Nineteen years ago German Burkhand ‘Buggy’ Kirchner arrived at Robert Stein Vineyard as a university student keen to experience Australian winemaking, now he’s back for harvest still keen to learn but this time with knowledge to share. In 2000, Buggy completed six weeks of hands-on experience at the winery as part of the final year of his winemaking and viticulture course. Which came about when he mentioned to a friend in his home village of Erbach, Eltville, that he would like to get some work experience in Australia and he was put in touch with Bob Stein who said he was welcome to stay. And after the stint said, “he’ll go far, he’s got real class, it’s been an absolute pleasure to have him”. “Last year I decided to come back, because we had a very early harvest in Germany and not too much work in the winery there, so I said to my boss ‘I’m going to Mudgee again for one month’. I love this spot, it’s beautiful,” he said. And it’s that early vintage that has him interested in returning to learn again. “It’s interesting for us to see how you work in a warmer climate,” he said. “Because it’s getting warmer in Germany as well, we had our earliest harvest ever in 2018. So it’s good experience for us to bring back.” Jacob Stein added that the knowledge flows both ways. “In 2006 I worked with Buggy in Rheingau, which is one of the most famous Riesling regions in the world. So we learn from each other, in the end it’s all about collaborating to make our wine better,” he said. To bring things full circle the winery is also hosting fellow German Florian Prinz, who is almost in the same position as Buggy was 19 years ago, having completed his studies last week. READ ALSO: Mudgee author pens biography of Australian naval hero READ ALSO: Fatal highway crash near Lithgow, life lost on Great Western Highway
German Burkhand Kirchner (centre) back where he did work experience, pictured with Jacob Stein and countryman Florian Prinz (left) who is doing what he did 19 years ago.
Nineteen years ago German Burkhand ‘Buggy’ Kirchner arrived at Robert Stein Vineyard as a university student keen to experience Australian winemaking, now he’s back for harvest still keen to learn but this time with knowledge to share.
In 2000, Buggy completed six weeks of hands-on experience at the winery as part of the final year of his winemaking and viticulture course. Which came about when he mentioned to a friend in his home village of Erbach, Eltville, that he would like to get some work experience in Australia and he was put in touch with Bob Stein who said he was welcome to stay.
And after the stint said, “he’ll go far, he’s got real class, it’s been an absolute pleasure to have him”.
“Last year I decided to come back, because we had a very early harvest in Germany and not too much work in the winery there, so I said to my boss ‘I’m going to Mudgee again for one month’. I love this spot, it’s beautiful,” he said.
And it’s that early vintage that has him interested in returning to learn again.
Burkhand pictured with Bob Stein in the Mudgee Guardian in 2000 during his first local stay, he noted that he has worked with three generations of Steins.
“It’s interesting for us to see how you work in a warmer climate,” he said.
“Because it’s getting warmer in Germany as well, we had our earliest harvest ever in 2018. So it’s good experience for us to bring back.”
Jacob Stein added that the knowledge flows both ways.
“In 2006 I worked with Buggy in Rheingau, which is one of the most famous Riesling regions in the world. So we learn from each other, in the end it’s all about collaborating to make our wine better,” he said.
To bring things full circle the winery is also hosting fellow German Florian Prinz, who is almost in the same position as Buggy was 19 years ago, having completed his studies last week.
