Workers Harvest Benefits After a Year with Vineyard Employment
Discover the art of winemaking by participating in Martin Sturm's unique "Winemaker for a Year" course, a one-of-a-kind project in Germany. Since its introduction in 2010 by VHS Neuwied, this course has been offering wine enthusiasts the opportunity to become temporary organic winemakers.
The course, which has been in cooperation with VHS Neuwied since 2013, is designed to promote appreciation for steep-slope wine-growing at the Middle Rhine, an endangered practice due to shrinking cultivation areas. Martin Sturm, a trained economist who turned winemaking into a profession after completing winemaker training, personally presents the course.
The course takes place at Weingut Sturm in Leutesdorf, and covers every step of winemaking, from pruning in winter to bottling in spring. Participants will carry out tasks under expert guidance, learning about the dedication and work required for every bottle of wine.
The course is divided into two groups of up to 20 participants each, one cultivating the red grape variety Frühburgunder and the other a white Riesling. The participants' discussions about the quality of the grapes are crucial, as they will be taking home the wine produced.
Martin Sturm's winemaking approach includes manual labor, avoidance of artificial fertilizer and herbicides, and the use of plant protection products approved for organic viticulture. This increases the workload and cost of his wines, but it also ensures a high-quality, ecologically produced wine.
The course takes place at about 12 to 15 dates throughout the year, with participation costs amounting to 285 euros and the course wine produced by the vintage included in the price. The next information events for the upcoming year's course are scheduled on November 12 and there will be an additional online date in February. Registration for the information events and the interested list for the winemaker course is already possible on the VHS Neuwied homepage or by phone.
Martin Sturm founded his own winery in Leutesdorf in 2011, turning his hobby into a profession. His motivation for the course is not only to increase his visibility, but also to promote appreciation for steep-slope wine-growing at the Middle Rhine. Through the course, participants will develop an understanding that a good and ecologically produced wine has its price.
Participants will also take part in the complex process of sorting the harvest, separating good grapes from unsuitable ones due to factors like visible damage or acetic acid spoilage. No extraordinary fitness is required for participation, as the course takes place in nearly flat areas.
Join Martin Sturm's "Winemaker for a Year" course and immerse yourself in the world of winemaking, learning from an expert and taking home your own organic wine. Register now for the upcoming information events and take the first step towards becoming a temporary winemaker.
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