“Our philosophy is not simply to remove alcohol from finished wines, but to produce high-quality base wines specifically designed for premium non-alcoholic production from the very start.” — Julia Rumpf

Quelle is a line of non-alcoholic wines produced by Haus Rothenberg. The name, German for “source” or “spring,” reflects what these wines are meant to be: clear, pure, and rooted in origin. The wines are drier, lower in calories, more elegant, and significantly more wine-like in overall profile.

The current lineup includes a riesling, a sparkling riesling, and a chardonnay. The grapes come 100% from the Nahe wine-growing region, and the chardonnay comes from vineyards located within approximately 10 kilometers of the winery. The grapes are processed directly at the Haus Rothenberg facility, giving Julia and Georg Rumpf full control over quality from harvest onward.

Why These Wines Are Different

The wines are specifically vinified at Haus Rothenberg for the Quelle project. It’s this specific intention, wines destined for dealcoholization from the start, that enables the wine to retain balance and structure after alcohol removal, rather than relying on sugar to mask imbalance or excessive acidity.

During vinification, extended maceration before pressing helps naturally soften and reduce acidity while increasing potassium extraction from the grape skins. This contributes to a rounder and more balanced mouthfeel while also naturally increasing the pH level. The wines then remain on their fine lees until shortly before dealcoholization. Extended lees aging adds texture, complexity, and natural palate weight, all extremely important elements for high-quality non-alcoholic wines, where maintaining mouthfeel is critical.

Because the base wines already have naturally lower acidity and better balance, significantly less residual sugar is required to create harmony in the finished wines. “We do not believe that sugar should be used as make-up to cover imbalance or excessive acidity,” Julia explains. “Instead, we focus on producing balanced wines from the very beginning. This is one of the major differences compared to many non-alcoholic wines currently on the market.”

Reverse Osmosis

Quelle uses reverse osmosis for dealcoholization, the most advanced and gentle technology currently available for premium non-alcoholic wine production. The process works by pressurizing wine against a semi-permeable membrane. Water and ethanol molecules are small enough to pass through; flavor compounds, phenolics, and color pigments are too large and remain behind. The separated water-alcohol mixture is then processed to remove the alcohol, and the now alcohol-free water is reintroduced to the wine concentrate to restore volume and balance.

The critical advantage is that the wine’s flavor compounds never leave the concentrate and never experience heat. Only the separated water-alcohol mixture is processed for alcohol removal. Temperature-sensitive aromatics, phenolic structure, and natural acidity remain intact throughout. In the past, vacuum distillation was commonly used for dealcoholization. While effective at removing alcohol, distillation heats the entire wine. Even under reduced pressure, which lowers the boiling point, all of the wine’s volatile aromatics are exposed to thermal stress. The result is often a “cooked” character and diminished freshness, structure, and texture.

With reverse osmosis, the wine itself stays cool throughout the process, and the membrane acts as a selective barrier that protects the compounds that matter most. More of the wine’s volatile aroma compounds, natural acidity structure, and phenolic components are preserved. This leads to greater purity, better texture, and a more authentic representation of the grape variety and origin. The result is a wine that tastes much closer to the original before dealcoholization, with better freshness, more precision, and greater varietal expression. “In our opinion, this technology allows non-alcoholic wines to move much closer to the quality expectations of premium traditional wines.”

The Wines

Quelle Riesling: 100% riesling from the Nahe. Extended skin contact before pressing, aged on fine lees until shortly before dealcoholization. The wine shows clarity, freshness, and varietal precision without the soft-drink sweetness typical of the category.

Quelle Sparkling Riesling: 100% riesling from the Nahe. Made in the same style as the still Riesling, with extended skin contact before pressing and aging on fine lees until shortly before dealcoholization. The sparkling version adds lift and energy while retaining the same clarity, freshness, and varietal precision.

Quelle Chardonnay: Chardonnay from vineyards located within approximately 10 kilometers of the winery. The wine is initially aged in stainless steel. Toward the end of the maturation period, the wine is transferred together with its fine lees into large oak casks (2,000 liters, approximately 4–6 years old), which adds additional texture, depth, and complexity to the final wine.

Haus Rothenberg

Haus Rothenberg is a new wine line built on deep historical roots. The project centers on approximately 10 hectares of vineyards in Langenlonsheim, acquired from the long-established Sitzius estate. Many vines were planted in the 1980s and 1990s and are now in their prime, yielding wines of depth, balance, and expression from naturally low volumes.

Georg Rumpf, winemaker at Weingut Kruger-Rumpf, oversees all vineyard and cellar work. Julia Rumpf serves as managing director, shaping the line’s identity, language, and direction. Her name on the label signals what this is: a personal project.

All vineyards are farmed organically and sustainably, currently in transition toward certification. The philosophy is simple: healthy soils, balanced vines, minimal intervention. The better the vine is doing, the less they need to intervene, and the clearer the wine becomes.

Domaine de la Grenaudière has been at the heart of the Muscadet appellation since 1723. Ideally located between the Sèvre and Maine rivers on granite terroirs, Domaine de la Grenaudière produces 100% Melon de Bourgogne wines. Long aging on lees creates Muscadets that express the purest expression of the terroir.

Mathilde Ollivier and Stéphane Cottenceau represent the 8th generation of winegrowers at Domaine de la Grenaudière, taking over from Guy and Jean-Luc Ollivier. The first generations were mixed farmers, as were most farms of the era. Over time, the family business specialized in growing vines and producing quality dry white wines. Over the last 150 years, generations have succeeded one another in bringing out the best in the Melon de Bourgogne grape variety, emblematic of Muscadet.

Most recently, the introduction of Phénomene demonstrates the forward-thinking nature of Cottenceau. Utilizing advanced vacuum distillation in Germany, the character and regional identity of Muscadet is preserved in an alcohol removed wine (less than .5%).

Situated just outside Pézenas in the South of France, Domaine Montrose is a historic estate rooted in the diverse soils of the Languedoc. The land has been cultivated for centuries, with nearby landmarks like the Valros Tower bearing witness to its rich past.

Established in the 16th century, the estate has been under the stewardship of the Coste family for nine generations. In 1701, ancestor Joseph Alazard received a family coat of arms—three lizards—that now adorns every bottle.

The vineyards are planted across a striking mosaic of terroirs. Clay-limestone soils offer freshness and natural balance; Villafranchian terrasses, small round pebbles naturally poor in nutrients, and ideal for low-yield, high-character vines; and volcanic soils from an ancient slope add depth, structure, and singularity to the wines. This diversity brings layered expression and a clear sense of place to each bottle.

Montrose is certified Terra Vitis High Environmental Value 4 (HVE 4), a recognition of its commitment to sustainable agriculture. The estate has achieved carbon neutrality since 2018, measuring and reducing its emissions while offsetting through global ecological initiatives such as hydroelectric and wind energy projects, as well as solar panels to supply the majority of their electricity needs at the winery.

Biodiversity is a cornerstone of the domaine’s philosophy. In addition to preserving surrounding woods and grasslands, Montrose has planted over 3,000 trees from 21 native Mediterranean species—including olive, almond, oak, quince, and arbutus—to foster ecological balance across the vineyard landscape.

In the cellar, the approach is minimalist. Finesse is prioritized over power, and each decision—from vine to bottle—is made with the goal of preserving the wine’s natural harmony.

Domaine Montrose captures the evolving spirit of the Languedoc: rooted in tradition, driven by innovation, and always made with joy.