LS Merchants Die Berghain Riesling 2025

Tasting Notes

• Colour: Pale straw with a bright, youthful sheen.
• Aromatics: Fragrant jasmine and honeysuckle with fresh lime zest, citrus blossom and a gentle suggestion of orange oil and musk.
• Palate: Lime rind and citrus pith provide freshness and structure, balanced by a subtle touch of natural sweetness. Lees contact and foudre fermentation bring a soft, rounded texture through the middle without taking away from the wine’s vibrancy.
• Finish: Long, refreshing and lightly off-dry, with floral perfume and lime lingering after each sip.

The Die Berghain Story

Margaret River is famous for Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon, not Riesling. LS Merchants saw that as a reason to make one rather than a reason not to.

The wine takes its name from Berghain, the legendary German temple of techno, matching the playful, unconventional personality of the bottle. Fruit comes from Maximaler Räve, described by LS as the loudest Wilyabrup vineyard you have never heard of. After eight vintages and plenty of vineyard raves, the 2025 release closes the current chapter of Die Berghain.

Viticulture and Winemaking

Region: Wilyabrup, Margaret River, Western Australia
Vineyard: Maximaler Räve
Variety: 100% Riesling
Style: Off-dry

Winemaking:

• Fruit gently basket pressed
• Wild fermentation using naturally occurring yeasts
• Fermented and matured on lees in large-format foudre barrels
• Crafted to balance floral aromatics and subtle sweetness with fresh, lime-rind acidity

Serving and Cellaring

Serve: 7 to 9°C

Glassware: A Riesling or medium-sized white wine glass will highlight the floral aromatics while keeping the citrus focused.

Cellaring: Delicious now for its jasmine perfume, citrus freshness and gentle sweetness. It should also gain more honeyed, spicy and savoury complexity over the next three to five years.

Food Pairing

The slight sweetness and bright acidity make this especially versatile with spice, salt and aromatic dishes:

• Thai green curry with prawns or chicken
• Vietnamese salads with chilli, lime and fresh herbs
• Pork belly with apple or fennel slaw
• Spicy fried chicken or Korean barbecue
• Washed-rind cheese, goat’s cheese or creamy blue cheese
• Fresh fruit desserts that are not overly sweet

FAQ 🧐

Is Die Berghain Riesling sweet?
It is off-dry rather than fully sweet. There is a subtle touch of residual sweetness, but lime-rind acidity keeps the wine fresh, balanced and refreshing.

What does off-dry Riesling mean?
Off-dry Riesling contains a small amount of natural grape sugar remaining after fermentation. This softens the acidity and gives the palate extra generosity without making it feel like a dessert wine.

What is a foudre barrel?
A foudre is a large-format wooden vessel. Its size gives the wine gentle oxygen exposure and texture, with less obvious oak flavour than a small barrel.

Why make Riesling in Margaret River?
Riesling is uncommon in Margaret River, which makes this wine particularly distinctive. The Wilyabrup fruit gives LS Merchants the opportunity to create a richer, more textural interpretation than the tightly wound styles more commonly associated with Great Southern Riesling.

Is 2025 really the final vintage?
It is the final release for now. LS Merchants has announced a break after eight vintages, although the team has left the door open for Die Berghain to return in the future.