Bertram Baltes
– Ahrtal, Germany
Bertram-Baltes represents the union of two family legacies in the Ahr Valley.
Julia Bertram, born as the fifth generation of a renowned wine-growing family in Dernau, earned the title of 64th German Wine Queen. Her passion for Pinot Noir led her to create her own line of Ahr Pinot Noir wines in 2014, quickly earning her the “Discovery of the Year” award. In 2018, she married Benedikt Baltes, a winemaker with deep roots in the Ahr Valley, and together they merged their family estates. One year later they transitioned to ecological winegrowing under the name Bertram-Baltes.
The Ahr Valley is one of the northernmost regions for wine-growing in Europe, and perhaps the northernmost for red wines. Its unique microclimate and expressive soils allow for the production of outstanding Pinot Noirs, known for their depth, complexity, and elegance.
Bertram-Baltes avoids the use of herbicides, chemical plant protection agents, synthetic fertilizers, or synthetic fining agents. Instead, they rely on permaculture principles, allowing nature to regulate itself in a nearly self-sustaining cycle. They also use only large German oak barrels for aging wines, ensuring longevity and minimizing waste.
