Though somewhat discreet on the nose, its palate comes to life with expressive notes of succulent muscat grapes, white pineapple and lime zest. A lovely saltiness on the finish adds dimension and lift.

Service: Serve at 8°-10°C.

Food pairing: Good with blue or hard cheese, fresh or semi-soft cheese, fruit-based dessert, and spicy and vegetarian dishes.

Gerald Hundinger, the current generation winemaker is committed to respect not only life and nature but also really good wines. "Riesling with its vibrant and balanced acidity is an amazing variety that is totally corresponding with the terroir. Blended with the floral Gewürztraminer, it is the Riesling that brings forward the freshness. Rieslaner (a crossing of Riesling & Silvaner) is our favourite variety for sweet wines as these wines have an incredible balance of sweetness and acidity. They provide you a mouth full of flavour at a surprisingly low alcohol level” says Gerald.

The 25-hectare winery located in the southern German winegrowing region of the Pfalz. It was created by the Hammel-Hundinger family in the 1960s by the grandfather of Gerald, its current winemaker. However, like many in farming communities, they were grape growers in a polyculture farm for multiple generations prior.

They call their Domaine after the empress tree, a special tree that is not native and usually found in Mediterranean climates. Frithjof and Margit, Gerald’s parents, were on holiday when they noticed its beauty and so decided to plant it on the estate to mark the year of Gerald’s birth. It has remained the centre piece of the estate and is also featured on their labels.

There is a legend that says if a phoenix is found on an empress tree, one will have luck and peace, so to perpetuate this idea, they included a phoenix on their label as well.

Sweet | Still | 37.5cl | 8% ABV | Contains Sulphites

Cellaring: Ready to drink now.

Vinification: Fermentation in small, cooled stainless steel tanks.