Zehnthof and Knipser, Weil and Schloss Johannisberg, Stodden and Alexander Laible - all have received awards for the quality of their wines. They are included in the list of producers who have just been recognised by the new German wine guides, "GaultMillau 2009" "Eichelmann – Deutschlands Weine 2009".

The honours awarded by the two wine guides, which have just been published, went primarily to producers in the Nahe, Rheingau, Pfalz, Baden and Franken regions, as well as to those in the Ahr valley. Whereas the GaultMillau guide awarded the title of winemaker of the year to the Knipser brothers (Pfalz), the "Eichelmann" awarded prizes to the Zehnthof Luckert estate in Franken (white wine range of the year) and to Jean Stodden on the Ahr (red wine range). Wilhelm Weil (Weingut Robert Weil estate, Rheingau) received the award for his sweet wines, and the wine of the year is the 2007 Niederhäuser Hermannshöhle Spätlese from the Dönnhoff estate (Nahe).

The GaultMillau awarded the prize for the rising star of the year to Daniel Wagner (Weingut Wagner-Stempel estate, Nahe), saw the wines of Schloss Johannisberg in the Rheingau as the range of the year, and discovered the "Discovery of the Year" in Baden (Weingut Alexander Laible estate). (WF)