Winzergenossenschaft Mayschoß-Altenahr e.G.

Winzergenossenschaft Mayschoß-Altenahr e.G. is a German winegrowers' cooperative based in Mayschoß in the Ahr Valley (Rhineland-Palatinate). It describes itself as the oldest winegrowers' cooperative in the world, tracing its origins to 1868, when winegrowers in Mayschoß, following an idea of J.P. Cossmann, joined together to market their wines collectively rather than remain dependent on merchants who set the barrel-wine prices. What began with a modest 18 members has grown into a community of more than 460 members today. The cooperative farms roughly 140 hectares across the Ahr Valley, from Altenahr to Ahrweiler. It was formed in its present shape through mergers: in 1982 it joined with the winegrowers' cooperative from Altenahr, and in 2009 with the Weinmanufaktur Walporzheim. Its core grape varieties are Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir), Frühburgunder and Riesling, vinified by an in-house cellar team. The heart of the cooperative is its historic cellar complex, built in the 1870s and 1880s by the members themselves and counted among the oldest in the entire Ahr Valley. Here the red wines mature for several months in barriques and in small and large wooden barrels. A treasure chamber stores special wines from the cooperative's long history, and a small wine-growing museum tells the story of viticulture in the Ahr Valley. The cellars and museum can be visited during guided tours and wine tastings. The product range is organized into a three-tier star classification: one star for the uncomplicated everyday "Basis" line, two stars for the "Mitte" line of food-friendly, varietally typical wines, and three stars for the "Spitze" line of complex, expressive top wines. Flagship bottlings include Ahr-Spätburgunder trocken in the Basis, Gründerwein and Klassiker tiers, and Ahr-Frühburgunder trocken. The cooperative also offers wine experiences, tastings and events, and operates a newsletter and direct sales channels. Governance follows the cooperative model: a management board (Vorstand) led by a chairman, with Carsten Berke serving as managing director and chairman of the board and Mirco Burkardt as sales manager and deputy chairman. The cellar is led by Kellermeisterin Astrid Rickert and Kellermeister Jan Hallerbach. The cooperative is currently undertaking a major new-build project at its main site in Mayschoß, with construction of the new main house underway and a breakthrough to the historic vaulted cellar already completed.

The Winzergenossenschaft Mayschoß-Altenahr traces its founding to 1868, when winegrowers in Mayschoß, following an idea of J.P. Cossmann, formed what it describes as the first winegrowers' cooperative in the world. The motivation was economic necessity: by joining together, the growers could market their Mayschoß wines collectively instead of remaining dependent on merchants who determined barrel-wine prices. The cooperative began with 18 members. In the 1870s and 1880s the members built the cellar complex that remains the heart of the cooperative today. These self-built cellars are counted among the oldest in the entire Ahr Valley. They provide the setting for the maturation of the cooperative's red wines, which rest for several months in barriques and in small and large wooden barrels. A treasure chamber holds special wines from the cooperative's long history, and a small wine-growing museum documents the history of viticulture in the Ahr Valley. The cooperative expanded through mergers in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. In 1982 it joined with the winegrowers' cooperative from Altenahr, and in 2009 with the Weinmanufaktur Walporzheim. As a result, the cooperative today cultivates approximately 140 hectares of vineyards across the Ahr Valley, from Altenahr to Ahrweiler, and counts more than 460 members. Throughout its history the cooperative has focused on the Ahr Valley's signature red varieties, above all Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir) and Frühburgunder, alongside Riesling. Its cellar team vinifies wines across a three-tier star classification: one star for the uncomplicated Basis line, two stars for the Mitte line of food-friendly, varietally typical wines, and three stars for the Spitze line of complex, expressive top wines. Flagship bottlings include Ahr-Spätburgunder trocken and Ahr-Frühburgunder trocken in various tiers, as well as the Gründerwein and Klassiker wines. In the present day the cooperative is undertaking a major construction project at its main site in Mayschoß: a new main house is being built, with work on floor slabs and the first walls underway and a breakthrough to the historic vaulted cellar already completed. The cooperative also offers wine experiences, tastings and events, and maintains direct sales and a newsletter for customers.

• 2009

  Merger with Weinmanufaktur Walporzheim.

• 1982

  Merger with the winegrowers' cooperative from Altenahr.

• 1870

  Construction of the cellar complex by members begins (1870s–1880s); these cellars are among the oldest in the Ahr Valley.

• 1868

  Founded as the first winegrowers' cooperative in the world by 18 members in Mayschoß, following an idea of J.P. Cossmann.

• New-build project at the main site in Mayschoß begins; construction of the new main house is underway.

World's oldest winegrowers' cooperative; traditional Ahr Valley producer of Spätburgunder, Frühburgunder and Riesling, organized in a three-star quality tier system.

• Ahr-Spätburgunder trocken (Basis, one star)

  Uncomplicated everyday Pinot Noir; e.g. Nikolaus N. 2022 0.375 l and Gründerwein 2023.

• Ahr-Spätburgunder trocken (Mitte, two stars)

  Food-friendly, varietally typical Pinot Noir; e.g. Klassiker 2023.

• Ahr-Frühburgunder trocken (Mitte, two stars)

  Food-friendly, varietally typical early-ripening Pinot Noir; e.g. Klassiker 2023.

• Riesling

  White wine variety vinified by the cellar team alongside the red varieties.

1. 1Homewg-mayschoss.de
2. 2Über unswg-mayschoss.de
3. 3Neubauplänewg-mayschoss.de
4. 4Ansprechpartnerwg-mayschoss.de
5. 5Winzergenossenschaft Mayschoß-Altenahr e.G. – Wikidatawikidata.org