Friday, November 13, 2015

Riesling Gala 2015 at Kloster Eberbach in the Rheingau, Germany

Picture: The Riesling Gala 2015 at Kloster Eberbach in the Rheingau 

If you are a fan of Riesling – fruity sweet, noble sweet and dry - and like good food, and have not yet been to one of the 25 Riesling Gala events at Kloster Eberbach in the Rheingau, you should mark your calendar and make an early reservation for the next Riesling Gala in November 2016. Tickets are for a bit more than Euro 200 and available from the VDP Rheingau and its participating members. What you will get is an amazing event in a breathtaking historic setting that starts at 11 am with a reception, goes on with a 6 course seated luncheon until 6 pm and ends with an after-party with more wine, also at the historic Kloster Eberbach.

All of the pictures in this posting are mine, with the exclusions of a few pictures I took from the facebook pages of Weingut Robert Weil, Mario Scheuermann and Hotel Restaurant Friedrich von Schiller.

For last years' Riesling Gala, see here:
Riesling Gala 2014 at Kloster Eberbach in the Rheingau, Germany
Rheingau Riesling Gala 2013 at Kloster Eberbach, Germany

Glorious Rheingau Days

The Rheingau Riesling Gala is the grand finale and the highlight of the Glorious Rheingau Days, an annual celebration of the Rheingau Riesling, this year for the 28th times. Over 10 days or so, VDP members of the Rheingau present their wines at winemaker dinners and similar events at the Rheingau’s top restaurants or other interesting places.

The grand finale is the Rheingau Riesling Gala on the last day of the Glorious Rheingau Days (a Sunday) in the Laiendormitorium of Kloster Eberbach. It is a culinary and social event in which wine enthusiasts meet in the historic settings of the Laiendormitorium of Kloster Eberbach (the largest room of the Romanesque period north of the Alps) in order to celebrate the noblest of all grapes, the Riesling.

Pictures: Kloster Eberbach in the Rheingau

From 11 am to 6 pm, VDP producers of the Rheingau, their guest winemakers from other regions and their 600 guests enjoyed a 6 courses dinner, each course prepared by a different top chef, almost all of them Michelin-starred.

The wines served differed, depending on who was hosting you and who his or her guest winemaker was. This year, my wife Annette and I were the guests of Wilhelm Weil, whose guest winemaker was Ernst Loosen from the Mosel. So, we enjoyed the superb wines of Weingut Robert Weil and Weingut Dr. Loosen. Please note that Robert Weil wines are part of the “Friends of Erni” portfolio at Loosen Bros. USA.

The Rheingau

It is remarkable: For its entire length of nearly 560 miles, the Rhine flows north with one exception – a 28-mile stretch where the river changes its course. Here, it flows to the west, thereby enabling both the river and the vineyards facing it to bask in the warmth of the sun all day long. This is the Rheingau, one of the medium-size German wine regions. It is a quietly beautiful region, rich in tradition. Queen Victoria's enthusiasm for Hochheim's wines contributed to their popularity in England, where they, and ultimately, Rhine wines in general, were referred to as Hock.

 Picture: The Rheingau

The third President of the USA - and notable bon viveur - Thomas Jefferson visited the Rheingau in 1788 and wrote that the wine of the "Abbaye of Johnsberg is the best made on the Rhine without comparison … That of the year 1775 is the best." He also referred to the Rheingau’s Riesling as the "small and delicate Rhysslin which grows only from Hochheim to Rudesheim". Impressed by the quality of the Rheingau Riesling wines, he bought 100 grapevines to take back to his estate in Virginia.

The Rheingau enjoys a distinctly continental climate with cold winters and warm, but not hot, summers. The Rheingau is dominated by Riesling, accounting for 4/5 of the vineyard area. Wilhelm Weil, our host, produces only Riesling wines.

Reception

The event started with a reception, where Rheingau Charta Rieslings were served.

