Stepp Silvaner Eiswein 2020
About the wine
Gerd's first ever Eiswein is a rare, one-off treat
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Eiswein is a rare and unique style of wine that gets its name from the icy conditions in which its grapes are grown. Temperatures had to fall to a frosty -7°C before Gerd could harvest the frozen grapes. Still, sub-zero temps aren't always guaranteed, making it a risky operation for those willing to take a gamble.
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Gerd took a punt on his ripe and healthy Sylvaner grapes, leaving some of them to weather the wintery cold. It was a gamble that paid off when temperatures dipped below a bone-chilling -10°C, leaving him with perfectly frosted grapes, which he then slowly pressed into a delicious sorbet-like icy treat.
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The Stepp Sylvaner Eiswein has a delicate peach flavour, with a tropical edge of pineapple and lychee. It does a tremendous balancing act between sweetness and refreshing acidity with a rich textural finish. It's unknown when a wine like this will come along again, making this Eiswein a true one-off treat for Angels this winter.
Best before
Drink now to 2031
Serving advice
Serve thoroughly chilled at 10°C
Food match
Best to be enjoyed on its own - or with blue cheeses such as Stilton, Gorgonzola and Roquefort
Contains sulphites
Wine profile
Meet the winemaker - Gerd Stepp
- We found Gerd by accident when we were looking for a top German Pinot Noir and a friend suggested Gerd’s. It came first in a blind tasting of 26 Pinots by Naked Archangels so we bought the lot and ever since Gerd has been making us some of the classiest German wines we’ve ever stocked.
- Naked funding now plays a huge part in his business, because his family vineyard in Pfalz is quite small, so he has to work with 20 other local growers. Being able to pay upfront gives them security, and allows Gerd to plan ahead and secure the best fruit.
- With 30 years in the wine industry, he’s travelled widely and made award-winning drops in dozens of different countries. He’s also a respected wine consultant, flying all over the world advising other wine producers. Decanter first snapped him up as a judge in 2004 and he regularly gets invited back to their Annual Wine Awards so it’s safe to say this guy really knows his stuff!
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