WINE COLUMN

As flowers burst into full bloom and the evenings get a little warmer and lighter, The WineBarn would like to recommend some of our favourite terrace wines. And as 13 March marks Riesling’s 587th birthday (since this fine grape was first recorded in 1435), we present to you three excellent Rieslings, of three different classifications. Which one will you choose to celebrate with?

Premier Cru dry - Pfalz £23.90 per bottle

The vineyards near Kleine Kalmit Hill, where the grapes of this Riesling were grown, are extremely calcareous and rich in clay. Combined with the cool temperatures of the site, the grapes grow ripe, healthy and with a crisp acidity. This Premier Cru has elegant flavours of exotic yellow fruits with hints of lemongrass. Finely balanced, it has a fresh juiciness, soft acidic structure and salty minerality in the finish. A harmonious wine with great length.

£12.55

Protected by the Taunus mountains, along the river Rhine between Wiesbaden and Lorch, Allendorf’s vines grow under ideal conditions for producing Riesling grapes. This delightfully fresh, light Riesling has aromas of fresh grass, pineapple and apricots. This Riesling is easy to drink and the perfect accompaniment to fish, asparagus, shellfish and veal.

Grand Cru dry - Franken £40.90 per bottle

Weingut Hans Wirsching’s 2018 Iphöfer Julius-Echter-Berg Riesling scored 90 points in the Decanter World Wine Awards 2021, achieving the prestigious silver award. The distinctive mineral notes of this Riesling reflect the terroir of the renowned Julius-EchterBerg vineyards. Aromas of ripe peach, honey, melon and grapefruit define the character of this Grand Cru. This white wine is spicy, strong yet smooth, with herbal flavours, whilst fine citrus notes provide a pleasant tension on the palate. The crisp yet subtle acidity gives the wine its delicately structured body and truly animates to the next sip. Its lingering finish allows for even longer enjoyment.

Kranz‘s vineyards by Kalmit Hill in Pfalz. Photo: Kranz

To find your new favourite German wine, you can contact the awardwinning merchant The WineBarn now. Visit: www.thewinebarn.co.uk Call: 0044 (0)1962 761 215 Email: wine@thewinebarn.co.uk

Photo: Iris Ellmann

Allendorf - 2020 Save Water Drink Riesling dry white wine. Photo: Allendorf

Kranz - 2020 Ilbesheimer Westerberg Riesling Premier Cru dry white wine. Photo: Kranz Wirsching - 2018 Iphöfer JuliusEchter-Berg Riesling Grand Cru dry white wine. Photo: Wirsching Iris Ellmann is the managing director of The WineBarn, a multi-award-winning wine merchant that has been importing premium German wines to the UK for over 20 years. The WineBarn team lives, breathes and loves wine.