It looks like a family gathering: five wine enthusiasts are standing in the wine shop of the Paulinenhof winery in Rheinhessen, holding up funny comic drawings of "yeast men." "There are good yeasts and bad yeasts, exotic yeasts, chaos yeasts, and lawyer yeasts—they're the ones that carry out the fermentation!" Master oenologist Tim Bernhard explains the complex processes in the wine cellar in a very vivid and easy-to-understand way. The winemaker specializes in microbiology—a focus of his studies. He is particularly skilled at engaging with customers—informative and entertaining wine tastings are his forte. For teachers, for example, he has compared wines to school subjects.

Wine has been produced at Paulinenhof in Selzen, Rheinhessen, since 1762, but "the spirit of years gone by does not reign here—each generation sets its own priorities," explains 30-year-old Tim Bernhard confidently. It's a typical family business: father Rolf is the field manager, Tim is the cellar master, his wife Silja and brother-in-law Halit help out at the winery alongside their jobs at the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Transport, respectively, while mother Ina and daughter Pauline take care of the wine shop and events: "For us, the focus is on the experience of the winery."

The winegrowing family was one of the first in the region to combine wine tastings with themes – a real experiential winery, they never run out of ideas. At "Wine & Chocolate," guests enjoy interesting flavor combinations, while "Mozart Meets Wine" focuses on the connection between classical music and individual grape varieties. "Customers are eager to learn!" says Tim Bernhard – he explains to wine lovers in easy-to-understand terms how the flavor gets into the wine. With the help of a balloon and water, Tim explains the photosynthesis of the grapevine – reminiscent of the explanatory videos on the TV show "Sendung mit der Maus" (Show with the Mouse).

In-depth knowledge of wine and international experience form the foundation for the rich world of wine experiences at the Paulinenhof: Mother Ina and her daughter are cultural and wine ambassadors; Pauline also studied history, while Tim worked for two and a half years for the OIV (International Organization of Vine and Wine), helping to network international research laboratories and helping to develop standards for wine tasting.

At the winery, he’s always trying something new. From his time in South Africa, he brought back the Chenin Blanc grape variety—an exotic choice in Rheinhessen, but perhaps a viable option in the face of climate change. Blended with Sauvignon Blanc, this opulent white wine offers a fascinating taste experience with international characteristics.

"Terz" is not only the name for a musical interval, but also for the flagship cuvée of the musical winery, made from Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, and Gewürztraminer (!) grapes. An enormously complex flavor, a wine that invites intense philosophical discussion—that's what makes it so convivial. A wine that is entirely to Tim Bernhard's taste.

The passionate Rheinhessen winemaker is convinced: "Customers experience our wine twice: when it is presented at the winery and at home when they open the bottle and enjoy the wine."

The Great Wine Capitals Best of Wine Tourism Award 2024 in the “Innovative Wine Tourism Experiences” category goes to the hospitable Paulinenhof Winery. The jury was impressed by the diverse range of entertaining and informative wine events and the creative way in which the winemaking process is presented.