COLOUR
White
TYPE
Still
VINTAGE
2024
GRAPE
Riesling
PRODUCER
Weingut Von Winning
REGION
Pfalz
CHARACTERISTICS
Body
Medium - Full
Sweetness
Dry
Acidity
High
Finish
Long
Intensity
Pronounced
AROMAS & FLAVOURS
ABOUT THIS WINE
Weingut von Winning, located in the Pfalz region of Germany, was founded in 1849 and experienced a magnificent renaissance starting in 2007 under the visionary leadership of the late Achim Niederberger and winemaker Stephan Attmann. The estate is renowned for its commitment to traditional, low-intervention viticulture and a unique winemaking philosophy that challenges modern German conventions. The Forster Ungeheuer vineyard is one of Germany's most historically prestigious Grand Cru (VDP.Grosse Lage) sites, situated on a gentle slope above the village of Forst. The vineyard's name historically traces back to a clerk named Johann Adam Ungeheuer in 1699. Its international fame was cemented in the 19th century when Chancellor Otto von Bismarck famously praised its quality, and it was later selected to be served at the grand opening of the Suez Canal in 1869. Von Winning's parcels in this vineyard feature high-density plantings that force the vines to root deeply into the complex, mineral-rich soils, resulting in a wine of exceptional depth, structure, and longevity.
ALCOHOL
13.0%
AVG. PRICE
€50
STYLE
Classic
SULPHITES
YES
When to drink
Now or Later
Ideal temperature
10-12°C
INTERESTING FACTS
Fact 01
Chancellor Otto von Bismarck famously declared of this vineyard: 'This monster tastes monstrously good' ('Dieses Ungeheuer schmeckt mir ungeheuer').
Fact 02
Riesling from the Forster Ungeheuer vineyard was selected to be poured at the grand opening ceremony of the Suez Canal in 1869.
Fact 03
Weingut von Winning employs ultra-high density planting of up to 9,500 vines per hectare, modeled on Burgundian Grand Cru systems.
FOOD PAIRING
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WINE MAKING PROCESS
The winemaking process for Von Winning's Grosses Gewächs is characterized by a 'controlled doing-nothing' philosophy, heavily inspired by traditional Burgundian methods. Grapes are harvested entirely by hand with meticulous selection in the vineyard. In the cellar, the juice is moved solely by gravity, completely avoiding the use of pumps. Fermentation occurs spontaneously using only indigenous yeasts in French oak tonneaux (500-liter barrels) and barriques, rather than the stainless steel tanks common in modern German Riesling production. The wine is matured on its gross lees for 18 months, allowing it to develop a rich, textured mouthfeel and complex structural integration. No fining or filtration is performed before bottling, preserving the natural purity, phenolic grip, and mineral expression of the Forster Ungeheuer terroir.
