Pinot Gris Osthofen – 2022

Organic Pinot Gris "Ortswein" from the oak barrel from Osthofen

The 2022 Grauburgunder Osthofen from Weingut Karl May is an organic "Ortswein" (village wine) from Rheinhessen, aged in oak barrels. Full-bodied and spicy, with ripe fruit, suppleness, and mineral saltiness. A powerful Pinot Gris for hearty cuisine.

Grauburgunder Osthofen 2022 is a dry organic village wine from the Karl May winery in the Wonnegau region of Rheinhessen, defined by its aging in oak barrels. The grapes grow in the prime sites of Osthofener Goldberg and Bechtheimer Geyersberg on vines up to 40 years old. A Pinot Gris of international caliber; the 2020 vintage received 94 James Suckling points.

Honeydew melon, brioche, spicy herbs

The nose is lush, reminiscent of ripe pear and red apple, sweet honeydew melon, spicy herbs, toasted nuts, and a hint of brioche.

On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, spicy, and creamy, with plenty of suppleness and a mineral saltiness in the long finish. With 6.8 grams of acidity, it is a touch fresher than other vintages, while the 2.7 grams of residual sugar round it off gently without making it sweet. The 13.5 percent alcohol gives it stature—a wine that confidently complements food. A little air in the glass gradually unlocks the fruit and spice.

Pairs with pan-seared dishes, cod, and hard cheese

Served at 10 to 12 degrees Celsius in a large glass, this village wine really hits its stride; served too cold, you lose its richness.

It pairs well with pan-seared pork with mushrooms in cream sauce, cod with a nut crust and pumpkin vegetables, or a well-aged hard cheese. Its spice and suppleness easily handle hearty sauces, so you won't miss a red wine. If you would like to compare it to a riper, softer vintage, try the Grauburgunder Osthofen 2023 alongside it.

Spontaneously fermented in wood by the May family

The grapes grow in the winery's oldest Pinot Gris vineyards on deep loess soils with limestone marl, managed organically.

While Pinot Gris can be a light everyday wine, this is a village wine with ambition, grown in two of the best sites on the edge of the Wonnegau. The warmth of this corner of Rheinhessen and the great age of the vines provide the fullness and spicy depth that characterize this wine. What tastes like power in the glass has, therefore, long since begun in the vineyard.

Fritz and Peter May prune early, defoliate the grape zone for more sun, and reduce yields with a green harvest in early summer. The grapes are harvested selectively by hand, often in several passes. The journey to the new winery is short, where they are gently pressed after a brief period of maceration and the must is spontaneously fermented in oak barrels.

The wine remains on the lees for six months, aging in wood to gain strength, complexity, and creaminess. The May family has run the winery in its seventh generation since 1815, covering around 35 hectares. You can find more in the Weingut Karl May collection and among our German white wines. Other vintages of this village wine are available there for comparison.

Grauburgunder Osthofen – a wine and its values

• Origin: Wine from Germany
• Region: Rheinhessen
• Village wine: Osthofen
• Winery: Weingut Karl May - Fritz and Peter
• Grape variety: Grauburgunder (Pinot Gris)
• Vintage: 2022
• 13.5% vol. alcohol
• 6.8 g/l acidity
• 2.7 g/l residual sugar

Organic certification body DE-ÖKO-039 – German Agriculture