von Winning, Grainhubel Riesling Grosses Gewachs, 2018 (1.5L)

Von Winning produces some of the finest dry wines in the Pfalz, if not all of Germany. Each wine, from an entry-level Riesling to the heralded Grosses Gewachs, is a microcosm of the Pfalz’s unique mineral profile, and of the fastidious winemaking at the estate.

Although the domaine was established in the 1860s, its fortunes rose in 2007 when Stephan Attman was appointed head winemaker. Stephan chose to abandon the stainless steel fermentation typically favored for Riesling and return to the old way of fermenting in wood, a practice that encourages structure and complexity.

V-W has vines in some of the most revered terroir in the Pfalz, including 8 different GG sites—no where else can you taste Riesling grown on such a diverse set of terroirs, including limestone, sandstone and volcanic basalt.

They are all fermented in large (typically old) oak barrels. The fermentation is long and slow, and the wines are aged on their lees for 1.5-2 years, producing a fascinating texture, simultaneously rich and ethereally fleeting.

The GGs of von Winning have virtually unlimited aging potential; there is a perfect balance struck between acidity, minerality and concentrated fruit.

Professional Reviews

What importer Skurnik Wines has to say about this wine...

Winery Village: Deidesheim
Grape Variety: Riesling
Appellation: Pfalz
Vineyard: Grainhübel (Deidesheim)
Soil: Sandy Loam
Exposition: South – Southwest
Fermentation & Elevage: Spontaneous fermentation in 500L barrels, left on the gross lees for 18 months
Classification: VDP.GROSSE LAGE

Grainhübel (Deidesheim)

Grainhübel lies relatively flat (30 % slope) at the edge of Deidesheim in the direction of Forst. The Bunter sandstone that is so typical for the Rhine Plain dominates the soils with loamy sand and loam. A share of basalt and marl clay is also present. The soils are friable and possess good water availability. The 5.4-hectare vineyard faces south and rises from 125-150 metres a.s.l. History: The site was first mentioned as “an der Gryne” in documents dating 1412. The name either stems from “Grain”, which indicates washed away ground, or from “Grien” which points to soil with pebbles and gravel. “Hübel” is a synonym for “Hügel”, which is a hill. According to the viticultural expert Johann Philipp Bronner (1792 – 1864), the site was considered to be the best in Deidesheim in the 19th century. At that time it comprised several parcels: Oberer Grain, Crain Chausse, Grainhübel and Unterer Grain.