Rooted on the shores of Lake Constance since 884 (yes, when Charles III allegedly brought Pinot outside Burgundy for the first time), the family has deep farming DNA. But the real story? They didn’t follow tradition , they rewrote it. In the 1980s, Aufricht were already ahead of the curve, pioneering the use of French oak barrels for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in Germany. Visionary, early, bold.
Fast forward enter Johannes Aufricht. Game changer.
He ditched the classroom, hit the road across Europe, and came back with one idea: do it better, do it differently. First vintage in 2018, and since then? Pure momentum. Low-intervention, terroir-driven, razor-sharp focus on Pinot & Chardonnay (still and sparkling) crafted to let Lake Constance speak loud and clear.
And what a place. Alpine limestone. High-altitude vineyards. Cool lake freshness with serious sunshine. This is not your average German terroir, this is where precision meets energy.
Now the kicker: Johannes farms just 2 hectares. That’s it. Tiny. Obsessive. Sourced from 30–40 micro-parcels, planted with top Burgundy genetics - including a new Pinot vineyard inspired by Domaine de la Romanée-Conti material. High-density planting up to 13,000 vines/ha, at 500m altitude. Everything hand-picked, perfectly ripe - no compromise.
Yields? Microscopic. Sometimes a single barrel.
Winemaking? Ultra-pure.100% whole cluster reds. Whole cluster pressing for whites. Custom basket press. Ageing in top-tier Stockinger barrels. Precision blending across Pinot, Chardonnay, and Completer , a rare, 1,200-year-old local grape Johannes is bringing back to life.
This is not mass production. This is craftsmanship at its most extreme.
Johannes isn’t just making wine — he’s building an identity. And you can feel it in every bottle: tension, energy, clarity, and a sense of place that hits hard.
Think sun over Lake Constance. Snow-capped Swiss Alps in the distance. Cool air, bright fruit, electric acidity.
Bottom line?
Tiny production. Serious intent. Huge upside.
This is early-stage brilliance and the smart ones are already paying attention.