Unique Bottle of Portuguese – 2022

Einzelstück Portugieser 2022. Century-old vines, wooden vats and an underestimated Palatine grape variety.

Einzelstück Portugieser 2022 is a dry Palatine red wine made from Portugieser grapes grown on vines, the oldest of which were planted around a century ago. No light Schoppen wine, no cuvée, no wine that is produced every year.

Einzelstück Portugieser 2022 is a single-varietal Portugieser from Weingut Markus Schneider, grown on old vines in Ellerstadt’s Feldmark and aged in oak barrels. A comparison reveals its uniqueness.

Young Portugieser vines yield plenty of grapes, producing light, easy-drinking wines for everyday enjoyment. The same variety grown on century-old vines, by contrast, produces a deep ruby-red, full-bodied red wine.

Sour cherry, ripe plum and dark cocoa

Einzelstück Portugieser 2022 smells of sour cherry and freshly picked plums. Dark cocoa and clove from the barrel add another layer. On the palate, it combines silkiness with noticeable structure, while the fine tannins provide support.

The finish is long-lasting. It reveals the concentration of small berries that only low-yielding vines can produce. Anyone who has previously known Portugieser as a light, thin summer wine will have to change their mind. Once decanted, it opens up further, while the barrel spice recedes slightly and the fruit comes forward.

However, anyone expecting a light, fruity red wine to drink alongside other dishes will be disappointed. Einzelstück demands attention, air and a suitable meal.

With venison saddle, oxtail and aged Sbrinz

Einzelstück needs dishes with depth but without overpowering spiciness. Venison saddle with juniper jus and Spätzle complements the barrel spice. Braised oxtail with celery purée matches the wine’s density with its own tenderness.

Pan-seared duck breast with red cabbage and chestnuts also works, as the Portugieser’s acidity cuts through the fat of the skin. To finish, aged Sbrinz served in thin shards is a perfect match.

Our tip: Open the bottle an hour before the meal and pour the wine into a decanter. The ideal serving temperature is 16 to 17°C. A round Burgundy glass is a good choice. It is not suitable for fish dishes, as the tannins would taste metallic.

Old vines in Ellerstadt’s Feldmark

The oldest vines used for Einzelstück were planted in the 1920s. They are located in one of the earliest viticultural areas in Ellerstadt’s Feldmark, with exceptional vines being replanted individually over the decades. The soil, made of sandy gravel and terrace gravel, is poor and retains very little water. Feldmark refers to the entire agricultural area of a municipality.

Old vines have deep roots and produce only a few small berries. This creates the concentration that young Portugieser cannot achieve. The variety came to Germany in the 18th century; its name suggests Portugal, but today it is believed to have originated in southeastern Austria or Slovenia.

The grapes are harvested by hand. They are fermented in a wooden vat with a proportion of stems. This stem content, which winemakers call Rappen, adds freshness and tannin to the wine.

Once fermentation is complete, the young wine rests with the skins and seeds for a few more days. Only then is it gently pressed. It is aged in a combination of new and previously used oak barrels. New oak adds spice, while used barrels allow the wine to come into contact with oxygen and soften the tannins.