# Riesling Landwein Rhein (2022)

- **Producer:** Weingut Walldorf-Pfaffenhof
- **Colour:** white
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Riesling
- **Region:** Rheinhessen, Germany
- **Style:** Natural
- **Alcohol:** 12.0%
- **Average price:** €25
- **Vegan:** Yes
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 8–10 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** quince, apple, peach, lemon, smoke

## About this wine

Weingut Walldorf-Pfaffenhof was established in Saulheim in 1896. Fifth-generation winemaker Max Dexheimer, together with his partner, Estonian sommelier Marika Tikas, leads the estate in producing low-intervention natural wines. After completing oenology studies at Geisenheim University and gaining harvest experience in Austria and New Zealand, Max returned home to transition the family vineyards to certified organic and biodynamic farming, highlighting the estate's historic limestone terroir.

## Interesting facts

- Winemaker Max Dexheimer is part of a celebrated cohort of Geisenheim-educated natural winemakers including Andi Mann and Martin Wörner.
- The estate utilizes ancient 1,200-liter neutral German Stückfass oak vats to allow micro-oxygenation without oak flavor extraction.
- The Saulheim vineyard soils contain deep limestone beds filled with prehistoric marine fossils.

## Food pairing

The razor-sharp natural acidity and intense salinity cut through rich fatty fish and creamy cheeses, while perfectly contrasting citrus-dressed dishes and fresh seafood without masking delicate flavors.

## Wine making process

Hand-harvested in small crates from old vines aged 15 to 35 years growing in loess-loam and fossil-rich limestone soils. The grapes undergo direct pneumatic pressing or minimal skin contact (8-24 hours) with spontaneous fermentation using indigenous yeasts. The wine ages on its full fine lees for 12 to 22 months in traditional neutral German 1,200-liter Stückfass oval oak barrels, followed by one year of bottle aging. Bottled unfined and unfiltered with minimal sulfur additions.