The Bassermann-Jordan winery in Deidesheim, located in the heart of the Palatinate region, is once again among Germany’s leading wineries. My last visit in June reaffirmed the impressive quality and rich heritage of this winery, which is so vital to German viticulture. But how has Bassermann-Jordan achieved its current prominence and played a pivotal role in shaping German quality wine production over three centuries?
Max Kaindl, 17. July 2024
Reading time about 6 minutes
To answer this question, we need to look back at the early history of Bassermann-Jordan. It all began in 1773 when Johann Peter Jordan moved to Deidesheim to learn the trade of cooperage. His marriage to Apollonia Reichardt the following year laid the foundation for the current winery.
Andreas Jordan, their son, significantly shaped the winery after his parents’ deaths. With knowledge from his philosophy studies in Mainz and viticultural experience from the nearby Rheingau, he introduced innovations to Palatine viticulture. Andreas Jordan was an early adopter of Riesling cultivation and refined the techniques of harvesting and processing grapes, laying the groundwork for modern German quality wine production. His principles, such as waiting for the right harvest time, processing grapes by variety, and favoring noble grape varieties (Riesling, Pinot Noir), remain cornerstones of quality winemaking today.
He also skillfully leveraged the political changes of his time for the winery’s growth. The French occupation of the Palatinate allowed him to acquire valuable lands through auctions, continuously expanding the winery and establishing himself as one of the region’s largest and most successful winemakers.
A significant turning point for the family and the winery came in November 1848 with Andreas Jordan’s death. Without a written will, his estate was equally divided among his three children, leading to the creation of the wineries Reichsrat von Buhl, Deinhardt (now Von Winning), and Bassermann-Jordan.
Ludwig Andreas Jordan, Andreas’s son, led Bassermann-Jordan to international fame in the second half of the 19th century. His marriage to Seraphine Buhl and subsequent management of his uncle Peter Heinrich Jordan’s vineyards significantly expanded the business. The Jordan family skillfully utilized new marketing opportunities through industrial and trade exhibitions, where their wines regularly received awards, including gold medals at the World Expositions in Paris (1867) and Vienna (1873). But how did Ludwig Andreas Jordan conquer the international market?
In today’s terms, Jordan would be revered as a “marketing genius”. He used his extensive political contacts and economic acumen to extend the wine distribution far beyond the Palatinate. By participating in international exhibitions and fairs, he showcased the quality of his wines and opened new markets. The gold medal at the Paris World Exposition in 1867 was a milestone that solidified the winery’s reputation and brought Bassermann-Jordan wines to the global stage. His foresight still contributes to the winery’s legendary status as a leading 19th-century winery. His success also reflected positively on other regional wineries, making the Palatinate one of Germany’s leading wine regions in the 19th century.
The turn of the 20th century brought significant changes to the winery. Since the 1870s, the winery had been managed by Jordan’s son-in-law, Mannheim merchant Emil Bassermann. In 1883, the Bavarian king authorized Emil Bassermann and his wife Auguste to use the name Bassermann-Jordan.
The early 20th century was marked by prosperity and growth. Friedrich von Bassermann-Jordan, Emil’s son, continued the tradition of innovation. However, World War I brought challenges, with labor and material shortages and a near-total collapse of the export market. Despite these difficulties, Friedrich managed to steer the winery through tough times, bringing it back to success and renown in the 1920s.
During World War I, the Bassermann-Jordan family donated large sums to relief organizations and 400,000 Reichsmarks to the Bavarian state. Consequently, King Ludwig III of Bavaria granted them the noble title “Geheimer Rat Dr. von Bassermann-Jordan”, making them one of the last families in Bavaria to receive a noble title.
Sidenote: At that time, the Palatinate was under Bavarian rule.
World War II also left its mark. Wine production was severely affected, and many vineyards were damaged or neglected. After the war, like many others in the region, the winery had to be painstakingly rebuilt. Ludwig von Bassermann-Jordan, who took over the winery in 1959 from his father Friedrich, played a crucial role in this rebuilding phase. He focused on quality and tradition while advancing the modernization of the operation.
