Weingut Bischel
White Wine Collection of the Year
"Christian and Matthias Runkel continue to fly high, not only are they at the top with Riesling, but also with all the other grape varieties they have in their programme."
- Eichelmann 2020
”One of the finest winegrowing estates anywhere in Rheinhessen.”
- Verband Deutscher Prädikatsweingüter (VDP) - the invitation-only elite of German viticulture
Two brothers, a family estate and some outstanding vineyard sites have made Weingut Bischel one of Rheinhessen’s most exciting emerging producers. Christian and Matthias Runkel have led the winemaking since 2006, building on the Appenheim estate their grandfather founded in 1968.
They brought home some impressive experience too. Matthias trained at Keller and New Zealand’s Neudorf, while Christian worked at Tim Adams in the Clare Valley and Backsberg in South Africa, before the pair turned their attention to the family vineyards.
The real draw is the land they farm. Their top Rieslings come from three distinctly different and remarkably old (up to 900 years!) sites: limestone-rich Hundertgulden, quartzite-based Scharlachberg and the volcanic soils of Heerkretz, giving them an unusually broad range of vineyard characters to explore.
”The Rising Star of Northern Rheinhessen.”
- Stephan Reinhardt (The Wine Advocate)
”One of the best producers in the country of premium wines.”
- Wein-Plus.eu
”Crystalline and compelling expressions of limestone.”
- JancisRobinson.com
Certified organic farming, carefully controlled yields and picking at the right moment underpin the approach, with use of wild yeasts, lees and old wood where necessary adding texture and complexity. Riesling is a major focus, but the brothers are equally serious about the Burgundy varieties, with freshness, structure and the ability to age central to their ambitions.
Bischel joined Germany’s prestigious VDP growers’ association in 2019, followed by Eichelmann’s award for the country’s Best White Wine Collection in 2020. This is a modern star of Rheinhessen, and tremendous value for money for Rieslings (and others) of this calibre.
”The new benchmark for Appenheim.”
- Gault & Millau 2026
”Top 10 Rieslings of Germany"”
- Falstaff Wine Guide 2026
”Mastery beyond Riesling.”
- Vinum 2026
