Wein- und Sektgut Braun - Outstanding Vinothek in Pfalz
Next to an idyllic horse paddock, a little hidden behind nut trees, a wonderfully calm place awaits: the vinothek of the Braun winery in Meckenheim in the Pfalz (Palatinate). While the mother devotes herself lovingly to the splendid planting of the former private garden and the father dutifully checks on the forklift, their son Martin Braun, takes care of the sales and business side of the winery that has been completely dedicated to viticulture since the 1970s. His older brother Michael, runs the winery as technical manager and cellar master.
The Braun family is known for their Burgunder (Pinot) and Riesling creations - currently around 35 in the range. And because classic end consumers still make up two thirds of the customer base, the idea of a new vinothek was born a few years ago. To create a little more of a buzz around the wines. "There used to be a rather rustic tasting room next to the kitchen," explains the 39-year-old. "However, because wine as an experience is becoming more and more important, we opened our vinothek in 2018."
The family carefully planned and implemented every detail - the oak furniture as well as the cloakroom made of barrel staves from the grandparents' winery in neighbouring Ellerstadt. The distinctive metal ‘vine stakes’ on the overhang of the building’s roof as well as the heart of the vinothek: an eye-catching illuminated counter made of shimmering green broken glass.
“The architecture should show that we are a young business, but that our roots are also important to us. After all, we have a large base of local customers and we wanted to bring them with us on this journey,” explains Martin Braun. So, it should by no means be too ostentatious, or too loud. And it definitely isn’t that: the modern building made of natural stone, steel and lots of glass blends in with the quiet rural surroundings of the village.
The connection between old and new also applies to wine production. The parents may no longer have used wooden barrels, yet today the cellar with ever-increasing racks of barriques is located directly under the vinothek. "Back to the Roots reinterpreted" is what the next generation, qualified in wine business, calls it. For him, a global view of the world of wine is self-evident. And when it is time for the Straußwirtschaft (pop-up tavern) in autumn, the winery serves wine daily for six to eight weeks.
“Of course, our customers want high quality products. Yet, at the same time, wine should also be uncomplicated,” says Martin Braun, who is a member of “Winechanges”- an association of young wine businesses that expressly want to make the topic accessible to everyone. And this is affirmed, especially in those weeks of the pop-up, when local wine lovers mingle with wine tourists from far and wide, who all liven up the terrace and garden, confirming another conviction of the Braun family: "Wine is always an emotional topic."
Opening Time
Monday - Friday: 9:00 am – 12:00 pm, 1:00 - 6:30pm
Saturday: 10:00 am – 4:30 pm
