Rieslingfeier is an annual event in New York City that celebrates German Riesling. The cornerstone event is the Rieslingfeier Gala Dinner. Inspired by Daniel Johnnes’ famous Burgundy fête “La Paulée,” it is very likely the greatest German wine "BYOB" dinner in the world, with both winemakers and guests bringing special bottles from their cellars to share. Rieslingfeier is orchestrated by Stephen Bitterolf of the vom Boden wine importing company.
This year, Rieslingfeier took place on Saturday, February 20. 12 top German wine producers were in attendance, including world stars like Katharina Prüm, Weingut JJ Prüm, Hansjörg Rebholz, Weingut Ökonomierat Rebholz, Christian Witte, Weingut Schloss Johannisberg, Caroline Diel, Schlossgut Diel, Carl von Schubert, Weingut Maximin Grünhaus and Johannes Leitz, Weingut Leitz.
This posting is part of a series covering the 2016 Rieslingfeier; it provides an overview. Here is a list of all postings:
Coming up: Rieslingfeier in New York in February and Germany-East, -South and -North by ombiasy WineTours in May and August 2016
A German Riesling Feast in New York City: Rieslingfeier 2016, USA
Rieslingfeier 2016 in New York – Gränd Tasting: The Winemakers of the Rieslingfeier 2016, USA
Rieslingfeier 2016 in New York – Gala Dinner, USA
Allmost all of the photos are mine. I used a few photos from other participants, which they put on facebook.
Joining
Annette Schiller, who organizes wines tours (ombiasyPR and WineTours), and Christian Schiller, who blogs on schiller-wine, joined the 2016 celebration of German Riesling. We were happy to meet the participating German elite winemakers. Many of them we know personally. Some of them we call our friends.
See: Announcement:
5 Exciting ombiasy WineTours in 2016 - BURGUNDY BORDEAUX GERMANY
Coming-up: 2016 Spring Tours by ombiasy WineTours to Germany and the Bourgogne, Germany/ France
Rieslingfeier Gränd Tasting
Last year, during the day leading up to the Rieslingfeier Gala Dinner, there was a German wine seminar series and the Riesling Crawl, where the participating winemakers were pouring their wines at different wine stores during different times over the course of the afternoon. It was a fun idea, but a bit cumbersome to rush from one store to the next.
This year, there were no seminars and the winemaker poured their wines together at one location: The Gränd Tasting at Back Label Wine Merchants.
“Taste more than 60 wines from Germany's greatest growers for only $29. For 2016 we are thrilled to announce the first-ever "Gränd Tasting" featuring ALL of the Rieslingfeier growers in one place. While this walk-around tasting will focus on the 2014 vintage, growers will be bringing back-vintage wines for context. While the complete list is still being finalized, selections include 1997 Egon Müller Auslese, 1992 Lauer Sekt, 1983 Immich-Batterieberg Spätlese, 2004 Schlossgut Diel Pittermänchen Spätlese and many more. For those interested in a more intimate experience, there are a limited number of tickets for the VIP session - these tickets are $50.”
Stuart Pigott, in the announcement of the 2016 Rieslingfeier on his blog, provided good, precise descriptions of the attending winemakers, which I am copying below.
The Winemakers
Riesling Guru Stuart Pigott issued a nice write-up on his block about the forthcoming Rieslingfeier, including short descriptions of the attending winemakers, which I am copying here.
Jochen Beurer of Weingut Beurer of Stetten in Württemberg
Stuart Pigott: Jochen Beurer makes some remarkable dry wines in this rising star among Germany’s wine regions.
In the Eichelmann WeinGuide Deutschland 2015, Weingut Jochen Breuer won the "Best Wine Collection of the 2015 Award".
Eichelmann (my translation): Gerhard Eichelmann: This award will not please everybody. Those consumers who look for fruity wines that can be consumed rather young, will not find these kind of wines at Weingut Beurer. But those who are looking for authentic wines will find them at Weingut Beurer.
Last year, we visited 4 German elite producers in Württemberg on the Germany-East Art and Wine Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015). See: Germany-East Wine and Art Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)
Caroline Diel of Schlossgut Diel in Burg Layen in the Nahe Valley
Caroline was accompagnied by her husband Sylvain Diel.
Stuart Pigott: Caoline Diel makes brilliant dry and sweet wines that have made her one of the region’s top winemakers.
