Bechtheim Geyersberg Riesling – 2021

Organic Riesling from the Bechtheimer Geyersberg premier cru site

The 2021 Bechtheim Geyersberg Riesling from Weingut Karl May is an elegant organic vineyard-designated Riesling from Rheinhessen. Finesse-rich, with succulent orchard fruit, tropical notes, and limestone minerality. Internally, the May brothers call it their "first growth" site.

Bechtheim Geyersberg Riesling 2021 is a dry organic vineyard-designated Riesling from the Karl May estate, sourced from the historic Geyersberg site in Bechtheim, Rheinhessen. It is elegant and cool, carried by a refined limestone minerality. An elegant wine for fine dining, which Fritz and Peter May internally refer to as their premier cru.

Succulent orchard fruit, tropical fruit, fragrant herbs

On the palate, the Geyersberg offers plenty of finesse; alongside succulent orchard and tropical fruits, fragrant herbal notes emerge.

An impressive limestone minerality rounds out the profile, making it cool, clear, and elegant. With 12.5 percent alcohol and 7.4 grams of acidity, it remains upright and refined, while 3.3 grams of residual sugar gently balance the acidity. Juicy, spicy, and mineral—this is what a high-class vineyard Riesling tastes like. A wine that doesn't need to be loud to win you over.

We serve it with veal, chicken, and spring vegetables

Served in a large glass at 10 to 12 degrees Celsius, the Geyersberg is an elegant companion for fine dishes.

It pairs well with veal or chicken without heavy sauces, as well as spring vegetables and summer salads, to which its freshness is a wonderful match. Steamed asparagus with a little butter is an obvious choice for mild summer evenings on the terrace. It also pairs beautifully with mild soft cheese or a goat cheese tart, as its limestone minerality adds tension to the creaminess. If you are looking for its more powerful sibling, you will find it in the Osthofen Goldberg Riesling from Weingut Karl May, sourced from a Grand Cru site.

Large oak barrels and full lees aging at Fritz and Peter May's

The south-facing Geyersberg site has been known for centuries as a source of exceptional wines. Internally, Fritz and Peter call it their "first growth"—a compliment they do not give lightly.

The nearly 30-year-old vines grow on rich loess-loam soil with a high limestone content and are organically farmed by seventh-generation estate owners Fritz and Peter May. To ensure the grapes reach full maturity, they prune early, defoliate the grape zone for more sunlight, and reduce yields through green harvesting. The grapes are harvested selectively by hand, often in multiple passes.

In the cellar, the grapes are gently pressed and the must is spontaneously fermented in large oak barrels, where it rests on the full lees for several months before bottling. This lends the wine depth and creaminess without making it heavy, while providing the necessary framework for its limestone minerality.

The Geyersberg received 94 points from James Suckling, and the Eichelmann guide ranks the estate among Germany’s elite with four stars. If you enjoy comparing vineyard Rieslings, try it alongside the Morstein and the Goldberg—three sites, three unique characters. Find more from the Weingut Karl May collection and our German white wines. Truly impressive.

Geyersberg Riesling – a wine and its values

• Origin: Wine from Germany
• Region: Rheinhessen
• Vineyard: Bechtheim Geyersberg
• Winery: Weingut Karl May - Fritz and Peter
• Grape Variety: Riesling
• Vintage: 2021
• 12.5% vol. alcohol
• 7.4 g/l acidity
• 3.3 g/l residual sugar
• 94 points James Suckling

Organic certification body DE-ÖKO-039 – German Agriculture