Description

Schmitt Söhne Late Harvest Riesling

For over 100 years, the Schmitt family has produced high quality Riesling along the banks of the Mosel River in Germany. With our fifth generation now working in our family-owned company, many of our decisions are still made at the dinner table.

In 1919, Hilar Schmitt, the great-grandfather of today’s owners, founded the company as a small regional winery, selling to local villages and towns near the family home in Longuich, Germany. Through the generations, the Schmitt family focused on producing Riesling, Germany’s premier grape, and expanded to importing award-winning wines across the globe.

Over five generations, their principle remains the same: crafting world-class Riesling reflective of the family quality and care from the first picking in the vineyard to your table.

Winemaking

Germany’s harvest is typically a month later than other wine regions, allowing for a long ripening season. Our winemakers carefully monitor the grapes on the vine, picking at optimal ripeness. During picking, the grapes are handled very carefully to avoid bruising, letting the natural sweetness shine through. Harvested in the cool early morning, the grapes are brought quickly to the winery, destemmed and placed in stainless steel tanks that help retain our Riesling’s crisp acidity. The wine is kept cool, between 50-65 degrees, during fermentation.

Vineyards

Schmitt Sohne Family Wines Spatese Riesling hails from select vineyards along the Mosel River in Germany. The Mosel is regarded as the oldest wine-growing region in Germany, believed to have been established by the Romans around 50 AD. It is one of the most northernly wine regions in world. Mosel vineyards are famous for their steep south-facing slopes and blue slate soil, reflected in the touch of minerality found in our Spätlese.

Our Late Harvest Riesling is made from grapes that remain on the vine – where they continue to ripen and intensify in flavor – for up to several weeks after the main harvest. The result is a delicious concentration of fruit that is excellent as a cocktail, with cheese, fruit or wild game birds. This Riesling is also a perfect match with Southwestern, Asian, Thai, Cajun or any spicy cuisine.

Schmitt Söhne Late Harvest Riesling Notes To Your Senses:

• APPEARANCE: Pale to light golden color typical of a late‑harvest German Riesling
• AROMA: Aromas of ripe stone and orchard fruits such as apricot and peach with subtle floral and citrus hints, showing concentrated fruit character
• TASTE: Sweet yet balanced with lively acidity, delivering rich flavors of apricot, peach, melon, and light tropical notes that reflect extended hang time on the vine
• FINISH: Clean and juicy with lingering fruit sweetness and refreshing acidity, making it an enjoyable dessert or pairing wine
• ABV: 8%