WongAmat: Where Pinot Noir and passion form a dream team!

When passion and expertise come together, wines with soul are created – and this is exactly what characterises Jan Wongse Raumland, the winemaker behind the WongAmat brand. His wines, especially the characterful Pinot Noirs from the Wonnegau region, are characterised by dedication and a deep understanding of his craft. Since 2021, WongAmat has stood for fine Pinot Noirs from two special vineyards: the Dalsheimer Bürgel and the Kriegsheimer Rosengarten. In 2022, Jan expanded his portfolio to include a Cabernet Franc from Baden-Württemberg from the Untertürkheimer Herzogenberg – an exciting addition.

Jan’s journey to owning his own winery has been marked by some impressive milestones. It began with a vocational training as a winemaker at the renowned Nahe winery Emrich-Schönleber, where he met Felix Keller, the son of winemaking legend Klaus Peter Keller. The two quickly became close friends. Before studying in Geisenheim, Jan completed a formative internship in South Africa, which proved to be a decisive turning point. It was in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, renowned for its excellent Pinot Noirs, that he met his future wife, Katharina Raumland. They both worked at different wineries there and not only shared a love of wine, but also found each other. This meeting laid the foundations for a future together, both personally and professionally.

Back in Germany, Jan’s dream of making his own wine began on a small plot of land in the Dalsheimer Bürgel vineyard, which begins just behind the Raumland family’s beautiful garden. This tiny area of just seven rows of vines (1,829 m²) served as his first ‘playground’ for his vision of an exceptional Pinot Noir. He cultivated the plot with great dedication and sensitivity and realised his vision: To create Pinot Noirs that could compete with the best wines of Burgundy.

Despite the small production volumes in 2019 and 2020, which were mainly intended for friends and family, the quality of his work did not go unnoticed for long. H.O. Spanier of the Battenfeld-Spanier winery became aware of Jan and gave him another, larger plot in the Kriegsheimer Rosengarten (3,124 m²), planted with Selection Massale from Burgundy. The different terroirs of the two sites are reflected in the style of the wines: the Dalsheimer Bürgel (see last picture) on limestone and clay soils provides freshness and elegance, while the warmer Rosengarten with its gravel soils gives the wines more power and structure.

The 2021 vintage marks the official launch of WongAmat. The name ‘WongAmat’ may sound unusual, but it is a tribute to Jan’s Thai family, Wongse-Amatyakul. The first vintage showed exceptional finesse, with freshness and elegance combined with power and structure on the palate. The Pinot Noirs were characterised by fine tannins and clear fruit and sold out quickly.

In the vineyard, Jan is committed to 100% organic farming: all of his wines, starting with the 2021 vintage, are certified organic. But his commitment goes far beyond mere certification: sustainability and regenerative agriculture are at the heart of his work. Promoting the long-term health of the vines and the soil and preserving natural biodiversity are his top priorities.

Anyone who has worked at Keller knows how meticulously and with great attention to detail work is carried out here in the vineyard – Jan also lives and breathes this philosophy in his own parcels. His work is based on consistent manual labour and rigorous selection. Each grape is harvested by hand with the utmost care, only in the cool morning hours, in order to preserve the freshness of the flavours. Fermentation takes place spontaneously and as gently as possible, followed by around 14 months of maturation in 228 litre Pièce Bourguignonne, depending on the vintage. The Bürgel is matured in approximately 50% new wood and the Rosengarten in approximately 66% new wood.

Jan pays particular attention to the choice of barrels. He only uses barriques from the Taransaud cooperage, which is renowned for its outstanding quality of wood. The combination of slow-growing French oak and precise toasting gives his wines a velvety tannin structure and emphasises the fruit perfectly. After ageing, the wines are bottled with minimal use of sulphur.

Jan has no fixed plan for the future of WongAmat. Originally, he wanted to concentrate on Pinot Noir from single vineyards, but his creative passion has led him to new projects such as a Cabernet Franc from Württemberg or a Bordeaux blend using the Solera method. For Jan, WongAmat is more than just a ‘winery’ – it is his creative playground where he can experiment freely.

Wine lovers can look forward to new creations in the future. In addition to the classic Bürgel and Rosengarten sites, Jan is planning a special selection from the 2023 vintage from the Rosengarten to celebrate the birth of his son Paul. We can also look forward to the second vintage of Cabernet Franc from the Untertürkheimer Herzogenberg and his Bordeaux blend ‘Euphancholie’ from the Solera. Despite the challenges of 2023 – from extreme drought to hail – we can look forward to a concentrated vintage with powerful wines and pronounced tannins.

WongAmat is more than a brand – it is the expression of Jan’s tireless passion for wine, his deep connection with nature, his creativity and his keen sense for the highest quality. His wines, which combine finesse and power, are a must for lovers of great Pinot Noirs.