Monday, July 1, 2013

BerlinGutsrieslingCup 2013 – Rating Entry-level Rieslings from Germany

Pictures: Martin Zwick and Christian G.E. Schiller in Wiesbaden and Brandenburger Tor, Berlin

The BerlinGutsrieslingCup 2013 took place in May 1013 in Berlin, Germany, orchestrated by Martin Zwick. 30 wines were included in the tasting. They were blind-tasted by a group of sommeliers, wine writers and wine retailers. Winemaker Andi Schneider from the Nahe Valley attended as special guest.

“Gutsriesling” is a combination of Gutswein (Estate Wine) and Riesling: Rated were wines that fulfilled the two criteria – being a Gutswein and a Riesling (from Germany).

This was the second BerlinGutsrieslingCup. See here for last year’s results:
Berlin Gutsriesling Cup 2012, Germany

Gutswein

What is a Gutswein – Estate Wine? Gutswein is a term introduced and used by the members of the VDP association, Germany’s elite winemakers. A Gutswein is an entry level wine of a VDP member.

In sharp contrast with the standard classification system of the Law of 1971, the VDP classification system is based on the terroir principle. The pyramid of ripeness of the grapes at harvest (which dominates the standard German wine classification of 1971) has moved to the backburner in the VDP system. Instead, following Bourgogne, the terroir principle has taken center stage. And here, the VDP has moved from a 3 tiers quality ladder to a 4 tiers quality ladder in its recent modifications, effective with the 2012 harvest. The VDP has added an additional layer to its classification system, which consists now of the following 4 layers. (In brackets, the equivalent quality classes in the classification system of the Bourgogne):

• VDP.Grosse Lage (Grand Cru in Burgundy)
• VDP.Erste Lage (Premier Cru in Burgundy)
• VDP.Ortswein (Village level in Burgundy)
• VDP.Gutswein (Bourgogne régional in Burgundy)

Note that for some legal reasons, the VDP has started to use the terms Grosse Lage, Erste Lage, Ortswein and Gutswein with the pre-fix VDP.

For more background information, see:
Stepping up: From 3 … to 4 Quality Levels - The New Classification of the VDP, Germany

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. 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.

Martin Zwick and his Berlin Cups

Martin Zwick was initially known for organizing the BerlinRieslingCup every year. While the BerlinGutsrieslingCup reviews and rates entry-level Rieslings of VDP Estates, the BerlinRieslingCup is about Germany’s ultra-premium dry grand cru (Grosses Gewaechs) Rieslings. It typically takes place in the second half of September, following the release of the Grosses Gewaechs wines of the previous year.

This year, Martin Zwick also organized for the first time (in June) a BerlinKabinettCup: A ranking of off-dry, light Rieslings that carry the Kabinett predicate. I will post about it on schiller-wine.

See more:
Germany’s Ultra Premium Dry Riesling Wines – The Berlin Riesling Cup 2012
Germany’s Top Wines – The Berlin Riesling Cup 2011 Ranking

2013 Gutsriesling Ranking

1. A.J. Adam
2. Keller "Edition Pinard de Picard"
3. Bürklin-Wolf
4. Keller
5. Geltz-Zilliken
6. Scultetus-Brüssel
7. Julian Haart
8. Wittmann
9. Knewitz
10. Fritz Haag
11. Schäfer-Fröhlich
12. Karl Schaefer feinherb
13. Dönnhoff
14. Andi Schneider
15. Emrich-Schönleber
16. Bassermann-Jordan
17. Battenfeld-Spanier

Picture: H.O. Spanier and Christian G.E. Schiller in Bodenheim

See more:
The Wine Maker Couple H.O. Spanier and Carolin Spanier-Gillot, with Roland Gillot, Lead Wine Tasting of Kuehling-Gillot and Battenfeld-Spanier Wines at Weingut Kuehling-Gillot, Germany

18. Krebs
19. Seehof
20. Fürst
21. Christmann
22. Thörle

Picture: Christian G.E. Schiller with Johannes and Christoph Thoerle, Weingut Thoerle in Saulheim.

For more on Winzerhof Thoerle see: Surprising the World with their Pinot Noir: Johannes and Christoph Thoerle, Winzerhof Thoerle, Rheinhessen, Germany

23. Kühling-Gillot
24. Van Volxem
25. ***
26. Rebholz
27. Karl Schaefer trocken
28. Breuer Sauvage
29. Schloss Johannisberg
30. von Winning

schiller-wine - Related Postings

Stepping up: From 3 … to 4 Quality Levels - The New Classification of the VDP, Germany

Germany’s Top Wines – The Berlin Riesling Cup 2011 Ranking

Germany’s Ultra Premium Dry Riesling Wines – The Berlin Riesling Cup 2012

Berlin Gutsriesling Cup 2012, Germany 

The Wine Maker Couple H.O. Spanier and Carolin Spanier-Gillot, with Roland Gillot, Lead Wine Tasting of Kuehling-Gillot and Battenfeld-Spanier Wines at Weingut Kuehling-Gillot, Germany

Visiting Weingut Josef Leitz in Ruedesheim – Johannes Leitz is Germany’s Winemaker of the Year, Gault Millau WeinGuide 2011

Surprising the World with their Pinot Noir: Johannes and Christoph Thoerle, Winzerhof Thoerle, Rheinhessen, Germany

1.International Riesling Symposium

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

When Americans Drink German Wine - What They Choose

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

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

Visiting Armin and Caroline Diel and their Schlossgut Diel in Burg Layen in Germany

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

Visiting Georg Rumpf and his VDP Weingut Kruger-Rumpf in the Nahe Region, Germany

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