We visited Schlossgut Diel in 2014. See:
Tasting with Sylvain Taurisson Diel at Schlossgut Diel, Nahe – Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2014)
New Vintage Tasting at Schlossgut Diel, with Armin and Caroline Diel, Germany, 2014
Picture: Christian Schiller with Armin and Caroline Diel at Schlossgut Diel in the Nahe Valley
Pictures: In the Vineyards with Caroline Diel and AnoukGernot Kollmann of Weingut Immich Batterieberg in Enkirch on the Mosel
Stuart Pigott: Gernot Kollmann took over the direction and winemaking at Immich Batterieberg in Enkirch on the Mosel in 2009, and within very few years he has turned it into one of the region’s leading producers of dry Riesling.
We will visit Gernot Kollmann during the forthcoming Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2016). See: Announcement: 5 Exciting ombiasy WineTours in 2016 - BURGUNDY BORDEAUX GERMANY
Florian Lauer of Weingut Peter Lauer in Ayl on the Saar
Stuart Pigott: Florian Lauer of Weingut Peter Lauer in Ayl on the Saar, who since 2005 has taken this small estate from anonymity to international star status with complex wines ranging from bone dry to aromatically sweet.
Florian Lauer - Gault Millau Collection of the Year 2016: Germany’s Best Winemakers and Wines – Gault Millau WeinGuide Deutschland 2016 Awards: The Awards Ceremony in Mainz, Germany
During the award ceremony in Mainz, I arranged with Florian Lauer a visit of his estate during the forthcoming Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2016): Announcement: 5 Exciting ombiasy WineTours in 2016 - BURGUNDY BORDEAUX GERMANY
Johannes Leitz of Weingut Josef Leitz in the Rheingau
Stuart Pigott: Johannes Leitz of Josef Leitz in the Rheingau, who since the turn of the century firmly put Rüdesheim back on the map for top quality dry and west wines, and transformed this producer from being a name known only to insiders into a global Riesling brand.
We have scheduled a visit of Weingut Johannes Leitz during the forthcoming Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2016): Announcement: 5 Exciting ombiasy WineTours in 2016 - BURGUNDY BORDEAUX GERMANY
Weingut Dr. Loosen on the Mosel
Weingut Dr. Loosen was represented by Ian Dick.
Stuart Pigott: Ernst Loosen of Weingut Dr. Loosen on the Mosel is an unlikely Riesling Hero. Completely unknown when he took over control of his family estate in 1987 he is now a German Riesling Superstar and one of the nation’s most successful quality wine exporters.
See:
Wine Tasting at Weingut Dr. Loosen in Bernkastel-Kues, Mosel – Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)
Weingut Egon Müller-Scharzhof in Wiltingen on the Saar
Weingut Egon Müller was representy by it Export Manager.
Stuart Pigott: Egon Müller IV of Egon Müller-Scharzhof in Wiltingen on the Saar continues the tradition of this producer for world-class sweet Rieslings that range from the delicate to the unctuous and honey-sweet.
Katharina Prüm of Weingut J. J. Prüm in Wehlen on the Mosel
Stuart Pigott: Katharina Prüm of J. J. Prüm in Wehlen on the Mosel has already been introduced. This producer is synonymous with Mosel elegance and finesse!
We will meet her again on the Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2016): 5 Exciting ombiasy WineTours in 2016 - BURGUNDY BORDEAUX GERMANY
See:
JJ Pruem Goes Supermarket: Meeting Katharina Pruem and Tasting the Incredible JJ Pruem Wines at Wegmans
Picture: Christian Schiller with Katharina Pruem at Wegmans in Virginia
Hansjörg Rebholz of Weingut Ökonomierat Rebholz in Siebeldingen in the Pfalz
Stuart Pigott: Hansjörg Rebholz of Weingut Ökonomierat Rebholz in Siebeldingen in the Pfalz producers some of the best and most original dry wines on Planet Riesling; character and elegance rather than raw power are their hallmarks.
We will meet him again on the Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2016): 5 Exciting ombiasy WineTours in 2016 - BURGUNDY BORDEAUX GERMANY
Prowein 2015 in Düsseldorf, Germany – Schiller’s Impressions
Dr. Carl Ferdinand von Schubert of Weingut Maximin Grünhaus in Mertesdorf in the Ruwer Valley
Stuart Pigott: Dr. Carl Ferdinand von Schubert has directed Weingut Maximin Grünhaus in Mertesdorf in the Ruwer since the early 1980s and today this famous estate is once again right at the top of its game, making uniquely aromatic and strikingly racy wines.
See:
Carl von Schubert from the Maximin Gruenhaus Estate Returned a Favor: With his Wines in Washington DC (and in Seattle), USA
Dominik Sona of Weingut Koehler-Ruprecht in Kallstadt in the Pfalz
Stuart Pigott: Dominik Sona does things the traditional way at Weingut Koehler-Ruprecht in Kallstadt in the Pfalz, just as his predecessor Bernd Phillipi did, and that makes for deep and complex dry Rieslings.
