Martin Korrell
Germany
Martin's Wines
- Germany
- 2Â wines
- 1Â style
Martin creates complex, classy wines in Germany's Nahe Valley
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Martin started his life as a winemaker in the Spanish city of Palencia, where he was born. As soon as he had graduated, he took to the road, following harvest through several different countries to discover the incredible diversity of the wine world.
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He has since settled in the Nahe region of Germany, working tirelessly to create palate pristine wines that reflect this super-unique region both authentically and sustainably.
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Conserving the natural environment he works with is incredibly important to Martin, and he’s putting your hard-earned Angle pennies towards protecting old vines in the Nahe. Vines like these produce grapes of incredible quality but in very low yields, so they’re constantly under threat of being bulldozed by developers. Martin is dedicated to their protection and making fantastic wines along the way.
Vineyard Location
Martin Korrell's Story
What's your background?
I studied oenology in my city of birth, Palencia. After graduating I traveled following the harvest through various countries to discover the complexity and diversity of the world of wine. This trip took me through Bordeaux, New Zealand, the Spanish Douro, and Burgundy. I achieved the wset diploma in 2016, the same year that I joined Peninsula Vinicultores.Now I am a stage 2 MW student.
Why did you become a winemaker?
I was a brilliant student until I made a mistake in choosing a degree in chemistry. From there I jumped to the degree in oenology without really knowing what I was going to find and I discovered the world that I did want to dedicate myself to.
How long have you been making wine?
12 years
What is it about your job that you love?
That it is impossible to fall into a routine in an activity linked to the agricultural cycle. Every moment of the year is different. And I also like to think that I contribute to the best of my ability to make decisions that make the world of wine more authentic and sustainable.
What makes your wines special?
I honestly believe that each and everyone has a deep sense of place
Which varietal / style is your passion and why?
Tempranillo. For many years I thought that Tempranillo was a grape to make style wines, ripe and with a lots of oak or oxidative long aging wines. A kind of work-horse grape. But now I have learned that harvested soon and without overwhelming it with new oak it is capable of expressing the terroir as varieties that are much better considered.
Most memorable moment making wine?
The best moment was without a doubt when my son came for the first time to see a vineyard with me. The next day he told school mates that his father's work was very easy, just had to eat grapes and decide when to harvest by taste. I love him the same.
What do you hope to accomplish as an Angel-funded winemaker?
I would like to give economic viability to all that old vineyard whose grapes are being underpaid. I want to transfer the economic stability that being an Angel-fund winemaker would bring me to conserve all this old plant material that would otherwise be in danger by being lower yielding.
