Ruland Johann

In 1709, the German merchant and pharmacist Johann Seger Ruland (1683-1745) bought the overgrown garden of the assessor at the Imperial Chamber Court Johann Heinrich Seuffert in Streichergasse in Speyer (Rhineland-Palatinate). There are two variants on the origin of the spread of the Grauburgunder. According to the better-known first variant, Ruland received vines unknown to him from Burgundy or perhaps even brought them from there himself and planted them in the newly acquired garden. According to the more likely second variant, the previous owner Seuffert had already introduced vines from Champagne and planted them in his garden. Ruland then found these in the overgrown garden and made a wine from them. He is said to have presented this to his prince-bishop, who liked it. According to his description, the wine was "sweet and lovely". Encouraged by this, Ruland increased the number of vines from 1711 onwards and sold the "hundred at 8 to 10 guilders". This marked the beginning of the widespread distribution of Pinot Gris (Pinot Gris) in Germany, which was later named after him as "Ruländer" or also as "Speyerer" after the place of origin. Other people who later did much to spread the word were the Ihringen doctor Lydtin, as well as the vineyard owner and mayor of Breisach Johann Baptist Hau (1782-1858).