Dominik Sona was accompagnied by Franziska Schmitt. We had an impressive wine tasting with her at Weingut Koehler-Ruprecht during the Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015).
Christian Witte of Schloss Johannisberg in the Rheingau
Stuart Pigott: Christian Witte has taken world-famous Schloss Johannisberg in the Rheingau out of a period of erratic performance back to the very top since he took over there in 2005; great dry and sweet Rieslings!
The tour and tasting with Christian Witte was the final highlight of the Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)
Stefan Steinmetz of Weingut Günther Steinmetz in Brauneberg on the Mosel
Stuart Pigott: Stefan Steinmetz of Weingut Günther Steinmetz in Brauneberg on the Mosel is one of the rising stars of this region.
Johannes Weber of Hofgut Falkenstein on the Saar
Stuart Pigott: Johannes Weber of Hofgut Falkenstein on the Saar, has made a major commitment to traditional winemaking techniques is also one of the stars of his region.
Weingut Robert Weil of Kiedrich in the Rheingau
Weingut Robert Weil was represented by Nicolas Pfaff, Export Manager.
Stuart Pigott: Wilhelm Weil of Weingut Robert Weil of Kiedrich in the Rheingau has taken that estate from the mid-field of that famous region to the top since he took control of it in 1987; world-famous desert wines!
See:
Christian G.E. Schiller's Review of the Book: Ralf Frenzel (ed.) - Riesling, Robert Weil. Tre Torri, Wiesbaden, Germany, 2013, in: Journal of Wine Economics, Volume 9, 2014, No. 1, Cambridge University Press
Kiedrich: Visit of the Basilica of Saint Valentine and of Weingut Robert Weil - Germany-North Wine Tour by ombiasy (2014)
Konstantin Weiser and Alexandra Künstler of Weingut Weiser-Künstler in Traben-Trarbach on the Mosel
Stuart Pigott: Konstantin Weiser and Alexandra Künstler jumped into deep water in 2005 when they purchased their first steep vineyards with slate soils and launched Weiser-Künstler in Traben-Trarbach on the Mosel.
Stephen Bitterolf
Rieslingfeier was founded in 2012 by Stephen Bitterolf, a passionate advocate for Germany's culture of winemaking. He was the Wine Director at Crush Wine & Spirits in New York where he helped develop one of the largest German wine programs in the country before founding his own import company, vom Boden.
schiller-wine: Related Postings
Coming-up: 2016 Spring Tours by ombiasy WineTours to Germany and the Bourgogne, Germany/ France
Announcement: 5 Exciting ombiasy WineTours in 2016 - BURGUNDY BORDEAUX GERMANY
Germany-East Wine and Art Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)
Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)
Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)
Bourgogne Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), France
Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), France
Coming-up: Rieslingfeier 2015 in New York City, USA
A German Riesling Feast in New York City: Rieslingfeier 2015, USA
The 11 Winemakers: Rieslingfeier 2015 in New York City, USA
Riesling Crawl in New York City – Or, Where to Buy German Wine in Manhattan: Schiller's Favorite Wine Stores, USA
The Gala Dinner of the Rieslingfeier 2015 in New York City, USA
Lunch at Momofuku Ssäm Bar in New York City, USA
Tasting with Sylvain Taurisson Diel at Schlossgut Diel, Nahe – Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2014)
New Vintage Tasting at Schlossgut Diel, with Armin and Caroline Diel, Germany, 2014
Post-Rieslingfeier and Pre-Big Glou Dinner with 3 Top Winemakers from Germany at BToo in Washington DC: Clemens Busch, Immich-Batterieberg and Koehler-Ruprecht, USA
Germany’s Best Winemakers and Wines – Gault Millau WeinGuide Deutschland 2016 Awards: The Awards Ceremony in Mainz, Germany
Wine Tasting at Weingut Dr. Loosen in Bernkastel-Kues, Mosel – Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)
JJ Pruem Goes Supermarket: Meeting Katharina Pruem and Tasting the Incredible JJ Pruem Wines at Wegmans
Prowein 2015 in Düsseldorf, Germany – Schiller’s Impressions
Carl von Schubert from the Maximin Gruenhaus Estate Returned a Favor: With his Wines in Washington DC (and in Seattle), USA
Christian G.E. Schiller's Review of the Book: Ralf Frenzel (ed.) - Riesling, Robert Weil. Tre Torri, Wiesbaden, Germany, 2013, in: Journal of Wine Economics, Volume 9, 2014, No. 1, Cambridge University Press
Kiedrich: Visit of the Basilica of Saint Valentine and of Weingut Robert Weil - Germany-North Wine Tour by ombiasy (2014)
Thank you very much for all the great photos!
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