Helmut Dolde Da Steppt der Bär 2020

Da Steppt der Bär (literally: 'the bear dances there,' a German idiom for 'it will be a good party') is a pétillant naturel from Helmut and Hedwig Dolde's 2.5-hectare estate in Linsenhofen, a small village at the foot of the Swabian Jura in Württemberg. The blend is 90% Silvaner and 10% Weißburgunder (Pinot Blanc), hand-harvested from a mix of young and old vines grown above 500 meters elevation on Jurassic marl soils.

In the cellar, grapes undergo spontaneous fermentation with native yeasts. Following the ancestral method, fermentation finishes in bottle, leaving hazy lees that add texture. The wine is unfined, unfiltered, and bottled with no added sulfur dioxide.

Dolde's vineyards sit on two primary soil types: Weißer Jura (calcareous marne blanche, formed from ancient coral and marine deposits) and Brauner Jura (clay-rich brown marl), with small additional plots on volcanic soils around Linsenhofen and Neuffen. The high altitude and Jurassic soils drive the wine's sharp acidity and mineral character. Expect a hazy, lively pour with notes of lemon, pineapple, bread dough from lees contact, and a chalky mineral finish.

Helmut Dolde is not certified organic. As a former science teacher and biochemist, he rejects copper sulfate treatments used under standard organic certification, opting instead for lower-impact, more biodegradable interventions in pursuit of healthier soils long-term.