Description

Grauer Burgunder is what they call Pinot Gris in Germany. Ziereisen have crafted a beautiful example of Gris/Gauer. Chalky, kiwi, melon, pear, spice. The Palate is floral, exotic, citrusy acid, the flavours of this Ziereisen lingers with just a hint of bitterness on the end.

This is the best of the Ziereisen whites I have tasted, it is familiar enough to be enjoyed by Gris lovers but it is different enough to be enticing to people wanting to try something new or different.

Drink the Ziereisen Grauer now and treat it as you would your favourite Pinot Gris.

Ziereisen Grauer Burgunder Baden 2019, and all wines are eligible for at least 5% off any six bottles. And 10% off any 12 bottles. Some wines will be at a more significant discount and not subject to further discounts.

Ziereisen in Baden, Germany, sits on the border of Alsace and Switzerland. They put a lot of work into their 21 hectares of vines, including organic practices, to make the best wines they can.
There is a strong focus on the Burgundian grapes Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris and Blanc. But they also produce local speciality Gutedel (aka Chasselas).
They use indigenous years, large format, old oak for fermentation. Aging takes place in oak, and the wines get bottled unfiltered with little or no sulphur.
These are fascinating wines that take time to unfold in the glass but are well worth the wait.

Pinot Gris/Grigio

Gris and Grigio are, in fact, the same variety, and both names mean grey in French and Italian, respectively, which is somewhat deceptive because the grapes can be almost blue when ripe. The great wines of Alsace and North-Eastern Italy often feature Pinot Grigio. It grows all over the world now too. AKA Grauburgunder in Germany.

Baden

Baden is a long, narrow region in Germany. It is the third-largest region in Germany and the southernmost. It runs along the Rhine and borders Alsace.
The Cistercian Monks brought Pinot to this region over 700 years ago. The climate and soils, complete with limestone, matched the Burgundian Terroir, and the Pinot Noir or Spatburgunder can make some seriously great wines that will rival Burgundy.

Germany

When you think of the wines of Germany, most likely, you will think of the off-dry Rieslings of the Mosel. And with great reason too. They are delicious. But Germany has many regions and styles. Sure Riesling is the king of the quality wines. But the further south you go, the more you can find Spatburgunder. Or, as we know it, Pinot Noir. Carried there by the same monks who planted out Burgundy. The Pinot Noir in recent history has improved out of sight.

Wine

Wine is the result you get from fermented grape juice. There is proof of wine production dating back 8000 years ago. Fashions, innovations and many other factors have influenced the way wine has evolved over the years.

The wine grape is impressive. It contains everything you need to make grape wine except for the yeast, which lives on the outside of the skins.

Human inputs can influence the final product, including the viticulture (growing) choices. And the winemaker can shape the wine to a point too.

The best wines of the world often refer to terroir. Terroir is a French term that refers to all the climatic, geological and topographical influences on a specific piece of land. And it is true that neighbouring vineyards, grown identically, can taste noticeably different.

White Wine

It is interesting to know that you can make white wine from almost any grape. The colour comes from the skins, and if there is no contact, there is no colour. White wines tend to be delicate, perfumed, higher in acid and lower in alcohol. It seems for this and many other reasons, it is hard to make an incredibly impressive white wine. But those that have mastered the art are indeed some of the best winemakers in the world.

It is a falsehood to think that white wine does not age as well as red wine. But it is correct that white wine, as a rule, doesn’t’ age for as long.

The Wine Depository

I, Phil, have been running The Wine Depository since 2011. The Wine Depository exists to make sure you are drinking the good wines. You can browse and pick what is interesting to you. Or you can make contact with me. I’ll’ make sure you get what you want, to your palate, to your budget and to your door.