Wunderwerk Grauburgunder 2021

Vineyard

The grapes for the Dreissigacker Wunderwerk Pinot Gris come from biodynamically cultivated top locations in Bechtheim. The humus-rich soils of lime and loess loam form the optimal basis for the Pinot grape variety Pinot Gris. The Pinot Gris vines for Wunderwerk are now between 15 and 20 years old, and the roots are correspondingly deep. This creates complexity and layers in the wine and makes this Pinot Gris particularly storable.

To increase quality, the half the Wunderwerk grapes are green harvested in early summer. This gives the berries enough space to develop freely without squeezing each other and absorbing the full power of the vine. During the selective harvest by hand, they are carefully placed in small standard containers and, upon arrival at the Dreissigacker winery, gently pressed down with the feet. After up to 10 hours on the mash, the grapes are gently pressed in several passes over several hours.

Wine

The process of aging the wine in the cellar is just as careful as in the vineyard. Because, as is usual at Dreissigacker, gentle processing has the highest priority in all steps of winemaking. The precious grapes for the this Pinot Gris are conveyed exclusively by gravity. No use pumps out of conviction, as these would only strain the wines unnecessarily. The must is also managed without the use of treatment agents during the entire manufacturing process. In order to create optimal conditions for the natural yeasts and the subsequent spontaneous fermentation, the must is pre-clarified by short sedimentation. This preserves the natural yeast flora.

This Pinot Gris is aged 100% in Tonneau wooden barrels, both new and multiple use of 500 liter barrels. The varying allocation ensures the round roasted aroma and helps the wine to achieve a special harmony. In addition, wines matured in wood benefit from long storage. The Pinot Gris rests on the full yeast for around 9 months, then on the fine yeast until it is bottled. Due to the expansion in wood and the long yeast storage, the wine develops optimally and harmoniously and is particularly storable.

Its elegant and powerful character goes extremely well with char, with lemon sauce and creamy risotto. Tender green asparagus on poached quail eggs with crunchy pumpernickel croutons is also an excellent food pairing for the this Pinot Gris from the wooden barrel.

Region

Rheinhessen is a very famous wine region in Germany, located in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate. It is one of the country’s 13 official wine regions and is known for its rich winemaking history and high-quality wines. Rheinhessen is the largest wine-producing region in Germany, covering an area of approximately 26,500 hectares of vineyards.

Rheinhessen lies to the west of the Rhine River and is bordered by the Nahe wine region to the northwest and the Pfalz wine region to the south. The region’s landscape is characterized by gently rolling hills and a temperate climate that is influenced by the river.

Climate & Terroir

 Spring in Rheinhessen tends to be cool, which can be challenging for the early growth of grapevines. Frosts can occur in spring, posing a risk to the young buds.

 Summers in Rheinhessen are generally warm, allowing the grapes to ripen and develop their flavors. However, the presence of the Rhine River and its cooling effect helps to prevent extreme heat waves.

The region benefits from a relatively long growing season, allowing the grapes to reach full maturity. This extended ripening period contributes to the development of complex flavors and balanced acidity in the wines.

The region’s moderate climate with warm days and cool nights in autumn is particularly favorable for the late ripening grape varieties like Riesling. This combination helps the grapes retain acidity while achieving sufficient sugar levels, leading to the production of high-quality wines.

Ideal drinking temperature 11° Celsius.

Wine 101 | Episode 1 | Wunderwerk Grauburgunder 2021

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