German
The Ziereisen family cultivates almost 20 hectares of vineyards in Efrigen, most of which are planted on barren Jura limestone with a layer of loess. The main focus is on Burgundy varieties and the local Gutedel, which Hans-Peter has helped to achieve unprecedented greatness; in return, he is free to indulge his penchant for Syrah. The vineyards are cultivated in a natural way, and with low yields, they focus on high concentration and good nutrient supply. At Ziereisen, they are not big fans of early harvesting; the grapes should no longer be green, but yellow and ripe. Nevertheless, they manage to keep the alcohol content moderate and give the wines an animating structure.
Markgrafenstrasse 17
79588 Efringen-Kirchen, Deutschland
Phone +49 76282848
Winery Size 21 ha
This is also achieved through the special characteristics of the pressing process. Here, the Ziereisens work with old hydraulic presses, because Hans-Peter wants high pressure to extract tannins from the skins and thus bring liveliness to the wines. The wine is then fermented spontaneously and aged in wooden barrels for at least two years, preferably in large, used wooden barrels. The aromatics are rather restrained, but there is plenty of texture, full-bodied richness, and fine spice. The wines are powerful but accessible, juicy, and lively, with a hint of creaminess rounding off the overall picture and revealing a balanced and calm character in all the wines.
Edeltraud and Hans-Peter Ziereisen have a clear vision for their wines and refuse to be swayed from their path, even if it means that their sparkling wines no longer pass the quality wine test. Since 2006, the entire range has been consistently bottled as regional wine, ultimately serving as a source of inspiration for young winemakers across the country to have the courage to follow their own path.