Picture: Annette Schiller and the Winemaker of the Year (Gault Millau WeinGuide Deutschland 2016) Peter Jakob Kühn, Weingut Kühn, Oestrich

Pictures: Annette and Christian Schiller with SKH Bernhard Prinz von Baden, Weingut Schloss Salem and Weingut Schloss Staufenberg

Pictures: Dieter Greiner, Staatsweingüter Kloster Eberbach, Alois Lageder, Weingut Lageder and Annette and Christian Schiller

Picture: Annette Schiller, Claudia Stern, Stefanie Weegmüller, Weingut Weegmüller

Picture: Annette Schiller, Eva Raps and Urban Kaufmann, Weingut Lang, Rheingau

Picture: Norberth Barth, Sekt- und Weingut Bart, Werner Schönleber, Weingut Emrich-Schönleber

Picture: Annette Schiller and Achim von Oetinger, Weingut Oetinger

Picture: Guiseppe Lauria

Gala Luncheon

6 courses in 6 hours, i.e. every hour one course with 2 wines, from Weingut Weil and Weingut Dr. Loosen at our table.

After each course, you had a bit of time to walk around, talk with other guests and try the wines of other winemakers.

Pictures: Riesling Gala at Kloster Eberbach with 600 Guests

Welcome Greetings by Wilhelm Weil, Weingut Robert Weil

Wilhelm Weil, Weingut Robert Weil and President of the VDP Rheingau, welcomed the guests, with all participating winemakers and the Rheingau Wine Queens.

Pictures: Welcome

In the Kitchen

To prepare world class food for 600 guests implied a major effort in the kitchen.

Pictures: In the Kitchen

Starter

Pictures: Annette Schiller and Wilhelm Weil, Weingut Robert Weil, Kiedrich

Pictures: Wilhelm Weil and Monika Diel, Armin Diel and Martina Weil, Weingut Robert Weil and Schlossgut Diel

Picture: Professor Monika Christmann and Annette Schiller

Picture: Philipp Erik Breitenfeld and Dirk Würz, Weingut Balthasar Ress


Pictures: Ernst Loosen, Weingut Dr. Loosen and Regine Schork, Hotel Restaurant Friedrich von Schiller

First Course: Chef Nils Henkel

gebeizte fjordforelle
butternusskürbis, lebercreme, miso, kernöl

2014 Graach Riesling Trocken
VDP.Ortswein
Weingut Dr. Loosen

2014 Kiedricher Turmberg Riesling Trocken
VDP.Erste Lage
Weingut Robert Weil

Pictures: Chef Nils Henkel

Pictures: The Wines

Picture: Alexander Jung, Weingut Jung, and Cornelius Dönnhoff, Weingut Dönnhoff

Picture: Theresa Breuer, Weingut Breuer

Picture: Stefanie Weegmüller, Weingut Weegmüller

Picture: Billy Wagner, Restaurant Noblelhart und Schmutzig and Peter Jakob and Angela Kühn, Weingut Kühn

Picture: Heiner Lobenberg, Lobenbergs Gute Weine, and Oliver Bock, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung

Picture: Monika Christmann, Leo Gros and Annette Schiller

Second Course: Chef Hans Stefan Steinheuer

kalbsblutwurst
mit geräuertem aal, apfel und kalbskopf im sud

2011 Ürzig Würzgarten Trocken GG
VDP.Grosse Lage
Weingut Dr. Loosen

2011 Kiedrich Gräfenberg Riesling Trocken EG
VDP.Grosse Lage
Weingut Robert Weil

Pictures: Chef Hans Stefan Steinheuer

 Picture: The Wines

Picture: Josi Leitz, Weingut Leitz and Johannes Jung, Weingut Jung

Picture: Roderick von Berlepsch, Restaurant Der Zauberlehring, Daniela Weis and Nik Weis, Weingut Sankt Urbans-Hof


Pictures: The Wittes (Schloss Johannisberg and G.H. Mumm) and the Schillers

Picture: Peter Seyffardt, Weingut Diefenhardt

Picture: Annette Schiller and Christian Ress, Weingut Balthasar Ress

Picture: Annette Schiller and Stefanie Weegmüller, Weingut Weegmüller

Pictures: Pause

Pictures: The Weis', Weingut Sankt Urbans-Hof, Father and Son, Annette and Christian Schiller

