Rainer Schnaitmann was introduced to me in 1998 by a man greatly responsible for my entering the wine world, Helmut Doka, himself then a Stuttgart city councillor with a brief charging him to oversee his city's vineyards. He met and was impressed by the first vintage made by the then new vintner who was one of handful of dynamic young Germans turning its wines' stodgy stylings into those with far better results. Schnaitmann's wines have gone from strength to strength enjoying exemplary critical comments and widespread distribution.

Produced by Matty Rosenberg, Jennifer Hammoud and David Furer at Radio Free Rhinecliff