Curious Case July 2025 - Rhine & Danube

The Rhine & Danube – Wines That Flow Through Europe

This month’s Curious Case follows the course of two of Europe’s most important rivers – the Rhine and the Danube – as they wind their way from west to east, passing through some of the continent’s most distinctive wine regions. These rivers have long been vital routes for trade and travel, but they’ve also played a key role in shaping the vineyards that line their banks. From the stony slopes of Alsace to the cooler hills of Austria and the broad river plains of Bulgaria, this is a selection that reflects how landscape, climate and history come together in the glass.

What you’ll find here is a genuinely varied line-up – from brisk, mineral whites and lifted aromatics to reds that span the silky to the smoky. As ever with our Curious Cases, the idea is to tempt you into trying something a bit off the beaten track, with the reassurance that we’ve done the hard work in choosing the bottles. These are wines to easy enjoyment, but they’ve got plenty going on if you fancy diving a little deeper.

Here’s what’s in the case:

Turckheim Réserve Riesling 2022, Alsace
Bright, citrus-led and lightly floral – a fresh, balanced Riesling with real zip.

Winzerhof Stahl ‘Bright Side of Life’ 2022, Franken
Lively, dry German white with grapefruit, herbs and a clean mineral edge.

Oliver Zeter Pinot Noir 2022, Pfalz
Silky and fruit-forward, with juicy red berries and gentle spice.

Rabl Grüner Veltliner 2023, Kamptal
Classic Austrian Grüner – crisp, peppery and packed with orchard fruit.

Zahel Wiener Gemischter Satz 2023, Vienna
Aromatic, textured field blend from Vienna – layered, quirky and very drinkable.

Château Burgozone Via Istrum Marselan 2020, Bulgaria
Deep, dark and structured – smoky Balkan red with bags of character.