As you drive through the rolling hills of Rheinhessen with their vineyards, you will find an inconspicuous estate on the outskirts of the small village of Köngernheim. Only when you step through the farm gate does the wonder begin. Old half-timbered houses surround a truly romantic courtyard nestled against the side of the main building – an old grain mill. The secrets lie within: ultra-modern yet cozy rooms, a gourmet restaurant, and a 1,000-square-meter wellness and sauna area with an outdoor pool, all dedicated to the theme of wine.

"The mill was quite run down when my parents bought it," admits Niclas Jordan. It was a long time ago: it was 2005 when Gerhard and Martina Jordan saved the old "Untermühle" from foreclosure. "Running their own hotel was a long-held dream of my parents," says Jordan, who himself became a member of the "Mühlengeister" team three years ago at the age of 28.

His parents grew up in Mainz and Bingen, and his grandparents ran the old cult restaurant "Zum Gebirg" in Mainz. His parents also went into the hotel business. When they were still in training, "they used to sit in the courtyard of the Untermühle and dream of running this hotel one day," reports their son.

Today, this hotel is called Jordan's Untermühle, but its history goes back centuries. The oldest written mention dates back to 1608, but historians are certain that the mill on the banks of the small Selz river existed at least as early as the 14th century. In recent decades, it became known as a gourmet restaurant far beyond the borders of Rheinhessen, before going downhill in the 1980s.

Today, the "Traum-Mühle" is the first building to welcome guests. It is the oldest part of the estate and houses eleven cozy rooms with old wooden beams that exude charm. The "Kuschel-Mühle" houses further rooms of the elegant 4.5-star hotel, and in October 2018, another 18 rooms were added in a new wing next to the old main building.

The restaurant serves high-quality food such as pike-perch fillet, beef roulades, and homemade pheasant sausages, while the wine list offers delicacies from the surrounding vineyards all the way to the Roter Hang in Nierstein. "You can also drink your way through all the Great Wine Capitals," says Jordan: there is a bottle from every member of the global wine network on the menu here.

But it wasn't because of the mill or the wine list that Jordan's Untermühle won the Best Of Wine Tourism Award 2020 for accommodation. The reason is called "Herz & Rebe" (Heart & Vine) – it's the brand-new wellness and sauna area that Jordan's opened at the end of 2018. The central spa lounge looks like a living room and invites guests to linger with its warm colors and wooden elements. Four-poster beds offer retreats in a separate area, with adjoining rooms providing space for treatments. The modern pool leads out into the open air, where guests can enjoy a wonderful view of the new sauna building in mill style, with a beautiful yoga room on the first floor.

Riesling, Silvaner, Pinot Gris, and Pinot Noir are not only served by the glass here, they also lend their names to the wellness programs. "Riesling stands for purification and freshness, Silvaner for mindfulness and care," explains Jordan. Each program was planned around these concepts, inspired by the wine culture of Rheinhessen. Pinot Gris stands for calm and centering, while Pinot Noir gives strength and energy. "We wanted to bring the wine theme into the spa," explains Jordan, "adapting the grape varieties to the needs of our guests, which is probably unique."

And, of course, they also use wine cosmetics and scrubs made from wine seeds, Sauvignon Blanc scrubs, and all kinds of vinotherapy, as well as barrique foot baths. "That's our welcome ceremony," said Jordan, which is naturally accompanied by a glass of wine. "We are in the middle of a lively wine region," says the young hotel manager, "we just thought it was fitting."