Werdenberg

Werdenberg comes from one of Philipp Grob's three vineyard sites in St. Gallen, in the Rhine Valley of eastern Switzerland, close to the border with Liechtenstein. The vines grow on a steeply sloped parcel near Schloss Werdenberg, one of the oldest inhabited castles in Europe, on soils that bring out a distinctly mineral character in the fruit.

Grob is entirely self taught, having learned from natural winemakers Markus Ruch, Michael Broger and Dominique Derain after falling into wine almost by accident. He farms without herbicides, often taking over parcels too steep or physically demanding for older growers to keep working. Every site is vinified identically, spontaneous fermentation with no additives, a year of aging in barrique, then bottled unfined, unfiltered and without added sulphur, so the differences between his three terroirs come through with real clarity.

Werdenberg's steep, sun facing slope gives this Pinot Noir a lively, energetic character, with fresh red fruit, a fine tannic grip and the alpine freshness that defines Grob's whole range. It reflects a winemaking philosophy built on transparency rather than intervention, letting each parcel speak entirely for itself.