Ludwig von Bassermann-Jordan led the winery into a new era. He was not only a talented winemaker but also an active member of numerous viticultural associations. He skillfully combined traditional wine production with modern techniques, further enhancing wine quality. His deep understanding of the region, soils, and climate, coupled with his ability to merge tradition and innovation, was instrumental in the post-war economic success.
Under his leadership, new grape varieties were introduced, and cellar technology was modernized. Ludwig also played a key role in expanding wine exports, increasing Bassermann-Jordan’s international reputation. Wines from this period are still highly esteemed today, reflecting his passion and dedication to winemaking.
From 1995 to 2002, Margit von Bassermann-Jordan managed the winery following the death of her husband Ludwig. This period was characterized by continuity and an effort to maintain the high-quality standards that defined the winery. However, the challenges of globalization and the rapidly changing wine industry required new approaches.
In 2002, due to a lack of succession, the family sold the winery to Neustadt advertising entrepreneur Achim Niederberger. This marked a new chapter in the winery’s history. Niederberger invested heavily in modernization while preserving the house’s traditional values. Under his leadership, the winery experienced a renaissance and regained its former successes.
After Achim Niederberger’s untimely death in 2013, his wife Jana Seeger and her current husband Peter Hüftlein-Seeger have been managing the three Niederberg wineries. Balancing tradition and innovation in today’s fast-paced world is a tightrope act. Few succeed as well as Bassermann-Jordan. This success is largely thanks to a long-standing, experienced, and passionate team, until recently led by Palatine stalwart Uli Mell.
In recent years, the winery has undergone numerous modernization measures. The introduction of state-of-the-art cellar technology and the application of new winemaking methods show that tradition and innovation go hand in hand at Bassermann-Jordan. Unfortunately, the modernization measures meant that the historic stone cellar beneath the winery had to be abandoned. Today, the wines are vinified exclusively in new halls outside Deidesheim. Only the treasure chamber and the riddling racks for the estate’s sparkling wines remain in the impressive stone halls.
Bassermann-Jordan continues to prove its reputation as an innovative and curious pioneer in viticulture. In addition to their traditionally produced dry and noble sweet wines, they bottle several exciting wine projects. Who would have thought that such a long-established estate would produce wines in amphoras or Pet-Nat? At Bassermann-Jordan, these wines have become more than just experiments. They are now a fixed part of the diverse portfolio.
In recent years, Bassermann-Jordan wines have increasingly developed towards a drier and more precise style, a necessary adaptation to contemporary tastes. The 2023 vintage is an excellent example. After what I considered a rather average 2022 vintage, the 2023 village and first site wines from Bassermann-Jordan are extremely promising. Juicy, fruity, with lots of tension and a finely melting, very stimulating finish—they make you eagerly anticipate the grand cru wines that will be released in September.
Besides the current vintages, I had the pleasure of tasting some mature Beerenauslesen and Auslesen, which impressively underscore the winery’s high-quality standards. The 1994 Kieselberg Beerenauslese impressed me with its intense honey sweetness and complex aromas of dried fruits and nuts. Incredibly deep and long.
The 2007 Jesuitengarten Auslese presented itself as fruity and elegant, with notes of ripe peaches and a fine mineral structure. However, the finish was somewhat tired and lingering.
My favorite was clearly the 2013 Jesuitengarten Auslese. This wine showed a perfect balance between sweetness and juicy citrus acidity, with aromas of exotic fruits, a hint of citrus, and a long, creamy finish.
The influence of the Bassermann-Jordan family on German viticulture is immense. Through their wines and active participation in scientific and political discussions, they have significantly shaped wine culture in Germany over the last three centuries. Their wines are internationally renowned today, reflecting the perfect combination of tradition and innovation.
At Bassermann-Jordan, the masterful connection between historical heritage and the latest technology is evident. Those who have the opportunity to taste the wines of this house will understand why they are among the best in the world. My visit in June once again showed me—Bassermann-Jordan is a place where wine history and pleasure perfectly merge.
