they meet in every bottle, glass or sip of ‘Weingut Kopp’ wine.

I am 4 years new to the German wine market and during this time I’ve become aquinted with a few varietals which can hardly be compared to any other German cuisine. Perhaps the contrast between the fine detail in German wine and the simplicity of traditional German food is what makes German dining so utterly fascinating.

Germany introduced me to Riesling, Weissburgunder and Scheurebe. These are all white varietals which elegantly contribute to the fine finesse of German spring time and complement warm European summers quite exquisitely. Come winter, typically known to be fairytale-like beautiful but painfully chilly, one naturally tends to appreciate something bold, red and full-bodied which the born and bred German wine makers know all too well.

I had the privilege of meeting a German wine maker before I immigrated to Germany and became fascinated by his story. Johannes and his family own Weingut Kopp, a fantastically beautiful winery about 5km outside Baden-Baden in the South of Baden-Württemberg, on a hill in a small little town, Ebenung, overlooking a magnificent valley filled with vineyards, fragments of the Black Forest and small towns with old churches all of which light up at night to form a stage of dancing lights all the way over the French/German border. Without any doubt a view and experience too precious not to share. Johannes and his wife, Alina, who both spent enough time in South Africa to be inspired by South African hospitality and dining had the vision of combining some South African magic with their German heritage and serving this amazing concept to the people who visit Weingut Kopp.

Construction kicked off during 2020 and Ebenat Restaurant officially opened its doors early September 2022 to the public. Resting on top of the new Weinegut Kopp cellars which welcomes guests as they arrive, entering an architectural masterpiece which reflects strength and sophistication yet blends in with the natural environment in the most extravagant way.

As the heavens opened up and rain bucketed down upon us (some would argue that it’s a pure sign of favor from Above – especially after one of the hottest and driest summers recorded in Europe), Mr. & Mrs. Kopp along with their entire family, friends and locals were welcoming guests to the new home of Weingut Kopp – a home which welcomes with open arms, warm earthly colors, friendliness, fantastic wine and culinary creations which not only transports you all the way across the world to South Africa, but provokes your imagination in the same manner as well crafted art would.

My sincerest congratulations to Johannes and his entire team, his wife, his family, friends and colleagues who dedicated so much energy into sculpting their vision. Visiting Weingut Kopp has always been a severely special occasion, but now, they have mastered combining so many tangible and intangible elements of two severely distinct cultures which harmonize and resonate so perfectly that I have no doubt that this will become one of Germany’s favourite wineries to visit.

These are my top reasons for loving Weingut Kopp – and I’m sure they might appeal to you as well:

• Weingut Kopp’s 2022 vintage will be the first biodynamically certified range and will receive the Demeter seal! This – ladies and gentlemen, is not your ordinary stamp or sticker which confuses the average wine drinker into thinking the content won some brilliant prize – this is a process of complete transformation of the entire winery over time which brings about reliance and use of nature to protect and grow vineyards. Please do yourself a favor and read up on biodynamically certified wines and the Demeter Association – these are the wines and ways of the future.
• Weingut Kopp is a family institution – yip – like the ones you see in the typical Italian or French wine-movies (except – this is a genuinely German family), they stick together, work together, laugh, cry, cook, celebrate and grow together. I have never visited this institution without a warm family-welcome.
• Visiting Ebenat on its opening day we were greeted in our home language, Afrikaans, by the chef and his two daughters – (about 8.4 million people speak this language worldwide so the chances of being greeted in our home language is quite slim on the slopes of the Black Forest). Who better to cook a combination of German and South African cuisine than a German born South African? Ultimately the perfect destination for South African expats missing home and Germans dreaming about South African Adventures.
• Scheurebe – I have yet to encounter any winemaker who makes magic with this varietal as Mr. Kopp himself does. If you appreciate a light, floral white wine which has happiness written all over it – then this is the place to be and the wine to drink!

An all-rounder with a brilliantly special story, a spectacular location, fantastic wine and a beautiful family – if you don’t visit Weingut Kopp during your travels you’ll definitely be missing out!