg.
Tasting: Vinothek open by appointment; estate tastings highlight Hochheimer Holle, Domdechaney, Kirchenstuck and Stielweg dry GG bottlings.
A Burgundian-styled Rheingau estate in Johannisberg making Pinot Noir and Chardonnay only, 75% Pinot Noir and 25% Chardonnay; whole-cluster fermentation cellar.
Tasting: Open for tastings Thursday to Sunday 12:00 to 17:00 at Hohlweg 23; visits cover the Johannisberg Holle and Assmannshausen Hollenberg Pinot Noir parcels.
Long-established Oestrich-Winkel family estate (cited to 1292) of 65.6 ha across the Rheingau; in conversion to organic with the Allendorf Weinforum tasting hub.
Tasting: Allendorf Weinforum tastings and restaurant in Oestrich-Winkel; flights, vineyard tours and seasonal events.
Alexander Jung's 20 ha Erbach family estate, 80% Riesling with Spatburgunder, Pinot Blanc, Chardonnay, Sauvignon and Merlot; VDP member since 1997.
Tasting: Tastings by appointment at the Eberbacher Strasse estate; VDP.Grosse Lage focus on Erbacher Hohenrain and Siegelsberg.
Matthias Crass's family Erbach estate, working Steinmorgen, Hohenrain, Michelmark and Kiedricher Sandgrub; runs a restaurant in the historic Burg Crass since 2016.
Tasting: Burg Crass estate restaurant and Gutsausschank in the historic Erbach buildings; tastings, gardens and barrier-free Vinothek.
A Molitor family Hattenheim estate (Klaus took over from his father Karl in 1999); Riesling, Spatburgunder, Chardonnay and Grauburgunder across the Rheingau.
Tasting: Hattenheim family estate with cellar tastings, vineyard walks and direct sales; Klaus Molitor has run the estate since 1999.
Vinothek and event rooms of the VDP estate in central Hochheim am Main on the eastern edge of the Rheingau. Tastings of Holle and Reichestal Grosse Lage Rieslings and Pinot Noir from the Reichestal and Stein sites.
Johannisberg estate focused on dry Spaetburgunder and Chardonnay from Lorch and Assmannshausen sites, a rare Rheingau Pinot-and-Chardonnay specialist.
Tip: Chat Sauvage's Lorcher Schlossberg Spaetburgunder is the cellar pick; the Chardonnay is a rare Rheingau take on the variety.