Weissburgunder
⏳ Drinking Window
2021 - 2026
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Roasted poultry, creamy mushroom risotto, grilled pork chops
✨ Technical Specifications
While Van Volxem is legendary for its steep-slope Saar Rieslings, their Weissburgunder (Pinot Blanc) represents a captivating exploration of the region's diverse geology. Sourced primarily from the wind-swept, shell-limestone (Muschelkalk) soils of the upper Saar valley near the French border—a terroir closely related to that of Burgundy—this wine offers a fascinating contrast to the estate's slate-driven portfolio. Roman Niewodniczanski champions this variety as a nod to the historical presence of Pinot grapes in the Mosel-Saar-Ruwer region. Crafted with the same artisanal dedication as their top Rieslings, the grapes undergo gentle pressing and spontaneous fermentation with indigenous yeasts in traditional, neutral oak fuder casks. This traditional upbringing imparts a delicate, creamy texture and complex yeast character, beautifully balancing the Saar's signature cool-climate acidity with ripe orchard fruit and a distinct, chalky 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
Weissburgunder
🍷 ABV
12-12.5%