The rosé craze of the last few years has been rampant - rarely has a category of wine seen such growth. The situation is such that world class rosé from worlds fashionable areas such as Sancerre and Provence have had astronomical price increases with world demand. Step forward Germany which seems like an unlikely hotbed for pink wine. However, anyone who has sampled Pfalz areas bracingly mineral rosés will know that this area can produce top rosés at fantastic value which will rival the world’s best.
About Villa Wolf
Founded in 1756, in the Pfalz region of Germany, the J.L. Wolf estate (now called Villa Wolf) was a successful and highly regarded winery for more than two centuries. It entered an especially glamorous era with the construction of its Italianate estate house and villa in 1843.
In the latter years of the 20th century, however, the estate languished, lacking a firm hand to guide its wine production. Ernst Loosen, of the Dr. Loosen estate, took over the vineyards in 1996, launching a dramatic turnaround in the estate’s quality and reputation.
Since 2011, the estate has been managed by a talented and dedicated young team that previously worked at Dr. Loosen. Sumi Gebauer and Patrick Möllen¬dorf have brought renewed energy and focus to the viticulture and winemaking at Villa Wolf.
The Pfalz Region
The Pfalz (aka ‘Palatinate’) region is in the Rhine river valley in southwest Germany, directly north of France’s Alsace region. The low-lying Haardt mountains protect the area from cold, wet Atlantic weather, making it one of the warmer and drier areas of Germany. Wine grapes do quite well here where it is possible to achieve full ripeness in every vintage. The predominant soil type in this area is well-drained, weathered sandstone. It produces wines with a fruit-driven purity and a stony structure.
Villa Wolf Rosé
The Villa Wolf Pinot Noir Rosé is made with fruit from vineyards farmed expressly for the purpose of producing a true rosé (called Weissherbst in German). Only perfectly ripe, healthy grapes are selected. Upon harvest the fruit is given a brief maceration (four to six hours) to extract a lovely salmon colour from the Pinot Noir grapes. There is no saignée or colouring with red wine. The resulting wine is light and refreshing, with deliciously bright fruit flavours and a clean, zippy finish.
This is the perfect wine for a hot summer’s day salad or picnic. A must for lovers of dry rosé!!!
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