Pinot Gris – 2024

2024 Pinot Gris from Weingut Rings with pear and walnut

The 2024 Pinot Gris from Weingut Rings is a dry VDP.Gutswein from the Palatinate, grown in the vineyards of Freinsheim and Kallstadt. Just under a third was aged in large oak barrels, with the rest in steel tanks, giving the white wine spice without sacrificing its freshness.

2024 Pinot Gris is a dry Pinot Gris from the Weingut Rings winery in Freinsheim, pressed from grapes grown in organically farmed vineyards around Freinsheim and Kallstadt. The winery has held organic certification since 2016. With 12.5 percent alcohol and a screw cap, this white wine is built for everyday enjoyment rather than the cellar.

Ripe pear, white blossoms, and local walnut

On the nose, ripe pear is at the forefront, followed by white blossoms and the nutty tone for which Pinot Gris in the Palatinate is known.

On the palate, the wine remains elegant and fresh, with a fine silkiness that supports the fruit rather than masking it. The walnut note arrives only at the end and lingers surprisingly long. You do not perceive the wood as wood, but rather as spice and a bit more body on the tongue.

Pinot Gris, known elsewhere as Grauburgunder or Ruländer, is a mutation of Pinot Noir, which is evident in the reddish shimmering skin of the berries. Because a estate wine should reflect the character of the grape variety rather than a single vineyard site, grapes from several vineyards are blended here.

Pairs with pumpkin soup, grilled pork, and goat cheese

Pinot Gris with this stature pairs well with dishes that have a hint of sweetness or roasted notes, making it a reliable companion throughout the year.

Pumpkin soup with roasted seeds, grilled "Schwenkbraten," flammkuchen with bacon and onions, or a mild goat cheese are all excellent choices. It also goes well with roasted winter vegetables. Eight to ten degrees Celsius is sufficient, as the nuttiness disappears if it is too cold. If you prefer to discover a blend of two varieties, the Kalk & Stein 2022 is available as a weightier alternative.

Just under a third in tonneaux, the rest in tanks

The balance between wood and steel is the decisive lever for this wine and is determined anew each year.

Around thirty percent of the harvest went into 500-liter tonneaux, while the remainder stayed in steel tanks. The wood provides spice and structure, the steel preserves the clear fruit, and together they result in a wine with more depth than pure tank aging would provide.

The steel tank is not a budget option, but a choice for clarity. It imparts nothing to the wine and allows the fruit to express itself just as it arrived from the vineyard, whereas the barrel always has a subtle say in the final result.

The grapes are harvested by hand in several passes, with a portion of the grapes entering the press unstemmed. Fermentation begins naturally, carried by the yeasts that come into the cellar with the berries from the vineyard, rather than by purchased cultured yeast. Andreas Rings describes this spontaneous fermentation as the path by which a wine gains finesse and depth. You can find the entire range from Freinsheim in the Weingut Rings hub.

2024 Pinot Gris – a white wine and its statistics

• Origin Germany
• Region Palatinate
• Winery Rings
• VDP.Gutswein
• Grape Variety Pinot Gris
• Screw cap
• 12.5% vol alcohol
• 1.2 g/l residual sugar
• 4.9 g/l acidity

Organic control number – DE-ÖKO-022 German Agriculture