Looking for an original gift idea? It doesn't always have to be a "just" a bottle of wine...how about a genuine grapevine? The family-owned and -operated Rheingau wine estate Balthasar Ress enables everyone to give such a special gift to friends, business associates or family members by leasing individual three different locations. Three-, five-, ten- and 25-year leases are available. Each grapevine that is leased is identified by an engraved tag bearing the new owner's name, and the new owner has the right to visit the vineyard at any time to monitor the development and care of his/her grapevine. Those with a lease in the Hattenheimer Englemannsberg site can also take part in the grape harvest in autumn.

Naturally, all who receive such a gift are also entitled to a share of the harvest annually, in the form of a bottle of wine made from grapes grown in his or her respective vineyard. All owners receive a voucher that can be redeemed at our Vinothek during its regular hours or we'll be happy to send you the bottle (however, we must invoice you for postage). Vine owners also receive a deed that documents ownership as well as the rights to which owners are entitled.

The press regularly reports on our "lease a vine" service.

Brief descriptions of the three locations follow below:

Hattenheimer Engelmannsberg The name Engelmannsberg derives from Engelmann of Hattenheim, a knight who deeded his wine estates to Kloster Eberbach in 1321. A lease in this vineyard is particularly appealing thanks to the site's proximity to our winery's Vinothek. The lease entitles the owner to one bottle of Hattenheimer Engelmansberg Riesling trocken annually. The voucher for this can be redeemed not only at the Vinothek of our wine esate, but also at Hattenheim's open-air, riverside wine tasting stand in a huge barrel, as well as at the Rheingauer Weinwoche - the region's huge wine festival in Wiesbaden every August (see calendar of events). In addition, future vine owners in the Engelmannsberg vineyard are also invited to take part in the annual grape harvest in October. For additional details about the Engelmannsberg vineyard, please click here.

Schloss Reichartshausen Balthasar Ress has been the sole owner of the appellation of origin Schloss Reichartshausen since the late 70s. A lease in this vineyard is reserved exclusively for students, alumni or employees of the ebs (European Business School). Please also note that access to vines leased here is also limited to students, alumni or employees of the ebs. The lease entitles the owner to one bottle of Schloss Reichartshausen Riesling Kabinett annually. For additional details about this vineyard, please click here.

Keitum auf Sylt This very special opportunity to lease a vine in Germany's most northerly vineyard - in Keitum on the island of Sylt - is limited to 555 Solaris vines! A lease in this vineyard entitles the owner to one bottle of the rarity Schleswig-Holstein Landwein "55° Nord - Solaris / Rivaner" annually (55° Nord literally means 55° north latitude). The voucher for this can be redeemed in our Vinothek in Hattenheim, as well as at Weinhaus Schachner in Westerland on Sylt. Orders to lease a vine in Keitum can be placed immediately, but the actual start of the lease begins automatically as of the first harvest - expected to take place in 2012, with the first wine made from the Solaris and Rivaner grapes grown on Sylt expected to be available in 2013. In order to bridge the gap, all who order a lease will also receive - free of charge - a sampler with six bottles of wine from Balthasar Ress. For additional details about this vineyard on the island of Sylt, please click here.

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Outtake of WISO (ZDF, German TV) 7/4/2005:
German TV-anchorman Ulrich Kienzle leases a vine at Balthasar Ress!