Surface area 10 ha
Natural since 2016

About the winemakers
Marto Wines is the creation of Martin Wörner and his partner Alanna Lagamba, who together are the driving force behind this lively winery in Flonheim, Rheinhessen. Martin grew up in a family of farmers his grandfather was one of the first in the village to bottle his own wine instead of selling to the cooperative but by the time Martin took over the vineyards in 2015, the fruit was still being sold off. Determined to continue the family tradition, Martin chose an entirely different, radically natural path. In 2016, he produced his first 2,500 bottles, and since then, Marto has become one of the most talked-about names on the German natural wine scene, with a loyal following in cities like Tokyo, Paris, and New York. Alanna, born in Canada and trained in places including France, has worked closely with Martin from the outset, both in the vineyards and in the cellar.

Their experience includes stints at influential estates such as Matassa and Gut Oggau, with Martin spending two harvests in 2016 first in southern France, then back home in Rheinhessen, with Tom Lubbe’s lessons still fresh in mind. Since then, they have charted a clear course: vibrant, uncompromising wines that reflect intuition, precision, and a deep trust in nature. Today, they produce about 100,000 bottles of still wine each year, supplemented by around 50,000 bottles of sparkling Sekt and their iconic, red-foamed Frauenpower.

About the vineyard
Martin and Alanna currently cultivate around 10 hectares in and around Flonheim a village renowned for its sandstone quarries on strikingly varied terroir, where the soil can change every hundred metres: from sandstone and limestone to loam, schist, and volcanic rock. The region enjoys warm summers, mild winters, and moderate rainfall nearly perfect conditions for grape growing.

Their focus in the vines is soil health. They work entirely with organic vineyards, using cover crops like radish, beetroot, and turnip to prevent erosion and encourage biodiversity. On steeper slopes, sheep help with mowing and fertilization. Ploughing is avoided, but rigid dogma is set aside in favour of attention and intuition. The plantings focus on Riesling, Müller-Thurgau, Scheurebe, Silvaner, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, and Pinot Noir supplemented by less common varieties like Würzer and Faber.

About the wines
Winemaking here is as unmanipulated as it is precise: everything is harvested by hand, whole bunches are fermented spontaneously, and ageing happens in old wood ranging from foudres to classic Mosel barrels with absolutely nothing added. The wines are unfiltered, unfined, and no sulphites are introduced. Many of the wines are vinified separately, only to be blended just before bottling, as is the case with their signature Weiss and Manna cuvées. They also produce more intense bottlings like Al Dente and Frauenpower, where maceration, texture, and lively tension meet harmoniously.

Marto’s style is instantly recognisable: energetic, playful, sometimes slightly hazy, yet invariably complex and utterly drinkable. These are not technically crafted natural wines, but pure, transparent expressions of grape and earth with Flonheim’s sandstone playing its silent lead role in every bottle.

Instagram Marto Wines
Vivant Selections profile Marto Wines