Hochheimer Kirchenstuck Erstes Gewachs
⏳ wine.drinking_window
Typically best enjoyed 5 to 15 years from the vintage release, though exceptional vintages can easily develop further complexity over 20 years.
🍽️ wine.food_pairings
roasted pork belly, pan-seared sea bass, creamy veal blanquette
✨ wine.spec_sheet
The Hochheimer Kirchenstück, or 'church plot,' is one of the Rheingau's most legendary vineyards, situated directly behind the historic late-Baroque church of St. Peter and Paul in Hochheim am Main. This south-facing slope benefits from a unique microclimate influenced by the nearby Main river, which acts as a thermal mirror, protecting the vines from frost and ensuring optimal ripening. The soils here are exceptionally rich, composed of deep clay-loess, sandy marl, and gravelly loam, which impart a signature power, density, and profound mineral tension to the wine. As an Erstes Gewächs, the historic Rheingau designation for a premier dry grand cru, Weingut Künstler crafts this Riesling using traditional methods, including gentle pressing and slow fermentation, often aging the wine in large, neutral oak casks. This process tempers the grape's vibrant, electric acidity with a creamy texture and complex notes of ripe stone fruits, petrol, and crushed wet stones.
🍾 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.