The Affental grape-growing land belongs to the viticultural area of Baden, Germany’s southern-most wine-growing regions. Here amid the warmth of the Rhine River at the foot of the Black Forest, spring begins early. Warm granite-weathered soil on the steep Black Forest precipices and strong loess terrain on the soft foothills are best suited for the cultivation of Pinot Noir and Rieslings. Affentaler has its roots in the Cistercian monks who were cultivating grapes in the area by 1250. Because of the local chapels, the valley was known as Ave Valley, named after Ave Maria which in German is ”Ave Tal.” Over the centuries this became Affental, which means Valley of the Monkeys. The original monkey bottle has been a brand symbol of the Affental Viticultural Cooperative since 1949. The bottle with the monkey has since reached cult status among numerous wine lovers across Germany and the United States. The United States is the most significant export market for these items. Riesling is one of the world’s most popular white wine grapes. It is prized for the number of styles available and its versatility in food pairing. This crisp dry Riesling features bright green apple notes laced with pears.