Jürgen Ellwanger
500 Years of Wine Tradition – Barrique Pioneer in Rems Valley
In the Rems Valley, the Ellwanger family has cultivated their vineyards since 1514. As Württemberg's barrique pioneers (founding members of HADES), they combine centuries of tradition with an innovative spirit. Today, the VDP winery is one of the top establishments, producing distinctive wines with an authentic signature.
Down-to-earth and visionary: Ellwanger combines 500 years of tradition with pioneering spirit in barrique winemaking in the Remstal valley.
Looking at the history of the Jürgen Ellwanger winery, you can feel 500 years of lived wine passion: as early as 1514, an ancestor, Nikodemus Ellwanger, laid the foundation stone in Großheppach. In 1949, Gottlob Ellwanger officially founded the present-day winery, and with his son Jürgen, a breath of fresh air quickly arrived. Under Jürgen's direction, the family estate grew steadily – and at the same time brought a small revolution to the Remstal valley: together with four colleagues, he founded the HADES* study group in 1986, an initiative that established barrique aging in Württemberg. What critics initially scoffed at soon led to award-winning wines (including multiple winners of the German Red Wine Prize) and solidified Ellwanger's reputation as a top winery. As early as 1995, the estate was admitted to the prestigious VDP (Association of German Prädikat Wine Estates) – one of the first in the region.
Today, Jörg Ellwanger (cellar master) and his brother Felix, together with Jörg's wife Sylvia, manage the family winery in the next generation. On 26 hectares of vineyards, spread over five communities in the Remstal valley, numerous grape varieties thrive. The Ellwangers understand tradition as a responsibility, not as stagnation: they cultivate Trollinger, Lemberger, and Riesling with particular dedication; but international varieties such as Merlot or Syrah also enrich the portfolio. In the cellar, Jörg relies on gentle processing, time, and intuition – always with the aim of bringing the character of the site and grape variety unfiltered into the glass.
*A word about HADES: The HADES wines are the result of a pioneering initiative launched in 1986 by five Swabian wineries, including Weingut Jürgen Ellwanger. This group, which called itself the "New Oak Barrel Study Group," aimed to establish the aging of wines in new oak barrique barrels in Germany, a practice that was uncommon in the country at the time.
The name "HADES" is an acronym of the initials of the participating wineries:
H: Weingut Fürst Hohenlohe Oehringen
A: Weingut Graf Adelmann
D: Weingut Drautz-Able
E: Weingut Jürgen Ellwanger
S: Weingut Sonnenhof
In harmony with nature.
Following the motto "Quality is born in the vineyard, and the vineyard is nature," the vines are cultivated as naturally as possible. This means: diverse vegetation, no synthetic fertilizers or pesticides, promotion of soil fertility, and a lot of manual labor. Since 2013, the winery has also been operating according to certified sustainability standards (FairChoice) and has significantly reduced its CO₂ footprint – among other things, through green electricity, solar energy, and compensation for unavoidable emissions.
Honest and unadulterated.
At Weingut Ellwanger, it's all about substance, not show or frills. "Wine is made in the vineyard" is the motto, and cellar work is accordingly careful and straightforward. The guiding principle is to give the wine time rather than to intervene with technology. You won't find fashionable fads or ostentatious theatrics here – instead, the focus is on the unadulterated expression of grape varietal and terroir. You can feel this unpretentious, honest philosophy in every glass: Ellwanger wines impress not with loud notes, but with their authentic character and balance.
Out of love for country and people.
As a family-run winery deeply rooted in the region, Weingut Ellwanger is committed to more than just its own vineyards. Out of love for the land and its people, the Ellwangers participate in regional wine events, associations, and cultural projects, generously sharing their knowledge and passion with colleagues and aspiring winemakers. The genuine hospitality at the winery—from open tastings to warm advice—reflects their social spirit. Whether through supporting local initiatives or preserving traditional vineyard festivals, the Ellwangers demonstrate that viticulture is not just an industry but a community effort that connects people.
"Wine in the cellar is like a gemstone—the more you polish it, the less it's worth."
Württemberg
Weine des Weinguts
Nikodemus Candidus Hades
2023
Trollinger
2024
Grauburgunder Hades
2021
Nikodemus Candidus Hades
2022
Cabernet Sauvignon Hades
2019
Zweigelt vine Hades
2017
Zweigelt Grape Hades
2016
Weißburgunder Hungerberg GG
2021
Trollinger
2023
