A top-tier dry Riesling from the Palatinate, grown on unique shell limestone soils at altitudes of up to 260 metres. At 12.0% ABV, it presents itself as youthful and taut, saline and full of tension — a wine with immense ageing potential.
Bottler: Winery A. Christmann, Peter-Koch-Str. 43, 67435 Gimmeldingen/Pfalz / Germany
In the glass
Colour
Pale golden yellow with delicate green reflections.
Nose
Fresh and multi-faceted with notes of citrus fruits, green apple, green pear and fresh herbs, underpinned by a cool, stony note. Still closed in its youth, yet hinting at greatness to come.
Palate
Razor-sharp and precise on the palate with abundant green apple and citrus, threaded through with a saline streak that enlivens the senses and invites the next sip.
Character
A powerful yet elegant Riesling with remarkable tension and a silky texture — still at the beginning of its evolution, but with great maturation potential. The significant diurnal temperature variation in this steep vineyard ensures vibrant freshness and structure.
Pairing
Ideal with cod ceviche dressed with lemon and olive oil, a refined soup of mangetout and radishes, or a pumpkin and prawn tartlet with lime butter sauce.
Notes
The vineyard slopes steeply southwards at gradients of up to 50%, resting on shell limestone over 200 million years old, which is unique to the Mittelhaardt. Owned by the Christmann family since 2017, the Riesling is spontaneously fermented in large wooden casks. The estate has been biodynamic since 2003 and holds both respekt-BIODYN and EU organic certification.
Tasting note
Colour & appearance
Pale golden yellow with delicate green reflections that betray its youth.
Nose
Fresh and multifaceted: citrus fruits, green apple and pear meet fresh herbs. Beneath lies an intense, cool stoniness – a wine that remains closed at present yet hints at greatness to come.
Palate
Razor-sharp and precise: green apple and citrus dominate, threaded through with a saline streak that electrifies the palate. The acidity is vibrant, the structure taut – a Riesling that dances rather than marches.
Finish
Long and saline, with a freshness that makes the mouth water and calls for the next sip.
Terroir & origin
The Vogelsang vineyard site in Neustadt is a rediscovered cru: once supplied to the Bavarian royal court, it fell into obscurity due to building-land speculation – until the Christmann family acquired it in 2017. The soil consists of Muschelkalk (shell limestone) over 200 million years old, brought to the surface during the formation of the Upper Rhine Graben. The steep south-facing slope (up to 50% gradient) lies at the entrance to the Neustadt valley at altitudes of up to 260 metres – significant diurnal temperature variation lends tension to the wine.
Grape variety & vinification
100% Riesling from selective hand-harvesting into small crates. Spontaneous fermentation takes place in large wooden casks – gentle, without technical intervention.
Food recommendations
A wine for fresh, vibrant cuisine: cod ceviche with lemon and olive oil, sugar snap pea and radish soup, or a pumpkin and prawn tartlet with lime butter sauce. The saline streak and vibrant acidity call for dishes that are equally precise and cool.
Special features
Vogelsang is one of the most exciting projects in the Palatinate: a historic vineyard site revived by an estate that has been farming biodynamically since 2003 (respekt-BIODYN). Steffen and Sophie Christmann – father and daughter, seventh and eighth generation – have created here a Riesling that combines the saline minerality of Muschelkalk with an almost cool elegance. A wine that is still youthful and closed now, but will reveal its true potential in five or ten years’ time.
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