# Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Trocken (2024)

- **Producer:** Weingut Joh. Jos. Christoffel Erben
- **Colour:** white
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Riesling
- **Region:** Mosel, Germany
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 12.0%
- **Average price:** €16
- **Vegan:** Yes
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 8–10 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** pear, grapefruit, apple, melon, peach, lemon, mint, herbaceous, smoke

## About this wine

Founded around 1618, Weingut Joh. Jos. Christoffel Erben represents over four centuries of winemaking history in Germany's Middle Mosel. The estate is legendary for its holdings in the Ürziger Würzgarten, a vineyard famed for its unique red slate and volcanic soils. Since 2001, the vineyards have been leased to Robert Eymael of Weingut Mönchhof, with winemaker Philippe Conzen leading the cellar. Conzen maintains the classic, laser-focused Christoffel style, prioritizing traditional methods that allow the distinct terroir of these historic steep slopes to express itself fully. The 2024 vintage in the Mosel was a cooler growing season, yielding highly pure, vibrant, and classic dry Rieslings.

## Interesting facts

- The Ürziger Würzgarten vineyard features rare red volcanic slate and rhyolite, contrasting with the Mosel's typical blue slate.
- The estate's Riesling vines are mostly ungrafted and over 100 years old, planted on extremely steep slopes of up to 70% incline.
- Dating back to 1618, J.J. Christoffel Erben represents over four centuries of winemaking history in the Middle Mosel.

## Food pairing

The high, electric acidity of this dry Riesling acts as a perfect palate cleanser, cutting through the richness of seafood and pork. Its unique volcanic, red-spicy mineral character complements aromatic herbs and mild spices in Asian cuisine, while its dry profile ensures it remains crisp and refreshing alongside delicate proteins.

## Wine making process

The winemaking process focuses on traditional, minimal-intervention techniques. Grapes are strictly hand-harvested from extremely old, mostly ungrafted Riesling vines planted on steep slopes with up to a 70% incline. In the cellar, the juice undergoes 100% spontaneous fermentation using natural indigenous yeasts. Fermentation and subsequent aging take place in traditional, large, neutral 1,000-liter oak casks known as Fuder. The wine is aged on its fine lees for approximately four months to build subtle texture and complexity before undergoing a gentle filtration and bottling.