Schloss Wallhausen is a member of the VDP (association of the top growers in Germany www.vdp.de)
Prinz Michael has been the president of the VDP since 1990
To become a member a winery has to fullfill several difficut critirias as the association stands for maximum quality orientation.
In order for you to become an overlook over the VDP we will give a short oversight over the VDP charter.
Requirments and responsibilities for a member estate:
(regional association can decree more severe rules, as well as enforcing them)
1. reduced yields
2. good and the best vineyard slopes
3. to farm 80% traditional grape varietells
4. natural vineyard managment
5. to produce more pradikaet wines than the regional average
6. Higher Oechsle level than what state laws demand to reach a Preadikt level (on average 8 Oechsle)
7. top class wine offering (above average wines over many years)
8. good representation at the winery with an own cellar
9. cultivation, making and selling from one hand. Workers need to have a very qualified eductaion and good skills.
10.The winery needs to be a full time winery as well as having to have a good reputation national as well as internatioanally wise. It also needs to maintain a cellar with old wines to show the history of the wines.
11. members can only be owners of a winery
12. VDP members must show the "VDP eagle" on the capsula
The wineries can not relax after having been admitted a member. Every 5 years there is a winery check of every VDP winery. If the result is not satisfying the winery loosses its VDP status. This has been enforced 70 times since Prince Michael became president.