Van Volxem Weissburgunder

Winemaker Roman Niewodniczanski on the winery

“We are Van Volxem, based in Wiltingen on the Saar in Germany’s Mosel wine region. Our historic estate has roots reaching back to the Jesuit era, but under the leadership of Roman Niewodniczanski, we have brought it renewed prominence. We are best known for our Rieslings, yet we believe that other grape varieties can also produce distinctive wines on the Saar’s steep slate slopes. That is why we make Weissburgunder, or Pinot Blanc. We focus on careful vineyard management, low yields and natural fermentation, allowing the grape variety and the mineral-rich soils to shape the character of our wines.”

And on Mosel, Germany

“Our Weissburgunder comes from vineyards around Wawern and Wiltingen on the Saar, where the grapes grow on weathered Devonian slate, with occasional sandy and limestone sections as well as volcanic quartz porphyry. These distinctive soils contribute to the wine’s character, combining ripe fruit with mineral complexity. We carefully harvest the grapes by hand and allow the wine to ferment spontaneously with native yeasts. It then matures on its fine lees for around five months in stainless-steel tanks. This preserves the purity of the fruit while adding texture and roundness. On the palate, we find ripe pear, yellow fruit and floral notes, supported by refined minerality and a fresh, balanced finish.”