Unique Piece Portugieser – 2020

Markus Schneider – Einzelstück Portugieser Red Wine

The Markus Schneider Einzelstück 2020 is an impressive red wine made from Portugieser grapes, grown on old vines that were planted 100 years ago in the Ellerstadt fields. The "Einzelstück" (single piece) is a passion project for Markus Schneider, a special wine that is only vinified in truly exceptional years.

Portugieser has a long tradition in the Palatinate; while young vines often produce high yields, they tend to result in thin wines. This is not the case with these Portugieser grapes, which have grown in Markus Schneider's oldest vineyard plots. The gnarled, bony vines, located in the "Mittelwanne"—a roughly 6-hectare site 90 meters above sea level—produce only low yields with small but concentrated berries.

The Portugieser grape variety began its journey in the 18th century, traveling from Portugal via the Balkans and Lower Styria in Slovenia to Germany. It is not demanding in terms of location and thrives even in nutrient-poor, sandy soils. Furthermore, it is high-yielding and palatable, producing mild red wines with relatively low tannins that are ready to drink at an early stage.

Markus Schneider's Einzelstück reveals a dense bouquet of red fruits, such as sour cherries and freshly picked plums, accompanied by dark cocoa and vanilla, while roasted notes and cloves round off the experience. On the palate, it is delicate yet powerful, elegant and refined, with soft tannins and a long-lasting finish.

Markus Schneider – Winemaking

The grapes for this red wine by Markus Schneider grow on nearly hundred-year-old Portugieser vines in the sandy soils of Ellerstadt in the Palatinate. Harvested by hand at the perfect moment on September 26, 2020, the small, ripe grapes are gently processed in the modern estate building. Following classic mash fermentation with stalks in open vats and a five-day maceration period, the mash is gently pressed under low pressure and subsequently aged in multi-year wooden barrels without external intervention.

The matured 2020 vintage is stored professionally in the dark and at a constant temperature in modern cellars climate-controlled by geothermal energy and photovoltaic systems.

Einzelstück Portugieser – a wine and its values

• Origin: Wine from Germany
• Growing region: Palatinate
• Grape variety: Portugieser
• 13.5% vol. alcohol
• 5.4 g/l acidity
• 0.8 g/l residual sugar