Tasting Notes

"The new vintage is perfect! I asked them for what I thought would be a perfect everyday Riesling, and they created it for me. Not dry, not sweet, highly aromatic, lots of yin-yang, juicy and generous. A ton of heart and friendship went into its making, and even the label was designed by my neighbor across the street, the talented Eric Lewandowski, who knew exactly what I wantedthe sense of absurd good fortune when stars tumble into your outstretched handsyour winnings. Thats how it feels when you take the first sip Terry Theise"

The Estate

The fact that this estate is crafting some of the very best dry wines in Germany is no fluke, rather a result of nearly obsessive winemaker Stephan Attmans commitment to both dedicated cultivation of Deidesheim and Forsts best sites and meticulous work in the cellar. Under the same ownership and winemaking team, the Dr. Deinhard label is designated for fruity styles vinified in stainless steel while the Von Winning label is reserved for the Grosses Gewchs sites vinified dry and in wood. Von Winning maintains some of the oldest parcels in Grosses Gewchs vineyards smattered across Forst, Deidesheim, and Ruppertsberg. Attmans every decision is informed by great enthusiasm and experiences at estates in the Cote dOr and abroad. For example, Attmans newer vines are planted at a very high vine density- 9500 vines per hectare, as opposed to the more typical less than 5000. This creates competition amongst the vines, forcing the roots to grow deep, naturally reducing yields. Attman has adopted the single cane trellising system, prevalent in Burgundy, and Grosses Gewchs wines ferment in 500mL French barrels. Von Winning practices organic and sustainable viticulture.

Attmann describes his winemaking as not doing the wrong thing at the wrong time. The estates premium wines are treated with a minimalist approach and with the highest respect in the cellar. Gentle clarification, a natural and spontaneous fermentation and the abandonment of fining agents create wines with a distinctive indigenous and very elegant style. Pumping the juice or wine is never necessary in the gravity flow winery, allowing for minimal, and gentle vinification.