Germany’s Best Dry Rieslings – Feinschmecker Riesling Cup 2012

Picture: Werner Schoenleber and Hellmut Doennhoff in Mainz 

Every year, the German wine and food journal Feinschmecker organizes the Feinschmecker Riesling Cup with the objective of identifying the best German dry Rieslings of the new vintage.

The Feinschmecker Riesling Cup 2012 went to Weingut Hermann Dönnhoff, Oberhausen/Nahe for its 2011 Hermannshöhle Riesling QbA trocken Großes Gewächs. Very unusually, this wine from the 2010 vintage won last year’s Feinschmecker Riesling Cup.

For previous years, see on schiller-wine:
Riesling Cup 2009 - Germany's Top Dry 2007 Rieslings
The 13 Top German Dry Rieslings – Feinschmecker German Riesling Cup 2009 (Vintage 2008)
The 11 Top German Dry Rieslings – Feinschmecker German Riesling Cup 2010 (Vintage 2009)
Germany’s Best Dry Rieslings - Feinschmecker Riesling Cup 2011

Riesling

Worldwide, there are about 34.000 hectares planted with Riesling. Germany – with 22.400 hectares – accounts for 2/3 of the total. The second largest Riesling producer is Australia, with 4500 hectares. But this is only about 1/10 of the total. Nevertheless, Australia was a bit underrepresented at the 1st International Riesling Symposium. Alsace follows with 3500 hectares. Austria, the US with Washington State and New York State as well as New Zealand make up the remainder. But overall Riesling is really a niche wine, accounting for only less than 1 percent of total wine production in the world - but a very special niche wine.

The Top 14 Wines

The tasting took place in November 2012. More than 400 wines of the 2011 vintage were submitted.

Here are the winners - Riesling Cups 2012:

1. Weingut Hermann Dönnhoff, Nahe
2011 Hermannshöhle Riesling Großes Gewächs

For the second time in a row, Weingut Hermann Dönnhoff from the Nahe region has won the contest.

Picture: Christian G.E. Schiller and Hellmut Doennhoff in Mainz

2. Weingut Andreas Laible, Baden
2011 Durbacher Plauelrain Riesling Großes Gewächs

3. Weingut Bürgermeister Schweinhardt, Nahe
2011 Terrasse Langenlonsheimer Rothenberg Riesling

3. Weingut Robert Weil, Rheingau
2011 Kiedricher Turmberg Riesling

Picture: Christian G.E. Schiller and Wilhelm Weil in Kiedrich

For more:

Visiting Wilhelm Weil at his Weingut Robert Weil in Kiedrich, Germany

Tasting with Wilhelm Weil the 2010 Weingut Weil Wines in Kiedrich, Germany

3. Weingut Ökonomierat Kleinmann, Pfalz
2011 Purist Birkweiler Kastanienbusch Riesling Spätlese trocken

6. Weingut Ferdinand Abel, Rheingau
2011 Oestricher Lenchen Riesling

7. Weingut Toni Jost - Hahnenhof, Mittelrhein
2011 Bacharacher Hahn Riesling Spätlese trocken

8. Weingut Bühler, Pfalz
2011 Saumagen Riesling Spätlese trocken

9. Weingut Karthäuserhof, Mosel/Ruwer
2011 Karthäuserhofberg Riesling Großes Gewächs

Picture: Christian G.E. Schiller and Christoph Tyrell in Mainz

For more:
The Karthäuserhof in the Mosel Valley: An Eventful History – From Grenoble in France to New York City in the US

10. Weingut Dr. Loosen, Mosel
2011 Bernkasteler Lay Riesling

Picture: Christian G.E. Schiller and Ernst Loosen in Washington DC

For more:
The Doctor Made a House Call - A Tasting with Ernst Loosen, Weingut Dr. Loosen, at MacArthur Beverages in Washington DC, USA

11. Hessisches Staatsweingüter Kloster Eberbach, Rheingau
2011 Rauenthaler Gehrn Riesling Spätlese trocken

Picture: Kloster Eberbach

12. Weingut Emrich-Schönleber, Nahe
2011 Monzinger Frühlingsplätzchen Riesling Großes Gewächs

13. Weingut Forstmeister Geltz-Zilliken, Mosel/Saar
2011 Saarburger Rausch Riesling Großes Gewächs

14. Weingut Egert, Rheingau
2011 Hattenheimer Wisselbrunnen Riesling Spätlese trocken

schiller-wine - Related Postings

German Spaetlese Wines Can Come in Different Versions. I Have Counted Five.

Phil Bernstein’s Third Annual German Riesling Tasting with the German Wine Society, Washington DC Chapter - Rieslings With a Touch of Sweetness

When Americans Drink German Wine - What They Choose

Impressions from the Riesling and Co World Tour 2010 in New York

German Wine Basics: Sugar in the Grape - Alcohol and Sweetness in the Wine

JJ Pruem Goes Supermarket: Meeting Katharina Pruem and Tasting the Incredible JJ Pruem Wines at Wegmans

1st International Riesling Symposium, Rheingau, Germany

The Wines of the Roter Hang (Red Slope) in Nierstein, Rheinhessen, Germany

The Doctor Made a House Call - A Tasting with Ernst Loosen, Weingut Dr. Loosen, at MacArthur Beverages in Washington DC, USA

One of the Fathers of the German Red Wine Revolution: Weingut Huber in Baden

German Riesling and International Grape Varieties – Top Wine Makers Wilhelm Weil and Markus Schneider at Kai Buhrfeindt’s Grand Cru in Frankfurt am Main, Germany

The Wines of Franz Kuenstler from Hochheim, Rheingau, Germany

The Karthäuserhof in the Mosel Valley: An Eventful History – From Grenoble in France to New York City in the US

Visiting Wilhelm Weil at his Weingut Robert Weil in Kiedrich, Germany

Tasting with Wilhelm Weil the 2010 Weingut Weil Wines in Kiedrich, Germany