Carrousel de tête

is a micro-boutique natural wine project located in Meckenheim, within the Pfalz region of Germany. Similar to Banquet of Gods, it is a creative, low-intervention venture that operates on a very small scale.

The Winemaker: Frederic Groß

The project is led by Frederic Groß and his wife Simone. Interestingly, they are not traditional full-time winemakers; Frederic’s "day job" is running a graphic design studio (KGP GmbH) on the German Wine Route.

  • The Origin: The project began around 2018 when they acquired a small plot (about 0.5 to 0.8 hectares) of 40-year-old Riesling and Silvaner vines right behind their house.

  • Philosophy: They describe it as a "playground" or a "laboratory" without dogmatic concepts. The goal is to create independent, high-energy wines from old vineyards with minimal intervention.

  • Collaborations: Because it is a "semi-professional" project, Frederic often collaborates with friends who are established winemakers. Notably, he has worked with Jonas Seckinger (of the famous Seckinger winery) to help vinify certain cuvées.

The Wines

The production is tiny, often focusing on "mini-plots" around Meckenheim and Deidesheim.

  • Blanc: Usually a hazy blend of Silvaner and Riesling. It is known for being fresh, herbal, and textured, often with short skin contact.

  • Orange: Typically a macerated blend of Scheurebe and Muscat (Muskateller). It is celebrated for being highly aromatic (floral/jasmine) but dry and "crunchy" on the palate.

  • Clos Paradis: A more "serious" Riesling sourced from a specific old-vine plot, often showing more depth and mineral complexity.

  • Style: The wines are bottled unfiltered, usually with little to no added sulfur. They are designed for "Trinkfluss" (high drinkability) and often feature striking, minimalist labels—a nod to Frederic’s design background.

Contact & Location

  • Address: Haßlocher Straße 9B, 67149 Meckenheim, Pfalz, Germany.

  • Instagram: @carrousel_de_tete (The best way to see their current experiments and vineyard work).

  • Availability: You can usually find their bottles at specialized natural wine shops like OFF GRID (Stuttgart), Drops Wine, or Weinfurore.