Riesling Kappelweg Rorschwihr
⏳ Drinking Window
2012 - 2025
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Choucroute garnie, roasted pork with apples, mature Comté cheese
✨ Technical Specifications
The Riesling Kappelweg from Domaine Rolly Gassmann is a profound expression of one of Rorschwihr's most revered historic terroirs. The name 'Kappelweg' translates to 'chapel path,' evoking images of medieval pilgrims walking the ancient paths winding through these hillside vineyards. The soils here are a complex mix of heavy marl and limestone, which retains moisture and allows the Riesling grapes to undergo a slow, extended ripening period. Rolly Gassmann's traditional approach involves harvesting the grapes at peak maturity—often with a touch of noble rot—followed by a slow fermentation using indigenous yeasts. The wine is then aged in large, neutral wooden foudres and held in the estate's vast cellars for several years before release. This patient process yields a Riesling of incredible texture, balancing a rich, off-dry palate of honeyed citrus, stone fruit, and petrol notes with a vibrant, mineral-driven acidity.
🍾 About the Producer
Formed in 1967 through the marriage of two historic viticultural lineages whose roots in the region trace back to 1611 and 1676, Domaine Rolly Gassmann is situated in the village of Rorschwihr in Alsace, France. Today managed by Pierre Gassmann and his family, the estate stewards over 50 hectares planted across an intricate mosaic of distinct geological terroirs with a deep commitment to sustainable and biodynamic principles. The domaine is renowned for its patient philosophy of aging wines in bottle for years or even decades prior to commercial release, allowing them to attain remarkable maturity and harmony. They are internationally celebrated for their opulent, off-dry and sweet white wines—most notably expressive Riesling, Pinot Gris, and Gewurztraminer cuvées alongside legendary Vendanges Tardives and Sélection de Grains Nobles.
🍇 Grape Varieties
Riesling
🍷 Alcohol By Volume (ABV)
12.5-13.5%