The DÜRR Quality Winery is located in the heart of Central Franconia’s largest wine-growing community: Bullenheim. Known for the “Bullenheim Paradise” vineyard. Here, the family business produces and sells high-quality estate wines with a certain “extra”. Also in their own wine tavern. In addition to DÜRR’s philosophy, LiquoSystems’ fermentation and storage cooling technology is partly responsible for this “extra”.
Estate wines with a certain “extra”
At DÜRR Winery, they master the entire spectrum of wine production. Since they not only produce their own wines but also distribute them independently, the wines are tailored to various target groups. Ideally, they come with a certain “extra”. It starts with high-quality wines from the “Bullenheim Paradise” vineyard, continues with Franconia’s “bread and butter” wines like the uncomplicated Müller-Thurgau or trend wines like “Eva & Adam”, and extends to rarities like the “Granate” – more on that later. Some wines, including whites, are aged in barriques to give them a special note. Innovative products like the sparkling Seccos complete the offering.
Modern technology for modern wines
“All these nuances and “varieties” of the modern wine world would not be possible with traditional technologies like cooling hoses,” says master winemaker Julia Dürr-Döppert. That’s why DÜRR relies on digital fermentation controls and cooling circuits from LiquoSystems. In 2010, her father met LiquoSystems at a trade fair and began professionalizing the tank cooling system with cooling plates, fermentation controls, and a chiller unit. “That was a huge step for us back then, but we wouldn’t want to miss the results!” These include significantly better control over fermentation and its progress, as well as the ability to positively influence the development of the products via PC, with full oversight. Only then did it become possible to increase the quality and variety of the wine range and make it consistently reproducible. Also important is the safety against failures and accidents, for example, through alarm functions.
Expansion in 2018 – the technology was simply taken along
The investment paid off: Already in 2018, they took the second step and expanded to a new property with more space, more tanks, a larger warehouse, and more attractive sales rooms. Naturally, with technology from LiquoSystems. Beforehand, they had sat down and planned on-site what could be expanded and renewed with little effort. “The positive aspect was: During the move in 2018, we could take the entire tank inventory and the technology with us, unplug all Nano controls, and reuse them.” The rest was simply upgraded. The focus was on: the new cooling system (AquaSnap PLUS with 16 kW). Its capacity is designed to efficiently handle both tank and bottle storage cooling in one unit. “That was more economical for us, as two different lines simply run from it.”
Cooling against climate change – especially in the bottle storage
In the course of climate change, it’s noticeable that more and more cooling and irrigation are needed. “We definitely notice that climate change is happening and that it’s raining less,” says Julia Dürr-Döppert. “We increasingly consider going out and irrigating between June and August if there’s no rain in sight!” Regarding the tank cooling system, she notes: “Especially in times when water is becoming scarce and threatens to become the most valuable commodity, it’s good to know that you’re using a closed system without water loss.” Her tip for the grape harvest: “If it’s as hot during the harvest as in recent years, we harvest at night to bring in cool grapes. Then we can get the temperatures down faster.”
The bottle storage is also currently cooled year-round due to climate change. The cool storage is particularly beneficial for white wines and stabilizes their quality. Although a heating function was included in the chiller unit, it has not been used so far due to the warm winters (and good insulation of the building). In the hot summer months, storage cooling is particularly important. Since wine is permanently sold directly from DÜRR’s bottle storage, the storage is kept at temperatures between 13 and 14 degrees, especially in the hot months. “To keep the temperature increase minimal when the wine goes from storage to the customer’s car trunk”, says Julia Dürr-Döppert. Because what happens to a wine that is exposed to too great a difference? It forms tartrates. “We want to spare our customers this as much as possible.”
The role of temperature for the character of wines
“Our wine reflects its region, with the aromas typical for these vineyards. Temperature also serves to develop the aromas. If fermentation proceeds slowly, the aromatic spectrum that the wine brings from the harvest can be better retained in the final product.” This is particularly important for sparkling young wines and everyday companions. For red wines, however, it’s less so. To consistently ensure quality there, adherence to specific temperature curves is more crucial. However, the master winemaker immediately qualifies this: “It will never be exactly the same, as every year is different and there are always different challenges in vinification.” Precisely for this reason, the ability to control each tank individually via PC is so important for DÜRR. Developments constantly need to be corrected and balanced. Since DÜRR is a family business, the wine in the tanks and in bottle storage is never left to its own devices. A family member is always nearby who can intervene if something goes out of the tolerance range. Especially in times of stronger climate fluctuations, this is a reassuring constant – just press the button.
The Customer: DÜRR Winery from Bullenheim. Wines “from Paradise”
Bullenheim is the largest wine-growing community in Central Franconia. Known for the wine from the “Bullenheim Paradise” vineyard. In this sought-after location on the Central Franconian Bocksbeutelstraße, DÜRR Winery produces high-quality estate wines. Since regionality plays a major role here, these are consistently typical Franconian white and red grape varieties such as Müller-Thurgau, Bacchus, Silvaner, Riesling, Scheurebe, and Dornfelder. Among them are several award-winning and medal-decorated wines, sometimes proving that passion in the vineyard and wine cellar pays off. Also unmistakably recognizable by the Bocksbeutel. This is not only a sign of the wine’s origin but also of its quality. Because only the best Franconian wines are honored with this bottle. There’s also a real “Granate”: a Silvaner that matures not in a wooden but in a granite barrel. “You have to try it”, according to the insider tip.
Further special features of DÜRR include the guesthouse and the wine tavern. A cozy wine tavern with homemade cakes and Franconian snacks. Wine tastings, tours through vineyards and cellars are available year-round. Groups and family celebrations are always possible. A special gift idea: the vine sponsorship. As a sponsor of 5 grapevines, you receive their annual yields conveniently bottled in 14 bottles. Clearly, that’s well-received!
