Perched on the steep terraces above the Rhine in the village of Leutesdorf, Weingut Sturm is the project of Martin Sturm, a former economic journalist who retrained as a winemaker before establishing the estate in the early 2010s. Working entirely on steep and very steep slopes overlooking the river, Sturm focuses on small, fragmented parcels that reflect the dramatic landscape of the Mittelrhein. 

 

The vineyards are rooted in Devonian slate mixed with clay, pumice and volcanic ash, the latter a legacy of the nearby Laacher See volcanic eruption thousands of years ago. These complex soils, combined with steep exposures and the cooling influence of the Rhine, shape Rieslings of striking tension, mineral clarity and aromatic precision. 

 

Working organically from the outset and certified through ECOVIN, Sturm farms only around three hectares of vines, making him one of the rare producers practising certified organic viticulture on such demanding steep slopes. The vineyards are cultivated without synthetic chemicals, relying instead on careful manual work and ecological balance to translate the character of the sites into the wines. 

 

Despite its small scale, the estate has quickly gained recognition in German wine guides and regional rankings, with critics praising the wines for their purity, precision and clear expression of the Mittelrhein’s rugged slate terroirs.