Künstler Hochheimer Hölle Riesling Erste Lage

Riesling from one of the most famous sites in the Rheingau — with depth and structure that one would hardly expect from the banks of the Main.

The Hochheimer Hölle has nothing to do with the afterlife: the name comes from the Middle High German “Halde” — steep mountain. The site stretches as a long southern slope belt directly along the Main. The special feature here is the heavy clay soils, which store heat and give the Rieslings an unusual fullness and mineral density. Weingut Künstler, rooted in Hochheim for generations, is one of the most reliable addresses for dry Rheingau Riesling. The roughly 20-year-old vines dig deep into this clay — you can taste it in the glass.

On the nose, ripe quince, white peach, and a hint of beeswax. On the palate, the wine shows why Künstler talks about clay soils: the body is full and powerful, the acidity well-embedded, the finish long with a salty-mineral imprint. Not a light summer wine, but a Riesling with substance.

• Food pairing: Sweetbreads, zander in butter sauce, mature Münster cheese
• Serving temperature: 10–12 °C