Hochheimer Kirchenstuck Riesling Eiswein
⏳ wine.drinking_window
Typically best enjoyed 10 to 40+ years from the vintage release, with the potential to age gracefully for over half a century.
🍽️ wine.food_pairings
blue cheese, fruit-based tarts, foie gras
✨ wine.spec_sheet
The Hochheimer Kirchenstuck, or church plot, sits in the historical heart of Hochheim am Main, overlooked by the towering spire of the late-Baroque church of St. Peter and Paul. This legendary vineyard benefits from deep, mineral-rich calcareous clay-loess soils and a unique microclimate tempered by the nearby Main river. On rare occasions when winter temperatures plummet to minus 7 degrees Celsius or lower, Weingut Kunstler harvests frozen Riesling grapes in the dead of night to craft their elusive Eiswein. By pressing the grapes while still frozen, the water remains trapped as ice in the press, releasing only a precious, highly concentrated nectar. Kunstler's Eiswein is celebrated for its dramatic tension, marrying luscious, honeyed sweetness with a piercing, vibrant acidity that keeps the wine remarkably fresh, complex, and energetic.
🍾 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.