The Born Pioneer
For Benedikt Schnürr, the role of pioneer in the wines of the future is not just something he inherited from his parents. It is the very core of his personality — and he knows it.
Imagine being barely 26 years old and knowing exactly what you want to spend the rest of your life doing and what your special role is. All without ever feeling the need to challenge it by moving away and realizing where you truly belong. You have simply always known it.
But that’s not everything. Your chosen path also lies in direct continuation of what your parents have built. You actually live in the same place where you ran around playing as a child, and your job is to carry the legacy forward in a synthesis of the family’s spirit and your own.
This is the reality for Benedikt Schnürr, the second generation of the Schnürr winery, located in the village of Gundersheim in the heart of Germany’s largest wine region, Rheinhessen.
As the eldest of three brothers, he officially took over the management of the winery from his parents Andreas and Alexandra a year ago, after having completed his studies in viticulture at Geisenheim University less than an hour’s drive from the winery.
It is the only place Benedikt has lived besides his childhood home in Gundersheim — something he is perfectly happy with.
“I have everything I need here in the village to live with a high quality of life in mind. I lack nothing, and I love the freedom that comes with living here. I can spontaneously decide whether I want to spend the day in the vineyard, in the cellar, or take a walk in the forest. And if I feel like going into the city, there are plenty of options in the area,” he says while leaning over one of the steel wires that keep the vines growing in perfectly straight rows.
