Grosche has run their international wine academy Mundusvini since 2005 and in 2006 he helped launch the global trade magazine Meininger’s Wine Business International.
The 38-year-old joins the Palatinate estate as co-managing director in January and will be responsible for sales and exports.
He said: “Over the past decade I’ve had the unique opportunity to get to know wine regions, wine producers and journalists all over the world and taste the entire spectrum of the global wine production on a regular basis,”
“That experience has shown me that the best vineyards in Pfalz produce some of the world’s finest wines. Reichsrat von Buhl owns the best parcels in some of these vineyards and I look forward to being part of the team taking advantage of this potential to produce world class wines.”
Owner Achim Niederberger said: “We have managed to get a real specialist on board who not only knows the world of fine wine intimately, but who is well connected.”
Grosche will be joining a team including managing director Marian Kopp and former Champagne Bollinger chef du cave Mathieu Kaufmann, who will begin at the company this autumn, in time for harvest 2013.
Reichsrat von Buhl is currently operated by a long-term tenant. Founded in 1849, it established itself internationally. After more than 150 years of continuous operation, it is widely regarded as one of Germany’s top wine estates. On December 2013, the winery will be returned to the Niederberger group, which acquired it in 2005.
Since the 2008 vintage, the estate has been involved in an official procedure to obtain certification for organic cultivation. The von Buhl Estate is a member of the VDP (Verband Deutscher Qualitäts - und Prädikatsweingüter: The Association of German Quality and Prädikat Wine Estates).
The estate and its buildings are protected as a national monument. In the 19th century, Armand von Buhl was key in promoting the estate internationally. In 1869, his Rieslings were served at the opening of the Suez Canal. The estate has significant holdings throughout the Mittelhaardt region. In the villages of Forst, Deidesheim and Ruppertsberg the estate has significant ownership in several grand cru vineyards such as: Kirchenstück, Pechstein, Ungeheuer, Jesuitengarten, Paradiesgarten.
The 60 hectare estate is planted 88% with Riesling, 8% Pinot Noir and 4% to Scheurebe, Rieslaner and Sauvignon Blanc. It also produces sparkling wines especially the single vineyard Pechstein.
