2018 Von Winning Riesling Winnings Pfalz 750 ml

Hands-down one of the most drinkable wines on planet Earth, and deliciously friendly at the table, the Von Winning is winning indeed. For $21, this Burgundian-style German Riesling scratches that deepest itch. Fresh and authentic, sweet and salty, plump and crisp—this is a premier producer in the Pfalz region making elegant wine for the weeknight table and knocking it out cold. 

The wine is spicy and stylish and snappy on the finish, with touches of a lush modern style imparted from a ripe vintage and subtle oak-barrel influence. No featherweight, this wine has heft. The nose is explosive with lemon peel and lime zest, just softened by a dalliance with wildflowers. But the palate jumps out like a fighter from his corner, dukes up and ready to dance several juicy rounds before finishing you off with a glancing kiss of sweetness.

Any minute now, our friends will start texting: Save me a case! Folks in the industry love this wine because for a couple of sawbucks you can have it all. Thirst-quenching, energetic deliciousness.

It's scrumptious next to a summery caprese salad, with flaky Maldon sea salt sprinkled over extra virgin olive oil on chunky slices of Cherokee Purples. The piquant acidity and tartness play perfectly along with the fresh, meaty tomatoes, and the bright nose brings out the best of the basil. But one of our favorite ways to slurp this sipper is by washing down a Nashville-style hot chicken sandwich, topped with pickles and slaw, and a side of fries. The plump sweetness and saltiness dowse the fire in the chicken and allow the flavors to sing from their Southern-fried heart. And in this pairing, the acid goes under, bringing it all together in a twangy three-part harmony that will echo clear into next year. 

Parker’s Wine Advocate called the 2018 Winning's "very elegant" and "very charming." James Suckling called it "impressive." Von Winning has been stockpiling these sorts of accolades over the last decade or so, winning hearts and minds across the wine world as it goes. Mellow folks who are into rich dry whites love this wine. Party people who like their wines crisp and dry love it, too. It's the reason our friends keep blowing us up about it. Ding! Hook me up? 

The Von Winning estate, a founding member of Germany's VDP quality standard system, has been around since the mid-1800s. But it wasn't until 2007 that the winery found its contemporary voice. That's when winemaker Stephan Attmann stepped in and brought his globetrotting vision. Since then the estate has been farming organically and planting in super dense clusters, nearly twice the average, forcing the vines to compete for the scarce water and mineral resources in the red-sandstone soil. It's an old tactic the team brought back from traditional practice, translating to more even ripeness in the vineyard, deeper concentration in the cellar and casual elegance in the glass. 

But they also introduced some innovative (some might say controversial) new methods, including a more aggressive use of new oak for fermenting and aging the wines, giving them an added structure and aromatic intensity. In lesser hands, this could feel ham-fisted or gimmicky, but in the Von Winning wines, and this 2018 in particular, it's white gold.