2024 Gehring ‘Roter Hang’ Riesling • Germany
A Wine for the Season of Light
December invites us to slow down a little. The days shorten, the kitchen warms, and Chanukkah reminds us how much meaning a small flame can carry. This month’s wine feels right in that setting. It has clarity, intention, and the quiet confidence of a bottle made by people who care about every detail.
A Riesling Shaped by Place
The Roter Hang is one of Germany’s most distinctive Riesling landscapes. A narrow stretch of steep, red slate slopes that rise above the Rhine. The soil is iron rich and naturally warm in tone, and the cliffs hold heat well into the evening. This slow, steady warmth helps the fruit ripen while maintaining the clean acidity Riesling is known for. Wines from this area have a directness to them. You taste stone, citrus, and the precision of the site itself.
The People Behind the Wine
Theo and Gina Gehring run their family estate in Nierstein with a simple philosophy: healthy vines, careful work, and a style that reflects the land rather than the winemaker. They are the kind of growers who know every corner of their vineyards and make decisions by walking the rows, not by chasing trends. Their wines have an honesty to them. Nothing forced, nothing overdressed, just clear expression.
Kosher Wine in a Classic Region
Kosher production in Germany is still limited, which makes this bottle stand out even more. When a serious grower chooses to produce a kosher wine, it brings together two worlds. Traditional German winemaking and the precision of kosher oversight. At Gehring, this is done seamlessly. The wine tastes like Roter Hang Riesling because that is exactly what it is. Clean fermentations, no shortcuts, and full adherence to kosher handling from start to finish.
The 2024 Vintage
The 2024 growing season was cool and demanded attention. Theo and Gina managed their vineyards with care, and the results show. The wine is bright and focused, with flavors of lime, green apple, underripe peach, and the familiar minerality of wet slate. There is tension in the acidity and enough roundness on the palate to keep everything balanced. It feels complete without feeling heavy.
Why It Works for Chanukkah
Chanukkah food is built on comfort and tradition. Latkes that come straight from the pan, roasted chicken surrounded by root vegetables, simple fish seasoned with herbs, and the dairy dishes that show up throughout the week. This Riesling plays well with all of it. Its acidity cleans the palate after anything fried. Its minerality lifts herbs and spices. Its freshness keeps the meal lively even as the evening settles in.
Serving Tips
Chill it to about 40 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit. Use a standard white wine glass to let the aromatics open slowly. If the wine feels a bit tight at first, give it a minute or two in the glass. It holds its shape well and even improves with a little air. If you have leftovers, the wine keeps nicely in the refrigerator for a day or two.
A Bottle That Fits the Month
Chanukkah is a story about endurance, clarity, and a spark that outshines expectation. Riesling from these ancient red slopes carries its own quiet version of that story. It is shaped by stone, weather, and patient hands.
Gehring’s 2024 Roter Hang Riesling belongs at a table filled with warmth and familiar dishes. It suits the pace of December. It suits the glow of Chanukkah. It brings a steady, honest light of its own.
