2025 Sophie Schaal - Riesling (750ml)

Sophie Schaal grew up in Burgundy and trained as a winemaker there. She met her husband, the Alsatian winemaker Julien Schaal, while working at Paul Cluver in South Africa. Together they founded Vins Schaal in Hunawihr, one of the officially recognized “Most Beautiful Villages in France.” Alongside the couple’s joint projects, Sophie makes her own wines in a clean, precise and vibrant style. She keeps her winemaking simple and lets the fruit speak.

This Riesling is made from hand-harvested grapes grown organically on clay-limestone soils. The clay holds water, so the grapes ripen slowly and evenly through the Alsace growing season, and cool nights preserve the grape’s natural acidity and aromatic intensity. The bunches are pressed whole and ferment cool with native yeasts. The result is a dry Riesling with real freshness, purity and a clear sense of place.

The 2025 shows zesty citrus, lemon curd and crisp green apple, with hints of orange blossom and a subtle flinty minerality. The palate is focused and lively, with bright acidity and a clean, refreshing finish. Sophie likes to pour it as a welcome drink for friends, and it is just as good with oysters, shellfish or seafood risotto.