Ehrenfelser

The Ehrenfelser grape variety, a crossing of Riesling and Silvaner created in Geisenheim in 1929, owes its name to the historic Ehrenfels castle ruins in the Rheingau. It combines the vibrant freshness and noble aromatic spectrum of Riesling with the reliable ripeness and milder acid structure of Silvaner. In the glass, Ehrenfelser usually shows a juicy, yellow-fruited side, characterised by nuances reminiscent of ripe apricots, local apples and fine herbal spice. Due to its early ripening, the variety brings a natural richness and a wonderful extract density, which gives it a remarkable mouthfeel even when vinified dry.

That this traditional white wine classic can develop a fascinating depth in artisanal viticulture is proven by the Schätzel winery with the natural wine Ehrenfelser Nierstein 2017. Here, the variety shows its unfiltered, characterful side with a fine yeast structure and ripe phenolics, which pair excellently with hearty dishes or matured mountain cheese.