When two winemaker families fall in love — the creation of Hand in Hand
Behind "Hand in Hand" is not a winery, but a marriage — and the story of two of Germany's most famous winemaker dynasties. Meike Näkel comes from the Meyer-Näkel winery on the Ahr, which is considered a pioneer of German Pinot Noir. Markus Klumpp runs the Klumpp winery in Bruchsal with his brother Andreas, which their parents Ulrich and Marietta founded in 1983 as career changers in a small Bruchsal backyard. What began as a passionate encounter between two winemakers became a joint project: their first joint wine, a Pinot Noir, was immediately noticed by wine critics. Since then, the "Hand in Hand" label has been the vinophile link between two wineries, two regions, and two family traditions.
Baden soil, Ahr's signature — the way the wines are made
The grapes for the Hand in Hand wines grow exclusively on the typical loess-loam soils of northern Baden, in the Kraichgau between Karlsruhe and Heidelberg. The microclimate there — sunny summers and autumns, tempered by cooling winds — allows for long ripening times and provides grapes with substance. Harvesting is done selectively by hand; for the Pinot Gris, only vines whose stocks are older than 30 years are used.
In the cellar, the know-how of both houses interlocks: about a quarter of the Pinot Gris is fermented in barriques, the rest in steel tanks. The wine then matures for five months on the lees with regular bâtonnage. The Klumpp winery converted its entire vineyard area to sustainable viticulture as early as 1996 — this attitude also shapes the joint project. Serving temperature: 10–12 °C.
Creamy structure, lively acidity — what makes the Hand in Hand wines special
The Pinot Gris is the heart of the range: golden yellow in the glass, characterized in the nose by peach, quince, and mirabelle, with a restrained hint of vanilla as a trace of the barrique aging. On the palate, it feels firmly structured and creamy at the same time — the five-month lees aging leaves a melting body that a lively acidity keeps in shape. The finish shows a subtle minerality that points to the lime-rich loess-loam soils of the Kraichgau. In addition to the Pinot Gris, the range includes a Pinot Noir and a Rosé Sekt brut — all three wines combine the Burgundian meticulousness of the Klumpp cellar with the red wine experience of the Ahr.
Pairs well with hearty fish, poultry, light meat dishes — or with a good Comté, which reflects the creamy texture of the wine.
