Only a small selection of our wines makes it into the premium category . We like to call them "Kellergold" (cellar gold ). But what makes them so special, and how do we explain the price difference? Let's first take a look at the four Riesling wines that have achieved the premium designation from Graf von Weyher .
Riesling premium wines
Riesling has been cultivated in Germany for over 600 years (it's hard to imagine what it was like before!), and the Palatinate is the largest Riesling-growing region in the world —our specialty, if you will. Our premium Riesling is made from the same grape as our other wines. The grapes are also pressed in the same way. The same alcohol content (13%), all dry. So, is it all just a marketing gimmick?
Nope. Anyone who knows anything about wine knows that the vine and its processing are just two of the important elements that make a wine. Two other important factors are the location and, believe it or not, the rock on which the vine grows! Riesling is a grape that adapts very sensitively to its environment.
At Graf von Weyher, we're quite proud to have four completely different types of rock in our relatively small area (because that's rare!): red sandstone , granite , marl limestone , and slate . The differences in the rock are actually quite visible to the naked eye. So, be sure to stop by our winery here in the beautiful Palatinate region and take a tour the next time you have the chance!
But back to the differences: The vines have to adapt to the subsoil , and this has a direct impact on the flavor. For example, red sandstone contains a lot of sand and many minerals, so it retains more water. This is quite relaxing for the vines in dry summers, especially compared to hard granite or multi-layered slate.
Granite, on the other hand, which is actually quite rare in Germany, has another advantage: when exposed to direct sunlight, it heats up considerably and thus stores the natural warmth for a longer period of time… which can be quite nice for the vines on cold spring nights!
It's relatively easy to understand that location affects the flavor : the more sun, the sweeter the wine. Our limestone marl and red sandstone slopes face southwest , meaning they receive ten to eleven hours of sunshine in the summer (and the Southern Palatinate is one of the sunniest regions in Germany, so there's plenty of sunshine!). Our slate and granite slopes, on the other hand, are south-facing and receive a maximum of eight hours of sun in the summer.
For our premium wines, we harvest each variety separately and process them with utmost care. The differences are truly palatable (and not just for true wine connoisseurs!). Try it out and find out which is your personal favorite Riesling. You can find more details about Kellergold in the individual wines.
This is what wine experts say:
" Herbal-vegetable citrus nose with stone fruit notes and smoky and mineral traces. Quite sweet fruit with lively acidity and noticeable, somewhat sandy tannins. Nutty tones on the palate, a certain melting quality, vegetal to herbal and mineral notes in the background, a little rock candy and a hint of caramel, noticeable carbonation, good to very good, somewhat tannic and again quite sweet finish with cooling ethereal notes. wein.plus 13.05.2025
"Volume on the nose, with green apple, apricot, and peach in the fragrance. The palate is robust, medium-bodied with some phenolics and a present tactile minerality. Finishes full-bodied and dry, with great precision." Falstaff Wine Guide 2022
"Wet stone reveals itself on the nose, along with stone fruits such as vineyard peach and apricot. On the palate, the confident acidity and fruity sweetness form a small duet, a beautiful interplay, a harmoniously rounded wine accompanied by a limestone melt." Falstaff Wine Guide 2021
"Full-bodied aromas of juicy and ripe vineyard peach and yellow apple. Creamy on the palate with balanced acidity and juicy fruit, the subtle residual sweetness is well integrated, clear in expression, a finely spicy and harmoniously rounded wine." Falstaff Wine Guide 2020
"A very young, refreshing, harmonious nose. Lots of citrus, apricot, peach, and moist stones. Very well-integrated acidity, fine structure. Beautiful minerality. Balanced and harmonious. A juicy Palatinate wine with style and a delicately spicy, piquant finish. A pleasant companion for hot days and balmy summer evenings on the terrace..." Dr. Rolf Klein, experienced wine author and former editor-in-chief of the magazine "Weinwelt."
Awards:
Year 2020 (AP.No. 5073053 1318):
89 points - good to very good! Falstaff Wine Guide 2022
Class of 2019 (AP.No. 5073053 4319)
89 points - good to very good! Falstaff Wine Guide 2021
Year 2018 (AP.No. 5073053 1318)
89 points – good to very good! f alstaff Wine Guide 2020
Year 2017 ( AP.No. 5073053 1318 )
Golden Chamber Prize Medal at the state awards for wine and sparkling wine awarded by the Rhineland-Palatinate Chamber of Agriculture .
Year 2016 ( AP.No. 5073053 1717 )
1st place in the Riesling category at the competition ' The young Southern Palatinate, something is growing there '.
89 points at the international competition ' Best of Riesling' .
Golden Chamber Prize Medal at the state awards for wine and sparkling wine awarded by the Rhineland-Palatinate Chamber of Agriculture .
Year 2015 ( AP.No. 5073053 0716 )
2nd place in the Riesling category at the competition ' The young Southern Palatinate, something is growing there '.
87 points at the international competition ' Best of Riesling' .
Golden Chamber Prize Medal at the state awards for wine and sparkling wine awarded by the Rhineland-Palatinate Chamber of Agriculture .
Year 2014 ( AP.No. 5073053 1015)
85 points at the international competition ' Best of Riesling' .
Golden Chamber Prize Medal at the state awards for wine and sparkling wine awarded by the Rhineland-Palatinate Chamber of Agriculture .
Year 2013 ( AP.No. 5073053 1814)
Silver Chamber Prize Medal at the state awards for wine and sparkling wine awarded by the Rhineland-Palatinate Chamber of Agriculture .
Silver prize at the international wine challenge AWC Vienna .
0.75 liters
