Poiré Ohne Schwefel - Stefan Vetter

Stefan Vetter's apples, pears and quinces come from local meadow orchards where many of the old varieties can be used purely as cider fruit. For that reason, many of these old varieties seem to be disappearing. Where in 1870 there were still around 1000 different types of apples, only a fraction of that remains today. And so, Stefan Vetter uses the fruit in such a way that the best of the fruits comes to the fore. In delicious, pure ciders. Pear trees are hidden between these old apple orchards, the yield of which is now finally, for the first time, so large that there is now also a poiré. An elegant poiré methode rurale, to be precise, with a soft mousse and an alcohol percentage of 6%. Deliciously juicy and with a fine freshness. Delicious as an aperitif or when the clock has not yet turned 5. Or it has. Doesn't matter.

All Vetter ciders are made using extended, traditional bottle fermentation. He works biodynamically and nothing, absolutely nothing, is added to the ciders.

Stefan is definitely one of the vanguard of Germany when it comes to natural wine. What he has achieved there in Gambach is something you won't see very often. He has an obsession with the Sylvaner grape. His goal is to propel this normally unremarkable grape variety to great heights. Because, even in the state of Franconia, where Sylvaner is the white grape, there are nevertheless few winegrowers who are crazy about it.
After studying viticulture and oenology at the recognized university of Geisenheim, he came across an advertisement for the sale of a small vineyard with mostly 50+ year old Sylvaner vines through a newspaper article. Where most people would have browsed further, Stefan saw this as his chance.

During the first two years he alternated his time between tending his vines in Franconia and working at various vineyards in Burgenland. Stefan's vineyards, which belong to the state of Bavaria, are largely located on flat land, but where the vineyards are situated on the Main River, they are located on super steep slopes, which means the wine catches a lot of sun. The soil consists of sandstone and limestone and the oldest vines were planted in the 1930s. A few years ago he also planted a small part of Riesling, Müller-Thurgau and Spätburgunder and now has 4.2 hectares of vines. Here in Gambach, where. Completely biodynamic and with as little intervention as possible in the wine cellar, we find wines that are completely unique to terroir, grape and maker.