Urban Riesling 2019

A 60-hectare family estate located on the Moselle, Nik Weis is one of the pioneers of the area producing fresh, mineral and aromatic Rieslings . It is a reference for many other winegrowers in the region. The estate places the highest priority on maintaining the ecological balance of the vineyards, in the belief that as winemakers they must recognize and respect the fragile balance between viticulture and nature. The vines are carefully cultivated by hand and grow on blue slate soils with low yields . The grapes macerate for a long time in the juice before fermentation in order to extract maximum aromas and flavors. Then everything takes place (fermentation and aging) in stainless steel vats in order to maintain the primary expression of the Riesling. On the palate, it is a juicy, floral and crisp Riesling that offers a multitude of aromatic nuances such as lime , green apple , grapefruit , peach , ginger , honeysuckle and flint . The few grams of residual sugar are perfectly balanced by the acidity, giving the wine a sumptuous dynamism and momentum. The finish is saline, smoky and floral.

Germany has a long and illustrious history of viticulture. The Romans established the country's first vineyards along the banks of the Moselle River, near the present-day city of Trier. In the third century AD, plantations spread to various neighboring valleys, mainly those of the tributaries of the Moselle. In the Middle Ages, the Christian church, particularly the Cistercian and Benedictine monasteries, had a great influence on the development of viticulture and the production of quality wine in Germany. Germany has always been renowned for its excellent white wines: a little sweet, low in alcohol but always of high quality. However, in recent years, wine drinkers have tended to prefer drier wines. Consequently, the German market has evolved to cater to all tastes with some splendid dry Rieslings and other varieties of other white wine, such as Pinot Blanc, Gewurztraminer and Grauburgunder. Hotter summers and milder winters have also favored rosés and reds, with Pinot Noir being the third most planted grape variety in the country. So make your choice, from traditional Rieslings to great reds, the range is wide and still growing. The German wine industry lost its way in terms of quality during the 20th century, expanding plantings to less favorable sites and increasing yields to levels where quality was severely compromised. However, Germany's largest wine producers were never completely lost and since the end of the 20th century, considerable efforts have been made to restore Germany's former glory. Yields are now limited by law and many leading producers have joined forces to form the VDP association (see German wine labels). Members of the VDP association are required by members to focus their efforts on quality rather than quantity. In terms of volume, Germany is among the top ten countries in the world for annual wine production. Just over 60% of the wine produced is white, and it is widely accepted that the white wines from Germany's best sites and most renowned producers are among the greatest in the world. Germany's red wines are also growing in popularity and quality, particularly those from Spätburgunder, the local name for Pinot Noir. The second most popular red grape variety (in terms of hectares planted, at least) is Dornfelder.