Riesling Finesse
⏳ Drinking Window
2021 - 2026
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Spicy Thai curries, glazed pork, fresh sushi
✨ Technical Specifications
Hailing from the historic vineyards of Hochheim am Main in the Rheingau, Künstler's Riesling Finesse is a beautiful expression of the region's unique microclimate. Unlike the steep slate cliffs of the central Rheingau, Hochheim's soils are rich in clay, loess, and sandy gravel, which retain warmth and moisture, moderated by the nearby Main River. This terroir yields Rieslings of exceptional roundness and fruit intensity. The 'Finesse' bottling is crafted in a feinherb (off-dry) style, paying homage to the historical 'Hock' wines that captivated British royalty, most notably Queen Victoria, during the 19th century. By carefully balancing natural residual sweetness with a vibrant vein of animating acidity, Gunter Künstler coaxes out a delicate, playful character that emphasizes pure orchard fruit and subtle mineral undertones.
🍾 About the Producer
Weingut Künstler traces an illustrious family winemaking lineage to 1648 in southern Moravia, before Franz Künstler re-established the estate in Hochheim am Main in 1965 following post-war expulsion. Gunter Künstler assumed direction in 1992, elevating the domaine into one of Germany's preeminent dry Riesling benchmarks and earning VDP membership in 1994. Spanning approximately 50 hectares, Künstler's vineyard portfolio centers on Hochheim's warm eastern Rheingau mesoclimate, featuring loess, loam, and mineral-dense limestone marl sloping down to the Main River, complemented by holdings in Rüdesheim and Assmannshausen. Viticulture is practiced under certified Fair'n Green sustainable standards, marked by meticulous canopy management, low yields, and strict selective hand-harvesting. Cellar work emphasizes slow, gentle pressing and extended lees maturation in traditional large neutral oak casks and stainless steel, capturing formidable textural richness alongside crystalline acidity. The estate is celebrated for power-driven, long-lived VDP.Große Gewächse from legendary sites including Hochheimer Hölle, Hochheimer Kirchenstück, and Assmannshäuser Höllenberg Spätburgunder.
🍇 Grapes
Riesling