Vom Vulkan Riesling

Smoky, salty, with an almost tectonic minerality — the Vom Vulkan Riesling from Gut Hermannsberg is not a crowd-pleasing everyday wine, but a wine with a clear statement of origin.

The grapes come exclusively from the Schlossböckelheimer Kupfergrube, a VDP.Grosse Lage site on the Nahe river, whose soils are based on weathered volcanic rock. Gut Hermannsberg, once a Prussian state domain and today one of the most renowned wineries in the region, vinifies this local wine after selective hand-harvesting through spontaneous fermentation — a process that gives the wine time to develop its character from the soil, not from the cellar.

On the nose, flint and a characteristic smoke dominate, underpinned by spicy herbal notes and a minerality that you feel rather than describe. On the palate, citrus aromas are added — fresh, but not intrusive — carried by a delicate acidity that leads into a long, dry, salty finish.

The wine pairs well with roasted aromas: pan-seared lamb, grilled sea bass, or a strong goat cheese go well with it. Serving temperature: 10–12 °C.