Only a small selection of our wines make it into the premium class . We also like to call it cellar gold . But what makes them so special and what explains the price difference? Let's first take a look at the four Riesling wines that were able to conquer the premium title from Graf von Weyher .
Our granite Riesling dry is a real specialty because granite rock is relatively rare in Germany. This is one of the reasons why this wine is a real rampage pig and is constantly celebrated in the press. Another reason is the slightly exotic taste , which is somehow reminiscent of the Caribbean. No wonder, because of all four premium Reisling wines that we offer, the extremely hard granite is the stone that retains heat the longest. This ensures that the grapes feel a little like they are on summer vacation ... and they then easily transfer that to the connoisseurs! More background information on our four premium Rieslings can be found here.
Riesling premium wines
Riesling has been grown in Germany for over 600 years (you dare not even think about what it was like before!) and the Palatinate is the largest Riesling growing region in the world, so our specialty if you will. First of all, our premium Riesling is the same vine as the other wines. The grapes are also pressed in the same way. Same alcohol content (13%), all dry. So it's all just a marketing gimmick?
nope Because anyone who is familiar with wine knows that the vine and the processing are just two of the important elements that make a wine: Two other important factors are the location and yes, you can hardly believe it, the rock on which the vine grows ! Riesling is a grape that adapts very sensitively to its environment.
We at Graf von Weyher are quite proud to have four completely different types of rock in our comparatively small area (because that is rare!): red sandstone , granite , limestone marl and slate . Incidentally, the differences in the rock can be seen with the naked eye. So be sure to come to our winery here in the beautiful Palatinate at the next opportunity and take a guided tour!
But back to the differences: the vines have to adapt to the soil and that has a direct effect on the taste. Buntsandstein eg contains a lot of sand and many minerals, so it stores more water. That's pretty relaxed for the grapevine in dry summers, especially when compared to the hard granite or multi-layered slate.
The granite, on the other hand, which incidentally is really rare in Germany, has another advantage: it heats up a lot in direct sunlight and thus stores the natural heat for a longer period of time ... which can be pretty nice for the vine on cold spring nights!
It is relatively easy to understand that the location affects the taste : the more sun, the sweeter the wine. Our lime marl and red sandstone slopes face south-west , ie they get ten to eleven hours of sunshine in summer (and the southern Palatinate is one of the sunniest regions in Germany, so there's something going on!). Our slate and granite slopes, on the other hand, face south and bathe in the sun for a maximum of 8 hours in summer.
For our premium wines, we harvest each variant separately and process them with particular care. By the way, you can really taste the differences (and not only for real wine connoisseurs!). Try it out and find out which is your personal favorite Riesling. You can find more details about the cellar gold under the respective wines.
What wine experts say:
"Pale lemon yellow. In the nose a scent of minerals, lemon peel, pear and green apple. Aromas of slightly sweet lime sorbet and apple develop on the palate, lively acidity, medium body. It's fun." falstaff wine guide 2022
"Smells like a vineyard after a summer rain, wet stone, herbs, leafy greens, plus apple and tangerine. In the mouth with an agile acidity, which is accompanied by some fruity sweetness, darker, stony notes, also some steely minerality that provides character." falstaff wine guide 2021.
"Straw yellow in color; the scent contains aromas of citrus fruits and ripe yellow-fleshed fruits such as peach and apricot; fruity on the palate with a playful acid structure; fresh and lively overall impression." DLG Federal Wine Awards , Frankfurt am Main, 05/2020.
"Ripe apple and citrus fruit in the inviting nose, passion fruit, spicy and floral aspects. In the mouth with noticeable residual sweetness, which is accompanied by a juicy and creamy ripe acidity, in the middle of the palate with mineral tension, spicy and charming." falstaff wine guide 2020.
"... With a lot of pressure and, if it fits, also with delicacy. This is demonstrated above all by Peter Graf's Rieslings, which he teases out of the respective substrates in a very differentiated way. While the Riesling Kalkmergel is very open from the start, need Slate and, above all, granite, a longer maturing phase in order to open up..." Vinum Weinguide Germany 2018.
"Covered nose that unfolds with a little air. Citrus and peach notes with hints of walnut. Full contour with depth and power, compact and complex. A wine that needs time (and still has a lot of time). With wild fowl, veal, Cheese..." Dr. Rolf Klein, experienced wine author and former editor-in-chief of the magazine " Weinwelt ".
Awards:
Vintage 2019
(AP No. 5073053 1020)
Acid: 7.7 g/l; residual sugar: 8.7 g/l; Alcohol: 13.0% vol.
- 90 points - "excellent wine, among the best wines of the vintage." falstaff wine guide 2021
Vintage 2018
(AP No. 5073053 2519)
Acid: 7.8 g/l; residual sugar: 8.5 g/l; Alcohol: 13.0% vol.
- 90 points - "excellent wine, among the best wines of the vintage." falstaff wine guide 2020
- Golden DLG prize and awarded by the DLG - Federal Wine Awards.
Vintage 2017
(AP No. 5073053 1418)
acid: 8.2 g/l; residual sugar: 9.6 g/l; Alcohol: 13.0% vol.
- 89 points in the international competition ' Best of Riesling' .
- Golden chamber prize coin at the state awards for wine and sparkling wine awarded by the Rhineland-Palatinate Chamber of Agriculture .
Vintage 2016
(AP No. 5073053 3317)
- Golden chamber prize coin at the state awards for wine and sparkling wine awarded by the Rhineland-Palatinate Chamber of Agriculture .
Vintage 2016
(AP No. 5073053 1617)
Acid: 7.9 g/l; residual sugar: 8.7 g/l; Alcohol: 13.0% vol.
- 6th place in the Riesling category in the competition ' the young southern Palatinate, something is growing '.
- 90 points in the international competition ' Best of Riesling' .
- 90 points - "Wines of excellent quality that have good aging potential." Vinum Wine Guide 2018
Vintage 2015
(AP No. 5073053 00516)
Acid: 7.9 g/l; residual sugar: 8.8 g/l; Alcohol: 13.0% vol.
- 1st place in the Riesling category in the competition ' the young southern Palatinate, something is growing '.
- 3rd place in the state-wide competition for winning wines - "The best of a year at the state awards for wine and sparkling wine" in the dry Riesling category awarded by the Rhineland-Palatinate Chamber of Agriculture .
- 90 points in the international competition ' Best of Riesling' .
- Golden chamber prize coin at the state awards for wine and sparkling wine awarded by the Rhineland-Palatinate Chamber of Agriculture .
