Winemaker Notes
The “Handwerk” line is hand-crafted as the name suggests: biodynamically grown, manually harvested and vinified in small quantities. You want a dry white but don’t want to give up the fruit, ripeness or sex appeal of Riesling?
This is an explosively flavorful and energetic bottling, loaded with pit fruit propelled by succulent acidity. The flavors go on for a startlingly long time. Part of its secret is sourcing from very high altitude slopes (yes, Mosel-like elevations in a sunny Pfalz style!) and a fertile soil cocktail of hummus and loam mixed with the most hilariously named soil type in Germany: landschneckenkalk, which translates to "land snail chalk." A richer, more serious wine than the liter at 12% alcohol.
Riesling possesses a remarkable ability to reflect the character of wherever it is grown while still maintaining its identity. A regal variety of incredible purity and precision, this versatile grape can be just as enjoyable dry or sweet, young or old, still or sparkling and can age longer than nearly any other white variety. Somm Secret—Given how difficult it is to discern the level of sweetness in a Riesling from the label, here are some clues to find the dry ones. First, look for the world “trocken.” (“Halbtrocken” or “feinherb” mean off-dry.) Also a higher abv usually indicates a drier Riesling.
This sunny and relatively dry region served for many years as a German tourist mecca and was associated with low cost, cheerful wines. But since the 1980s, it has gained a reputation as one of Germany’s more innovative regions, which has led to increased international demand.