Westhofen, in the south of Rheinhessen, has long been known for its great wines and fine dining, but now there’s a new temple of culinary delight here. “Gut Leben am Morstein” is both the name and the mission of the beautiful Victorian villa that stands right at the entrance to Westhofen. Stefan Spies calls it “our little castle,” yet the impressive building is only a small part of the project: “Gut Leben” features a gourmet restaurant, a hotel with a conference area in the old barn—and a vast vaulted cellar where renowned actors, chamber musicians, and cabaret artists alike take the stage.

The villa was completed in 1899 for winemaker and landowner Valentin Keller, and it was remarkable not only for its turrets and ornamentation: "Keller wanted a showcase winery and had it designed by a well-known architect from the region," says Spies. We stand in the villa's entrance hall on a beautiful mosaic floor, the walls lined with deep dark panels.

The rooms with their high ceilings, antique furniture, and dark polished wooden floors exude dignity and prosperity, warmth and welcome. Here, on the ground floor, is the gourmet restaurant of the "Gut Leben." "Everything here is still original," says Spies, "the whole building looks practically the same as it did when the Kellers lived here."

Well, not quite. When Stefan Spies bought Villa Keller five years ago, it was practically a ruin. Over the decades, the Kellers had lost their glamour and their money, and there had been virtually no renovations. The villa stood completely empty for eleven years. "I fell in love with the building immediately," says Spies, "precisely because everything here still looked the same as it did 100 years ago."

Spies is the son of a winegrowing family from neighboring Dittelsheim, and 16 years ago he founded his own PR agency in Frankfurt. "I wasn't really looking for an investment," says the 48-year-old dryly, "but I knew I wanted to preserve and develop this wonderful place."

After about three years of renovation, “Gut Leben” opened its doors in the fall of 2017. Spies initially decided to offer vegan gourmet cuisine—a difficult choice given the rather down-to-earth nature of the people of Rheinhessen. Today, “Gut Leben” therefore also serves high-quality meat and fish, as well as regional products. Out in the courtyard, the “Weingarten” served regional specialties paired with excellent Rheinhessen wines, right next to the old barn, which now houses a modern conference center.

Spies and his team quickly realized there was a lack of guest rooms, and then they discovered that the adjacent old farmhouse was for sale. The old 17th-century farmhouse was transformed into a beautifully restored building, whose cozy, lovingly furnished hotel rooms exude a sense of the past while offering all modern comforts.

For the most fascinating part of the complex, however, we must descend into the underworld: Behind a massive, double-winged gate, a steep cellar staircase leads down into a vast vaulted chamber. “Large oak barrels were stored down here when we bought it,” Spies explains. The cellar extends 35 meters into the ground and is equipped with state-of-the-art amenities such as elevators and ventilation.

Spies divided the cellar into two sections; on the left is now a stylish banquet hall with 100 seats. The floor consists of elegant light beige sandstone slabs that “float” on pebbles to keep the cold out. On the right, however, is a black vaulted ceiling with rows of bright red chairs; classical concerts or cabaret nights take place on the stage at the front.

Lars Reichow has already been here, as has André Eisermann—it is precisely this combination of wine, good food, and culture that earned “Gut Leben” the 2019 Best of Award from the Great Wine Capitals. For the first time, the jury awarded not just one, but two prizes to the same venue. “I think,” Spies adds, “we can do our part to revitalize the local cultural scene—and bring some glamour to Rheinhessen.”