Riesling Tonschiefer Trocken (2022) - Weingut Dönnhoff

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The Weingut Dönnhoff winery is one of the oldest and most respected in Germany, with a winemaking history going back over 200 years. The Riesling Tonschiefer Trocken 2022 is a fine wine that reflects the unique slate terroir it comes from, known for its ability to give rise to Riesling wines of extraordinary minerality and elegance.

Riesling Tonschiefer Trocken (2022) - Weingut Dönnhoff

Type: Vino Bianco

Area: Germany, Nahe, Roxheimer Höllenpfad

Appellation: VDP Ortswein

Grape variety: Riesling

Vintage: 2022

Winery: Weingut Dönnhoff

Alcohol: 12%

The appellation: VDP Ortswein

VDP.Ortswein is one of the four official categories in the quality classification system for wines adopted by the German producers’ association VDP (Verband Deutscher Prädikatsweingüter). This level covers the wines of a given municipality (Ort), coming exclusively from high-quality vineyards within the boundaries of a specific village. VDP.Ortswein wines are an authentic expression of place, halfway between the entry-level wines (Gutswein) and the single-vineyard crus (Erste Lage and Grosse Lage).

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What to eat with Riesling Tonschiefer Trocken

Who makes it: Weingut Dönnhoff

Weingut Dönnhoff is one of the most prestigious wineries of the Nahe, with more than 250 years of winemaking history. Founded in 1750, the estate is today led by Helmut Dönnhoff and his son Cornelius, who have consolidated the winery’s reputation as a benchmark for high-quality German Riesling. The winery’s philosophy is based on absolute respect for the terroir and on the pursuit of the perfect balance between acidity, fruit and minerality, with a meticulous approach both in the vineyard and in the cellar.

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The vine of Riesling Tonschiefer Trocken

Riesling

Riesling is one of the most prestigious and widely recognised white grape varieties in the world, valued for its extraordinary ability to express terroir and to produce wines of great longevity and complexity. Native to Germany, Riesling is today grown in many wine regions, where it stands out for its versatility and its unique aromatic profile.

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Riesling Tonschiefer Trocken: the area of Roxheimer Höllenpfad

Roxheimer Höllenpfad

Roxheimer Höllenpfad is a vineyard classified as "Erste Lage" (Premier Cru) in the Nahe wine region of Germany. The name "Höllenpfad" means "Path of Hell", a reference to the steep site and the iron-rich red soils, which give the wines marked minerality and structure. This vineyard is particularly famous for producing Riesling Trocken (dry), marked by great freshness, vibrant acidity and notes of citrus, aromatic herbs and flint. Thanks to its south-south-west aspect and favourable climate, the Rieslings made in the Roxheimer Höllenpfad are among the most structured and long-lived in the Nahe, with a perfect balance between fruit, acidity and minerality.

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Climate: Continental

Altitude: N.S.

Soil: Rocky / granite

Geographical setting: Valley

Profile of Riesling Tonschiefer Trocken

Primary aromas: Freesia, Mineral, Rose

Secondary aromas: dried fruit, mineral notes

Tertiary aromas: Nuts, Wet earth

Tasting notes: A wine with a fascinating aromatic profile expressing notes of green apple, white peach and citrus, accompanied by mineral and floral nuances. On the palate it shows balanced and refined, with an excellent acid structure that brings out its freshness and drinkability, perfectly reflecting the terroir it comes from.

Sulphites	yes
Body	Light
Acidity	Medium-high
Tannin	Medium-low
Sweetness	Dry
Colour	Golden yellow
Clarity	Clear
Body	Medium

Winemaking methods used for Riesling Tonschiefer Trocken

Hand harvesting

Hand harvesting is a traditional, painstaking approach to picking, where bunches are selected and cut by hand straight from the vine. Compared with machine harvesting it allows far closer attention to quality, since only the best bunches are chosen and the fruit is not damaged.

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Temperature-controlled fermentation in stainless steel

Temperature-controlled fermentation in stainless steel is a technique that makes it possible to produce fresh, fruity, clean wines, preserving the varietal aromas of the grapes at their best.

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Ageing methods used for Riesling Tonschiefer Trocken

In bottle

Ageing in bottle is a fundamental stage in the production of quality wines, during which the wine continues to develop in an oxygen-free environment. This process allows the wine to harmonise its components, soften the tannins and develop more complex, mature aromas, without the external influence of wood or other materials.Ageing in bottle can last from a few months to several years, depending on the type of wine and the style sought, and is particularly used for structured red wines, long-lived whites and metodo classico sparkling wines, improving their elegance, finesse and length on the palate.

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In stainless steel (1–6 months)

Ageing in stainless steel for 1 to 6 months is a winemaking practice widely used for young, fresh, varietal wines, aimed at preserving the aromatic fragrance and gustatory integrity of the wine immediately after fermentation. This choice allows the wine to be stabilised, to settle naturally and to be ready for drinking within a few months, retaining vitality, tension and precision.

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