Sebastian & Paul Fürst - Weingut Rudolf Fürst

The small, red rock looks cold and coarse on your hand, but for Sebastian Fürst, it is his lifeline - a little piece of earth from his vineyard in western Franconia that he carried 10,000km to Singapore for his trade visit.

The 36-year-old is the winemaker of the Burgstadt-based Weingut Rudolf Fürst, which sits near the mountainous territory of Spessart and Odenwald. Dig deep into his vineyards, which carpet the hilly areas of Centgrafenberg, Hundsrück and Schlossberg, and you'll find the Martian-like red stones. The rocks give the iron-rich soil a stony character, providing good drainage and allowing the roots to reach deeper, notes Sebastian. The winery's main grape, Spätburgunder-Pinot Noir in German-thrives in such conditions, developing the rich perfume and elegant fruit that have become the Fürst badge.