Considered by many to be the greatest of all white grapes, Riesling is heralded for its capacity to make wines at once powerful and lithe, with incredible longevity and an inherent ability to reflect the place in which it’s grown. Its popularity, relative to its quality, waned over the past few decades, when oak-aged wines, both white and red, became increasingly fashionable. As today’s tastes evolve back toward fresher and brighter wines with less or no oak, Riesling is experiencing a slight uptick in favour and in consumption.
Germany remains the benchmark for world-class Riesling. And while most people think first of the famed wines from Mosel, exceptional Riesling is produced throughout the country. Rheinhessen, Germany’s largest wine region, was historically known for producing mainly large amounts of bulk wine destined for the export market. In the 1980s, growers began to focus on lower yields, drier styles and overall higher-quality wines. Today, Rheinhessen is home to the majority of Germany’s organic/biodynamic viticulture, with a great number of young and energetic producers eschewing the past and leading the future. Unlike other German wine regions, there are significant plantings of many grapes including Müller-Thurgau, Dornfelder, Silvaner and Pinot Gris, Noir and Blanc. But Riesling reins supreme, and styles lean more dry than sweet, with plenty of ripe orchard fruit and the grape’s hallmark acidity.
Weingut Manz is located in the village of Weinolsheim, in the northeastern area of Rheinhessen. The Manz family have been winegrowers here since 1725 and today the estate is managed by the 8th generation Manz, Eric. There are 20 hectares of vineyard holdings dispersed throughout the areas of Oppenheim, Nierstein Weinolsheim, Dienheim and Guntersblum. As is the case with most German producers, the focus here is on white wines — Riesling, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Silvaner and Gewürztraminer — but there are also small plantings of Pinot Noir and Dornfelder. On average, the winery bottles 12,000 cases per year, however annual production can vary significantly due to the marginal climate of the region.
2022 Weingut Manz Riesling ‘Mineralgestein’ Trocken (Dry)
Rheinhessen, Germany – $24.95
Summer is the ideal time of year to enjoy dry, bright, flavourful German Riesling. And Buyers+Cellars has just the bottle for you to try! 2022 Weingut Manz Riesling ‘Mineralgestein’ Trocken (Dry) will be available at select VINTAGES locations around the province throughout the summer.
Manz Mineralgestein (which means ‘mineral stone’) is sourced from steeply-sloped estate vineyards planted in clay-limestone, loess soils surrounding the town of Oppenheim. A southwestern exposure and old vines ensure full ripeness and depth of flavour. Grapes are harvested by hand and immediately brought to the winery, where they are carefully sorted, de-stemmed, pressed and fermented in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks. The wine rests on its fine lees for a period of 3 months before being lightly filtered and bottled.
This is textbook dry Rheinhessen Riesling, brimming with bright citrus and orchard fruit, framed by refreshing, zippy acids and a subtle salty minerality. Chill well and enjoy in the heat alongside simply prepared fresh seafood, poached salmon, lightly-spiced Asian fare or scaloppine al limone (thinly sliced pork or veal in lemon sauce).
