Hochheimer Holle Riesling Eiswein
⏳ wine.drinking_window
Typically best enjoyed 10–40 years from the vintage release, with the potential to age even longer under ideal cellar conditions.
🍽️ wine.food_pairings
blue cheese, classic apple tart, foie gras
✨ wine.spec_sheet
Hailing from the legendary Hochheimer Hölle vineyard, whose name playfully translates to 'hell' but historically derives from the Middle High German word 'halde' (meaning slope), this rare Eiswein is a testament to extreme viticulture. To craft this liquid gold, Riesling grapes must remain on the vine into the freezing depths of winter, harvested by hand in the pre-dawn darkness at temperatures of -7°C or lower. The frozen grapes are pressed immediately while still frozen, leaving the water behind as ice crystals and yielding an incredibly concentrated, sweet nectar. The unique clay-loess soils of Hochheim, situated near the confluence of the Main and Rhine rivers, impart a distinct mineral tension that perfectly balances the wine's intense sweetness with electric, vibrant acidity.
🍾 wine.about_producer
Re-established in 1965 by Franz Künstler in Hochheim am Main, Weingut Künstler carries forward a family winemaking heritage dating back to 1648 in Moravia. Today, under the stewardship of Gunter Künstler, who took over in 1992, the estate has risen to become one of the Rheingau's most celebrated producers and a prominent member of the VDP. The winery is renowned for its meticulous management of legendary Erste and Grosse Lage vineyards, such as Hochheimer Hölle and Kirchenstück. Utilizing traditional large oak casks alongside modern stainless steel, Künstler crafts exceptionally precise, mineral-driven Rieslings and elegant Spätburgunders that beautifully express the unique clay-loess and limestone terroirs near the Main river.