Weingut Knab

Weingut Knab is located in Endingen am Kaiserstuhl, a town on the northern edge of the Kaiserstuhl hills in the Baden wine region of Germany. Although the estate was originally established in 1885, its contemporary profile was shaped starting in 1994, when Thomas and Regina Rinker purchased the winery from the Knab family. Thomas Rinker, a Geisenheim trained oenologist, sought to apply his extensive experience as a cellar master and manager to his own family operation. The business has since grown into a multi generational effort, with their son Johannes Rinker taking over primary winemaking duties in 2016. Johannes brought international perspective to the estate after working vintages in New Zealand, Italy, and Switzerland.

The vineyards encompass roughly 24 hectares, primarily situated on the Endinger Engelsberg and specialized sites like Wihlbach and Eckkinzig. The terroir is defined by deep, fertile loess and weathered volcanic subsoils, which are characteristic of this ancient volcanic massif. These soils provide a distinct mineral foundation and natural water supply that supports vines of significant age, including Pinot Blanc parcels planted more than 45 years ago. The family initiated a formal transition to certified organic viticulture in 2021 to better preserve the biodiversity of the Kaiserstuhl ecosystem. In the cellar, the winemaking philosophy prioritizes precision through temperature controlled fermentation and extended lees contact, using both stainless steel and various sizes of oak barrels to refine the wines.

The production is heavily weighted toward the Pinot family, with Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, and Pinot Noir making up approximately 95 percent of the total vineyard area. Pinot Blanc is the estate's flagship variety, often showcased in old vine bottlings that emphasize depth and freshness. The red wines, produced from Pinot Noir, range from accessible, fruit forward styles to complex, age worthy reserves aged in barrique. The winery also produces smaller quantities of Chardonnay, Auxerrois, and Muskateller. Weingut Knab is consistently featured in prominent German wine publications such as the Falstaff and Eichelmann guides, where it is noted for producing clean, site specific wines that represent the unique volcanic and loess landscape of the northern Kaiserstuhl.