Full-bodied red wine with temperament and delicate herbal notes

2019 Satin Noir deep dark organic red wine dry

Bechtheimer Heiligenkreuz, Quality wine Rheinhessen, 14%, estate bottled by G&M Machmer, which I gave 93 red bonvinitas points (rating system). My notes: A very dense, deep bouquet with notes of cassis, interwoven with hints of gingerbread, a touch of licorice, and chili; full-bodied on the palate with liveliness and hints of redcurrant jelly; a juicy finish with delicate herbal notes. Pairs perfectly with pizza and pasta dishes, as well as Italian salad, beef roulade, or a cheese platter.

PIWI wines

As early as the 19th century, harmful fungi from the New World were introduced to Europe, especially powdery and downy mildew, to which our native grapevines are unfortunately very susceptible and require extensive pest control. Crossbreeding New World grape varieties, which are essentially familiar with and able to cope with these pests, with our native vines offers a solution, resulting in much more robust planting material. This process is now highly scientific, and there are a number of very robust PIWI grape varieties that bring up superb wines, such as this Satin Noir. The advantages include: significantly less pesticide use, fewer tractor passes, less diesel consumption, improved ecological balance, and more.

A delightful drinking experience

2024 Sauvignac Organic White Wine, Dry

Bechtheim village wine, Rheinhessen quality wine, estate bottled by G&M Machmer, a pleasant 12% ABV, which I awarded 91 green bonvinitas points (up to 12%): An interesting, delicate nose, elegance paired with floral notes, a hint of fennel enveloped in grapefruit; on the palate, very intense fruit with notes ranging from red bell pepper to orange marmalade; the finish brings everything together in an elegant length with a fine, smooth texture and subtle pepper. Sauvignac is also such a great PIWI variety. It goes perfectly with stuffed peppers, goulash, and also with Italian salad as well as spicy, robust finger food or tapas – and Machmer's absolute insider tip: with cod in dill .

Wonderfully fruity melt

2025 Souvignier Gris Organic Dry White Wine

Quality wine from Rheinhessen, 12.5% ​​ABV, estate bottled by G&M Machmer. I absolutely loved it: 95 bonvinitas points! The nose already offers wonderful fruit with a wide spectrum ranging from wildflower meadows to blossom honey, with hints of honeydew melon and pineapple; a very full-bodied, fruity body that fully embraces the nose's aromas, while the finish surprises with an entertaining liveliness that culminates in a rich, lingering texture. Souvignier Gris is now the most widely planted PIWI variety in Germany. A very nice wine for toasting, as well as with vegetable gratin or Königsberger Klopse (meatballs), and due to its power and richness, it's also excellent with grilled steaks.

The organic wine estate G&M Machmer

The organic Machmer wine estate is nestled among the vineyards on the outskirts of Bechtheim, not far from Worms in smoothly the rolling hills of Rheinhessen, where the landscape slopes down to the Rhine plain. Owner Markus Machmer cultivates an impressive 35 hectares, 20% of which are already planted with PIWI varieties, making the winery a truly progressive example. Sustainable viticulture is a top priority. In addition to the aforementioned PIWI varieties, Machmer is also cultivating Muscaris and Cabernet Blanc, as well as classic varieties such as Riesling, Pinot Gris, and Pinot Noir, among others. 

Machmer on the Satin Noir : “I keep a close eye on the vineyard to ensure the grapes are harvested at the optimal time, so that the small, compact grapes – of which we leave only one per shoot – don't become overripe. The wine was then fermented on the skins for three weeks and aged in tonneaux – 500-liter barrels.” Regarding the Sauvignac, Machmer explains: “We only remove leaves from one side of the grape zone to achieve beautifully balanced, not overly green, fruit aromas. This is much better than removing leaves from both sides, which would otherwise cause the grapes to turn slightly reddish and also alter the flavor.” And he raves about pairing the wine with cod in dill: “Superb, a must-try!”

Machmer is particularly proud of his Souvignier Gris : "These are still young vines, and it was only the second harvest. Souvignier Gris is very promising, very robust, the grapes are early ripening, loose and always perfectly healthy. We harvested these at 100° Oechsle."

The company's own "Machmer stores"

Machmer operates four of its own stores: in Berlin, Düsseldorf, Weinheim and Soest.

Wine estate Machmer

Text: Dieter Simon, wine critic, publisher and editor-in-chief of bonvinitas; Photos: PR or as indicated