Altenberg Riesling Alte Reben Grosse Lage
⏳ Drinking Window
2024 - 2040
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Roasted pork belly, spicy Thai curry, seared scallops
✨ Technical Specifications
Hailing from the breathtakingly steep slopes of the Kanzemer Altenberg along the Saar River, this Grosse Lage Riesling represents the pinnacle of Van Volxem's artisanal craftsmanship. The vineyard itself is legendary, featuring iron-rich red Devonian slate soils and a dramatic incline of up to 85 percent, which forces the ancient, partially ungrafted 'Alte Reben' (some over a century old) to dig deep for nutrients. Historically prized during the golden age of Mosel wine in the late 19th century, this grand cru terroir yields wines of immense depth and structural complexity. Roman Niewodniczanski's commitment to traditional methods is evident here: the grapes are harvested late at optimal ripeness, spontaneously fermented with indigenous yeasts, and matured in traditional large oak fuder casks. The resulting wine is a masterclass in tension, balancing a rich, texturally opulent palate with the Saar's signature electric acidity and a profound, smoky minerality.
🍾 About the Producer
Perched dramatically above the Saar River in Wiltingen, Weingut Van Volxem is one of Germany's most heralded historic wine estates. Originating as a Roman villa complex with viticulture traced back to the 3rd century, the property operated as a Jesuit monastery winery established in 1743 before being acquired post-secularization by Brussels brewer Gustav van Volxem. In late 1999, Roman Niewodniczanski acquired the estate and orchestrated an ambitious renaissance, revitalizing storied steep-slope vineyards and inaugurating a state-of-the-art gravity-fed winery atop the Wiltinger Schlossberg. Managing approximately 85 hectares on Devonian slate across top-tier VDP.Grosse Lage sites—such as Scharzhofberger, Wiltinger Gottesfuß, Volz, and Ockfener Bockstein—the estate works predominantly with old, ungrafted Riesling vines. Practicing sustainable, non-interventional viticulture, cellar master Dominik Völk champions spontaneous wild-yeast fermentations and extended aging in neutral oak and stainless steel. Van Volxem produces intensely mineral, low-alcohol, dry-leaning Rieslings and refined sparkling Sekts that revive the aristocratic, turn-of-the-century prestige of traditional Saar wines.
🍇 Grapes
Riesling
🍷 ABV
12% - 12.5%