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Bingen am Rhein / Rheinhessen, January 16, 2026. Pinot Noir is considered the supreme discipline of winemaking – sensitive, demanding, and uncompromising in its origin. In 2026, Weingut Riffel presents Pinot Noir in two clearly defined expressions, both entirely new to the portfolio:
as a 2024 Grand Cru red wine from the Große Lage Binger Scharlachberg and as a Blanc de Noir Brut Nature sparkling wine.
Both wines share the same foundation: quartzite soils, a cool-climate origin, and uncompromising precision.
Two styles – one terroir.
Where Does the Fascination with Pinot Noir Come From?
When Pinot Noir reaches its full potential, it communicates character rather than volume: freshness, vibrant acidity, clarity of texture, and a finely tuned aromatic tension take center stage. Expression, precision, and inner dynamism define its appeal.
For us, Pinot Noir is not an end in itself, but a highly sensitive instrument for translating origin. Hardly any other grape variety reacts so directly to soil, climate, and viticulture. This very sensitivity makes Pinot Noir demanding – and at the same time one of the most exciting varieties for expressing terroir with clarity and authenticity. Our focus is not on opulence or ripeness, but on tension, texture, and inner density.
Why Two Distinct Styles?
Pinot Noir allows for different interpretations without losing its sense of place. Choosing two styles is not a stylistic exercise, but a conscious reduction to the essentials.
The Grand Cru red wine from the Große Lage Binger Scharlachberg seeks depth, structure, and elegance.
The Blanc de Noir Brut Nature sparkling wine stands for radical precision, mineral clarity, and finesse.
Both wines originate from the same terroir and tell the same story – with different dramaturgy and texture.
Why Pinot Noir from Germany?
Pinot Noir from cool-climate regions shows more freshness, tension, and structural elegance than wines from warmer zones. On quartzite, the variety develops a particularly fine-boned, linear style with a clear mineral imprint. Compared to classic limestone soils, Pinot Noir here appears less voluminous, yet more precise and focused.
Our goal is not a loud style, but origin, balance, and length.
Why Did Erik Choose to Make a Blanc de Noir from Pinot Noir?
For us, a Blanc de Noir represents expressiveness without weight. The Blanc de Noir Brut Nature deliberately forgoes dosage to reveal the texture, acidity, and saline minerality of the terroir in their purest form. Fine red fruit, cool precision, and inner tension take the lead – inspired by great French Champagnes, shaped by the quartzite soils of Rheinhessen.
Blanc de Noir Brut Nature Sparkling Wine
Pinot Noir in its most purist form. This Blanc de Noir Brut Nature, made from 100% Pinot Noir, comes from the 2021 vintage and matured for a minimum of 36 months on the lees.
It captivates with cool precision and elegant tension, defined by the mineral clarity of quartzite soils. On the nose, fresh brioche and subtle saline notes intertwine with grapefruit, red berries, and a hint of sour cherry. With air, herbal nuances, orange blossom, and delicate floral tones emerge.
On the palate, the sparkling wine is taut, purist, and linear: juicy citrus fruit, mirabelle plum, and salted lemon, carried by a powerful yet extremely fine mousse. The finish is long, dry, and harmonious, gently underlined by fine lees notes – invigorating, yet never demanding.
A character-driven Blanc de Noir Brut Nature with depth, freshness, and great drinkability, vividly reflecting Pinot Noir grown on quartzite.
2024 Binger Scharlachberg Pinot Noir – Große Lage
A great Pinot Noir from one of the most historic and northernmost Grand Cru sites in Rheinhessen. This wine is based on small-berried Pinot Noir clones of the highest quality, carefully selected through hand harvesting to ensure perfect fruit.
The vineyard lies in the eastern part of the Grand Cru Scharlachberg, affectionately known among growers as the “Kessel.” Thanks to morning sun and a sheltered position, the site offers ideal ripening conditions.
In the glass, the wine shines in a clear cherry red. The nose is complex, with aromas of Amarena cherries, red currants, strawberries, and fresh forest herbs, complemented by a hint of spicy oak. On the palate, it impresses with juicy fruit, lively acidity, and a clear, still youthful tannin structure that gives the wine tension and length. The long finish is marked by the characteristic quartzite minerality.
A wine of great elegance, depth, and remarkable persistence – perfect for those who value both expressiveness and finesse.
About Weingut Riffel
Weingut Riffel is a family-owned estate in Rheinhessen, based in Bingen am Rhein, run by Carolin and Erik Riffel since 2005. The Riffel family has been involved in viticulture for four generations. In 1991, following his training as a winemaker, Erik Riffel took responsibility for the cellar.
The estate, located at the confluence of the Rhine and Nahe rivers, has been farmed organically since 2009, with conversion to biodynamics completed in 2012. Riffel cultivates 17 hectares of vineyards and produces Riesling, Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay using state-of-the-art cellar technology across five top sites in Bingen: the two Große Lagen Scharlachberg and Kirchberg, as well as the single vineyards Bubenstück, Rosengarten, and Osterberg.
The quartzite soils give the wines a distinctive character, while the mosaic of different terroirs finds particular expression in the flinty minerality that defines the wines. Weingut Riffel is a member of Maxime Herkunft Rheinhessen, the association of Rheinhessen’s leading estates.
Kontakt:
Weingut Riffel, Erik und Carolin Riffel
Mühlweg 14a
55411 Bingen am Rhein, Germany Telefon: +49 6721 994690, E-Mail: service@weingut-riffel.de
Website: www.weingut-riffel.de/en, #riffelwine
