Wittmann Westhofen Kirchspiel Riesling Grosses Gewächs 2024

The Kirchspiel opens like an ancient amphitheatre towards the Rhine, north of Westhofen, in southern Rheinhessen. Facing east and south-east, the vines catch the first rays of the morning sun and are sheltered from the cold westerly winds, on slopes of up to 30%, between 120 and 180 metres above sea level. The clay marls with limestone inclusions and the loams formed by weathered limestone give this VDP.Grosse Lage its spicy, elegant character.

The estate farms its vines with certified biodynamic methods. In 2024, a cool, classic vintage, the Rieslings were harvested by hand between late September and early October. After gentle pressing, the must ferments spontaneously with its natural yeasts in large wooden foudres, in a vaulted cellar with a cool, constant temperature. The wine is then aged for several months on the lees, which preserves all the finesse of its aromas.

This wine reveals notes of lemon, grapefruit, white peach, pear, hawthorn blossom, fennel, white pepper and chalk. The concentrated, dense palate expresses the fine ripeness of a cool vintage, kept taut by very lively, chalky acidity. The long, spicy finish promises fine development over the years.

Germany has a long and illustrious history of winemaking. The Romans established the country's first vineyards along the banks of the Moselle River, near the present-day city of Trier. By the third century AD, vineyards had spread to various neighboring valleys, primarily those of the Moselle's tributaries. During the Middle Ages, the Christian church, particularly the Cistercian and Benedictine monasteries, had a significant influence on the development of viticulture and the production of quality wine in Germany. Germany has always been renowned for its excellent white wines: slightly sweet, low in alcohol, but always of high quality. However, in recent years, wine drinkers have tended to prefer drier wines. Consequently, the German market has evolved to cater to all tastes with some splendid dry Rieslings and other white wine varieties, such as Pinot Blanc, Gewürztraminer, and Grauburgunder. Warmer summers and milder winters have also favored rosés and reds, with Pinot Noir being the third most planted grape variety in the country. So, take your pick—from traditional Rieslings to great reds, the range is wide and still expanding. The German wine industry lost its way in terms of quality during the 20th century, expanding plantings onto less favorable sites and increasing yields to levels where quality was severely compromised. However, Germany's greatest wine producers were never completely lost, and since the end of the 20th century, considerable efforts have been made to restore Germany's former glory. Yields are now limited by law, and many leading producers have joined forces to form the VDP association (see German Wine Labels). Members of the VDP are bound by a commitment to focus their efforts on quality rather than quantity. In terms of volume, Germany ranks among the top ten countries in the world for annual wine production. Just over 60% of the wine produced is white, and it is widely acknowledged that the white wines from Germany's best vineyards and most reputable producers are among the finest in the world. German red wines are also gaining in popularity and quality, particularly those made from Spätburgunder, the local name for Pinot Noir. The second most popular red grape variety (in terms of planted hectares, at least) is Dornfelder.