Third Course: Chef Dieter Müller

kastaniencremesuppe
trüffel, gänseleber-geflügelflan

1998 Ürzig Würzgarten Riesling Spätlese
VDP.Grosse Lage
Weingut Dr. Loosen

2002 Robert Weil Riesling Spätlese
VDP.Grosse Lage
Weingut Robert Weil

Pictures: Christian Schiller and Dieter Müller

Picture: The Wines

Picture: Eva Raps and Urban Kaufmann, Weingut Lang

Pictures: Cornelius Dönnhoff, Weingut Dönnhoff, and Josi Leitz, Weingut Leitz

Fourth Course: Chef Sonja Frühsammer

kabeljau
auf liebstöckelbohnen
mit ochsenmaul-vinaigrette

2013 Wehlen Sonnenuhr Riesling Trocken GG
VDP.Grosse Lage
Weingut Dr. Loosen

2013 Kiedrich Gräfenberg Riesling Trocken GG
VDP.Grosse Lage (Magnum)
Weingut Robert Weil

Pictures: Chef Sonja Frühsammer

Picture: 2013 Kiedrich Gräfenberg Riesling Trocken GG

Picture: Achim and Julia von Oetinger, Weingut von Oetinger

Pictures: Dieter Kürten, ZDF Sportstudio, and Armin Diel, Schlossgut Diel

Pictures: Annette Schiller and Ernst Loosen, Weingut Dr. Loosen

Pictures: Andreas Stigler, Weingut Stigler, and Annette and Christian Schiller
Picture: Dieter Greiner, Staatsweingüter Kloster Eberbach, and SKH Bernhard Prinz von Baden, Schlossgut Salem

Fifth Course: Chef Matthias Schmidt

hirschkalb
rote bete in lauberde gegart
holunderbeeren, fichte, kornelkirsche, wacholder

2011 Erden Prälat Riesling Trocken GG
VDP.Grosse Lage Reserve

2012 Kiedrich Gräfenberg Riesling Trocken GG
VDP.Grosse Lage
Weingut Robert Weil

Pictures: Chef Matthias Schmidt

Pictures: The Wines

Pictures: Martin Wurzer-Berger, Journal Culinaire, Regine and Chef Burkhard Schork, Hotel und Restaurant Friedrich von Schiller

Pictures: Billy Wagner, Noblehart und Schmutzig, Berlin, and Annette Schiller

Sixth Course: Chef Elmar Simon

variation von pflaume & sellerie
gebrannte mandeln, zimt, isla del ron

2014 Erden Treppchen Riesling Spätlese
VDP.Grosse Lage
Weingut Dr. Loosen

2006 Kiedrich Gräfenberg Riesling Auslese
VDP.Grosse Lage
Weingut Robert Weil

Pictures: Chef Elmar Simon

Pictures: The Wines

Pictures: Hans Reiner Schulz and Monika Christmann, both University of Geisenheim, and Annette Schiller

Picture: Eva Raps and Urban Kaufmann, Weingut Lang

Pictures: The Weis and the Witte Couples and their Wines - Weingut Sankt Urbans-Hof and Schloss Johannisberg

Picture: Guiseppe Lauria, Gault Millau (Rheingau)

Closing Ceremony

At the end of the luncheon, the chefs came to the stage again with their teams.

Pictures: Closing Ceremony

Picture: Christian Schiller and Chef Dieter Müller

Pictures: Chef Hans Stefan Steinheuer at our Table

After-Party

The event ended with an after party, where one could taste all the wines that were poured during the luncheon … but also could go for a draft beer. I finsihed the 2015 Riesling Gala with a Curry Wurst.

Pictures: Dancing

Picture: Curry Wurst

schiller-wine: Related Postings

Germany-East Wine and Art Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), Germany

Bourgogne Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), France

Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), France

One of the Bio-dynamic Stars in Germany: Weingut Peter Jakob Kühn in Östrich, Winkel – Germany-North Wine Tour by ombiasy (2014)

A German Riesling Feast in New York City: Rieslingfeier 2015, USA

Riesling Gala 2014 at Kloster Eberbach in the Rheingau, Germany

Rheingau Riesling Gala 2013 at Kloster Eberbach, Germany



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