If you’ve been reading this site for long it’s probably no surprise to you that I love German wine. It’s also probably no surprise that I love rosé. But it was surprising to me that I have never, until now, reviewed a German rosé. And oh, what a fine rosé this is!
This one is made from a blend of pinot noir and a grape called domina, which is a new one to me. Domina is a red grape created by a German viticulturist as a cross between pinot noir and blauer portugieser.
The producer of this wine, Schmitt’s Kinder, has been a family vintner since 1710. That’s one of the things that amazes me from time to time about European wine — the length of time a winery/vineyard stays in one family. It’s quite amazing.
Schmitt’s Kinder produces wine in the Franconia (Franken) region of Germany, which is northwest of Bavaria.
With my eyes closed I probably would have guessed this was a pinot gris based on the aromas, which reflect nectarine, lime, melon and a touch of floral. On the palate it’s nice and dry and offers very nice fruit flavors such as green apple, nectarine and strawberry. The acidity gives it a vibrancy. The mouthfeel is nice. It finishes fairly long with delicious, slightly tart fruit flavors and a touch of salinity.
Wine: Schmitt’s Kinder, Rosé, Trocken
Varieties: Pinot noir, domina
Vintage: 2016
Alcohol: 11.5%
Rating: 90
Price: $19.99
Disclosure: This wine was provided as a media sample.