Württemberg is a region even more obscure outside Germany than Baden, but it enjoys tremendous renown at home for its singular renditions of autochthonous grapes such as Trollinger, Lemberger and Kerner, as well as the classics of Riesling and the burgundy varieties. With Germany’s automotive capital Stuttgart sucking up the lion’s share of the region’s wines, together with towns such as Heilbronn, Karlsruhe and Pforzheim, there has been little motivation for the best producers to seek export markets. This is the background against which we had the unbelievable good fortune to add this celebrated producer to our portfolio. The first and only producer in Württemberg to be given five “grapes” by the Gault Millau guide, the family has been established in Fellbach since 1492, both as coopers and wine-growers. In the sure hands of brothers Hansjörg and Matthias Aldinger, they have been propelled into the stratosphere of quality and acclaim. Their urban winery lies within spitting distance of the Mercedes Benz headquarters and Museum (whose exceptional restaurant, open to the public, naturally offers their wines). Among the many accolades they have won was a 100 point rating from Gault Millau for their 2011 Brut Nature Sekt. In short, what we have here is as good a wine producer as Germany offers, making an astonishing array of wines across the board and at every price echelon. Welcome to their world.