Feligreno Roter Riesling Orange Bio 2023 white

Feligreno Roter Riesling Orange Bio 2023 is a distinctive, skin-fermented white wine from the Hessische Bergstraße, crafted from the rare Roter Riesling grape. Made in a pure, low‑intervention style, it shows just how serious and structured an orange wine can be when terroir and careful craftsmanship take center stage. Unfined, unfiltered and unsulfured, this is Roter Riesling in its most authentic, uncompromising form.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, this Orange Roter Riesling typically shows a deep golden to amber hue with an inviting, slightly hazy appearance that underlines its unfiltered, natural character. The nose opens with layers of dried citrus peel, apricot and quince, joined by fragrant herbal notes, subtle tea-like nuances and a cool, stony minerality from the Gabbro soils. On the palate, the wine is grippy yet juicy, with a fine but clearly defined tannin structure that frames the fruit rather than dominates it. Ripe stone fruit, blood orange and baked apple unfold alongside savory spice, a touch of bitter orange zest and a saline, spicy-mineral backbone. The naturally bright Riesling acidity is beautifully integrated by the six-week maceration, coming across as vibrant but harmonised rather than sharp. The finish is long, textured and slightly saline, making each sip both serious and refreshing. Enjoyable now for its energy and tension, it also has the structure to evolve positively over the next 3–6 years, gaining in complexity and tertiary nuances.

Production
The grapes for this wine come from the vineyard site Seeheimer Mundklingen in the Hessische Bergstraße, where Roter Riesling grows on Gabbro, a dark magmatic rock that imparts structure, spice and pronounced minerality to the wine. Farmed organically and handled gently at harvest, the grapes undergo six weeks of spontaneous fermentation on the skins, extracting color, aroma and tannin in a traditional orange wine style. After maceration, the wine matures for twelve months on fine lees in an old Halbstückfass (approximately 600L), building texture and depth without overt oak influence. It is then bottled without fining, filtration or added sulfur, preserving its natural expression and subtle vineyard character.

Food & Serving
This structured Orange Roter Riesling is a versatile food wine, particularly well-suited to dishes that can stand up to its tannin and spice. Try it with grilled or roasted poultry, pork with herbs, veal schnitzel, or richer vegetarian plates such as mushroom risotto, roasted root vegetables, pumpkin dishes or baked cauliflower with tahini. It also matches beautifully with soft washed-rind cheeses, aged mountain cheeses and Middle Eastern or North African cuisine featuring warm spices. Serve at 10–13°C, slightly cooler than a light red but warmer than a standard white, to allow the aromatics and texture to unfold fully. A brief decant of 20–30 minutes is recommended, especially in its youth, to soften the tannins and let the mineral, herbal and fruit notes come into full focus.

Producer
Feligreno Bio-Weinbau UG is a small, quality-driven organic estate dedicated to expressive, terroir-focused wines from the Hessische Bergstraße. Working primarily with regional varieties like Roter Riesling, the winery has become known for its low‑intervention approach that highlights the character of site and grape rather than cellar technique. By farming organically and championing traditional methods such as spontaneous fermentation, extended skin contact and long lees aging in neutral large casks, Feligreno is helping to redefine the reputation of this lesser-known German wine region. Their commitment to bottling unfiltered, unsulfured wines has earned them a following among enthusiasts of natural and orange wines, and has positioned them as one of the more exciting, uncompromising producers in the area.