The story
On our beloved Eselsberg, the hill where the Heimat Silvaner and the Fledermaus grow on, there is a big plot (almost one hectare) with two thirds Grauburgunder (Pinot Gris) and one third Riesling growing on it. 2019 was a blockbuster vintage for the Grauburgunder with a perfect balance of fruit and tannins with the Riesling pushing the acidity to the right limit. The blend is dedicated to the “Weinschwärmer” (Deilephila porcellus), a beautifully coloured moth who lives in our area. Not only does that moth carry the word “wine” in its name but it’s also a delicacy for our local bats.
How we made it
The grapes from the younger Riesling section of the vineyard got pressed directly to maintain a razor-sharp acidity while the Grauburgunder grapes were destemmed and fermented on the skins for about a week. The two batches were blended in May 2020 into an old 2.400l barrel and bottled in March 2021.
Fact sheet
Varieties: 75% Grauburgunder, 25% Riesling
Location: Kitzingen
Soil: Shell limestone
Harvest: 12.9. (Grauburgunder) / 24.9. (Riesling)
Grauburgunder grapes destemmed & fermented on the skins for five days, Riesling directly pressed; Aged in old oak
Bottled: March 2021
Alcohol: 11.5 %
Acid: 5.6 g/l
Residual sugar: 0.1 g/l
Total SO2 (nothing added): 11 mg/l
Bottle size: 0.75 l