Markus Schneider Sample pack

Six wines, one winery, a complete picture: This pack brings together the most important milestones in the range from Markus Schneider in Ellerstadt in the Palatinate — from fresh white wine and a full-bodied Saignée rosé to the dense red wine cuvée that made the winemaker famous nationwide. Those who are not yet familiar with Schneider's signature style will get an honest cross-section here. Those who are already fans will find classics and additions in one box.

The starting point for many is the Black Print: a cuvée of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Dorsa, Syrah, and Blaufränkisch that truly lives up to its name in color and intensity, reminiscent of black ink. Cassis, dark berry fruit, vanilla, a hint of chocolate, dense tannins, long finish — modern German red wine at an international level. Anyone still hesitant about German red wines will change their mind here.

The Kaitui Sauvignon Blanc strikes a completely different tone. The name is Māori and means "tailor" — a deliberate reference to New Zealand, which redefined the grape variety. Schneider's vines grow on cool, higher-altitude limestone soils in the Palatinate, which offer similar conditions to Marlborough: good drainage, mineral character, and slow ripening. In the glass, citrus zest, gooseberry, and ripe yellow melon, accompanied by a fresh, mineral finish. Not a light summer wine, but a white wine with real emphasis.

The remaining four wines consistently round out the spectrum: Der Ursprung, Schneider's first red wine, combines Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot on gravel and limestone soils at the Feuerberg for a structured introduction. The Grey shows Pinot Gris with white pear, ripe apple, and fine spice — medium-bodied, lively, clean. The Rosé Saigner, produced via the saignée method from six grape varieties including Syrah and Blaufränkisch, brings red berry fruit and herbs into a juicy, full-bodied style with a long finish. And the Hensel und Gretel white wine — a collaboration with fellow winemaker Thomas Hensel — shows fresh apple flesh, ripe peach, and an integrated citrus line from stony Palatinate soils.

Pairs well with: grilled rack of lamb or duck breast with red cabbage for the Black Print, pan-fried sea bass or goat cheese for the Kaitui Sauvignon Blanc, pasta with mushrooms or light poultry for the Grey, shrimp or tomato bruschetta for the Rosé. All six bottles together: a gift with substance, a supply for curious drinkers, or the ideal introduction to a winery that is redefining the Palatinate. Serving temperature: White wines and rosé at 10–12 °C, red wines at 16–18 °C.