2024 Villa Wolf - Pfalz Grauburgunder (Pinot Gris)

Villa Wolf traces its roots to 1756 in the town of Wachenheim, on the edge of the Pfalz's Mittelhaardt district, a property that enjoyed centuries of renown before falling into decline in the twentieth century. In 1996, Ernst Loosen, already celebrated for his Mosel Rieslings, took over the estate and set about restoring it, drawing on nearby sites in Forst and Wachenheim known for producing wines of real elegance and minerality. Under his direction Villa Wolf has grown into one of the most reliable names for approachable, well made German whites.

Grauburgunder, the local name for Pinot Gris, thrives in the Pfalz thanks to the region's warm, dry climate, sheltered by the Haardt Mountains from cooling Atlantic weather. Grapes are picked once they reach full ripeness, then vinified across a mix of stainless steel, large neutral oak casks, and concrete, a combination meant to build texture while keeping the fruit vibrant. Malolactic fermentation is avoided throughout to preserve natural acidity, and the estate farms with sustainable, biodiversity minded practices.

The result is a full bodied, dry white with ripe pear and apple flavors, a curious dash of white pepper, and a faint green, herbal edge that keeps the finish lively. Pour it with roast pork, grilled salmon, or a mild Thai curry.