August Kesseler
アウグスト・ケッセラー
A pioneer of modern German Pinot Noir, crafting terroir-driven Spätburgunder from the legendary Assmannshäuser Höllenberg since the 1980s.
About August Kesseler
Weingut August Kesseler is a leading estate based in Assmannshausen in the Rheingau, on the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Upper Middle Rhine Valley. Founded in 1924, the estate was transformed after August Kesseler took it over at age 19 in 1977, growing it from 2.5 hectares into one of Germany's flagship producers. Kesseler is widely credited as a pioneer of the modern German Pinot Noir movement, having released one of Assmannshausen's first bone-dry Spätburgunder in 1983 and demonstrating that the steep, slate-soil slopes of the Assmannshäuser Höllenberg rival Burgundy's grand crus. A VDP member since 1995, the estate farms vineyards across Assmannshausen, Rüdesheim and Lorch, producing terroir-driven Riesling and Spätburgunder from VDP.Erste Lage and VDP.Grosse Lage sites. In the Falstaff Wine Guide Germany 2026, August Kesseler received the Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his role in reshaping the international reputation of German Pinot Noir.
Who Is This For?
For those who want to discover serious German Pinot Noir beyond Burgundy, and for Riesling lovers who appreciate cool-climate, slate-driven precision.
Wines of August Kesseler
No cuvées registered yet.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is August Kesseler best known for?
- August Kesseler is best known for pioneering serious, bone-dry German Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir) from the steep slate slopes of the Assmannshäuser Höllenberg vineyard, one of the first producers to release a dry Pinot Noir from the site in 1983.
- Is August Kesseler a VDP member?
- Yes, Weingut August Kesseler has been a member of the VDP (Verband Deutscher Prädikatsweingüter) since 1995 and farms VDP.Erste Lage and VDP.Grosse Lage vineyard sites in the Rheingau.
- Where are August Kesseler's vineyards located?
- The estate is based in Assmannshausen (part of Rüdesheim am Rhein) in the Rheingau, with vineyard holdings across Assmannshausen, Rüdesheim and Lorch, including the celebrated Höllenberg and Schlossberg sites.
- What grape varieties does August Kesseler grow?
- The estate focuses primarily on Riesling and Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir), reflecting the Rheingau's classic pairing of white and red terroir specialities.
- Has August Kesseler received notable recognition?
- Yes, in the Falstaff Wine Guide Germany 2026 August Kesseler received the Lifetime Achievement Award for his decades-long role in establishing German Pinot Noir's international reputation.