Ziereisen Viviser Gutedel 2018 / 2019
Type: White
Country: Germany
Region: Baden
Grape Variety: 100% Chasselas
Viticulture: Biodynamic | Organic Farming
Rating: 92 Robert Parker Points
Climate: Generally, the Baden wine region experiences a warm and sunny climate due to the weather shield offered by the Black Forest and the Oden Forest
Terroir: High elevation vineyard and vines grow on limestone soil. The site is also windy
Winemaking: Matured for 8 months in wooden barrels (unlike hay) and about 3 months in the bottle
Color: Golden yellow
Nose: Notes of citrus and peach, but not banal or one-dimensional
Palate: Minerality, spice and citrus fruit on the palate. Audible but well-integrated, ripe acidity that gives the wine its freshness
About the Winery:
Nestled in the far southwest corner of Germany, overlooking the snow-covered Alps, are the Ziereisens. The Ziereisen family has claimed the small village of Efringen-Kirchen in Baden as their home since 1734, situated directly on the Rhine River at the border of Alsace, France and Switzerland (known as the “three country corner”).
In 1991, Hanspeter Ziereisen made a leap from carpentry to a different type of handiwork: winemaking. Together with his wife Edeltraud (better known as Edel), Hanspeter converted his parents’ farm into a winegrowing business and bottled his first vintage in 1993. Driven by curiosity and passion to approach winemaking outside of the usual conventions, he works sustainably to create high-class wines that thrive in the sunny region of Baden while also growing other crops, running a bed and breakfast, and continuing his work with metal and wood.
Hanspeter is known for his rebel status among German winemakers. Because of their unconventional and sometimes experimental techniques, the Ziereisen estate doesn’t seek Qualitätswein status, the “quality wine” category in German wine law. This doesn’t mean that Ziereisen wines are low quality – they regularly receive awards and high ratings and are popular in Germany and abroad – but that Hanspeter and Edel prioritize individuality. Instead of altering their intuitive and creative viticultural and cellar practices to achieve classification, the Ziereisens lean into the lower Landwein distinction with pride – breaking away from the mainstream and making wines on their own terms. Today, the Ziereisen estate is one of Baden’s top producers, known as winemakers who were courageous enough to cut the path for the high-quality Landwein movement that’s growing in Baden and across Germany.
Hanspeter and Edel’s children, Ida and Johann, also help out at the family winery, with hopes of one day continuing their parents’ tradition in stylistic and rebellious yet top-quality winemaking.
