Winery Notes

The River Ahr, slate, Pinot Noir and a family wine estate that has written red wine history on the northwestern fringe of Germany’s wine-producing region. Today it’s up to two sisters to successfully continue that which has been built up by four generations – including, most importantly, Werner Näkel. 

Sisters Meike and Dörte Näkel are the 5th generation at this pioneering Ahr Valley winery who, despite unprecedented challenges, are making some of the most compelling Pinot Noir in Germany. The name Meyer Näkel goes back to the marriage of grandparents Paula Meyer and Willibald Näkel who, in 1950, joined their respective pub and winery together to form the estate. At the time, they cultivated an area of just 1.5 hectares, yet were able to make a small name for themselves because Willibald’s production of dry red wines represented thoroughly pioneering work. During the post-War years, and for some decades afterwards, German wine was simply always sweet. This was a time when there were lots of tourists, and the product of the valley was Liebfraumilch-style mass production, with lots of sweet rosé and sweet red wines. 'People used to drink the red wine warm,' says Meike.