93pts James Suckling

Brimming with floral, white-peach and Amalfi-lemon aromas, this is an extremely elegant, off-dry riesling with a wonderful lightness and purity. The appley freshness and apple-blossom aromas at the finish pull you back for more. Drink or hold. Screw cap.

90pts Vinous

The 2023 Riesling is precisely the same wine as the Riesling trocken but with an arrested ferment at a point that Dönnhoff deems to have a certain balance. Stone, flint and lemon play on the nose. The palate dances, veil-like, barely there, with exquisite lightness. A subtle sweetness highlights juicy apples and tender lemons.

Winemaker Notes

Exhilarating, sophisticated off-dry Riesling with subtle fruitiness and a playful acidity.

About the Winery

The Dönnhoff family has a rich history in the Nahe region, having established a traditional farm in Oberhäusen 250 years ago. Helmut Dönnhoff took over the estate in 1966, shifting focus from mixed farming to quality wine production. Under his leadership, the estate grew from four hectares to 25, maintaining a commitment to excellence and craftsmanship. Helmut's son, Cornelius, joined in 2007, continuing the family philosophy of balance and quality. 

To preserve laser-like focus and clarity in the wines, the grapes are pressed as soon as possible – within 3 hours of picking. Wines are fermented in traditional German casks (1200 L stuck and 2400 L doppelstuck) as well as stainless steel with spontaneous fermentations.

Donnhoff’s cellar is unique in its capacity to hold all of its production entirely in stainless steel or in cask, allowing for the ideal élevage for any wine at any point during a vintage.

Although the Nahe is a dry region, Dönnhoff does not water their vineyards as to encourage deep rooted vines. The soil is covered with organic material like straw and compost to preserve water and to avoid evaporation and erosion in heavy rains.

The vines are all grown on wireframes, low to the ground to benefit from the warmth of the stoney topsoil, and at a density of approx. 6000 vines per hectare. The Riesling vines are old clones sourced from the sites in Niederhausen and Schloßböckelheim.

Grapes are always picked by hand at Dönnhoff over two to three passes through each vineyard.

Sustainable