The Weinbörse, the annual spring trade fair of the VDP, the association of about 200 elite wine producers in Germany, took place on Sunday and Monday, 24 and 25 April 2016, in the Rheingoldhalle of Mainz. Worldwide, the Weinbörse is the only trade fair that focuses exclusively on fine German wines.
At this year’s fair, the first comprehensive debut of the 2015 vintage, some 180 VDP producers presented more than 1,000 wines from all German wine-growing regions. Compared with large, international trade fairs the Weinbörse is “klein aber fein,” i.e. “good things come in small packages.” It is relatively easy for visitors to quickly locate the estate and/or region of interest, without a long trek from hall to hall.
The 2,000-square-meter exhibition area in the Rheingoldhalle is all on one floor and provides ample space for the tasting stands as well as the areas reserved for individual discussions. Exhibiting estates are organized according to region and alphabetically within their respective region, as is the catalogue listing the wines available.
The VDP
The VDP is the world’s oldest and only national association of top-quality wine estates. From the vineyard to the cellar, VDP members voluntarily adhere to stringent, in-house quality standards. The four-tier VDP classification pyramid adopted in 2012 – VDP.GUTSWEIN, VDP.ORTSWEIN, VDP.ERSTE LAGE, and VDP.GROSSE LAGE – underscores the significance of origin as the basis of wine quality. The “VDP eagle,” a stylized eagle bearing a cluster of grapes, is mandatory on capsules and stands for terroir-driven viticulture and handcrafted winemaking.
See also: The new (VDP) Wine Classification in Germany: Tasting Weingut Robert Weil Wines from Gutswein to Grosse Lage Wine
Vintage 2015
The wines of the 2015 vintage were at the center of the 2016 Weinbörse. Here is a collection of assessments:
Jean Fish and David Rayer (Mosel Fine Wines): Vintage 2015 | Great? Yes ... But
Rarely have we seen so much anticipative raving from winemakers, grower associations and merchants alike. Comparisons were made with some of the greatest vintages ever, including with the magical 1971. The ludicrous rule “If Bordeaux has a good vintage, Europe has a good vintage” fuelled the heat. The result: Some readers were asking us about the new vintage already by February!
So is there some truth to all the hype around 2015? Is it justified? The answer so far is “Yes ... but”. Here the key facts in a nutshell:
The vintage is quite homogeneous. "Smaller" wines prove very good and "lesser" Estates made very enjoyable wines.
There are plenty of cracking successes in the making, and this in all stylistic directions.
The wines have immediate appeal with good presence and plenty of fruity flavors.
The acidity is far from shy and requires to be mastered.
The high sugar ripeness combined with high level dry extracts seems to make some wines come out on the powerful side.
Stuart Pigott on his blog: I’m sure that this is going to disappoint many of you, but what I’m not going to do is write a shopping list of the wines that you have to buy. First of all, each of you has a different taste and such a list would only work with extensive notes, secondly any list that accurately reflects the nature of 2015 in Germany would have to be very long. This is because almost everywhere the fall was nearly perfect for an extended harvest, there being little or no rot problems (which were major in 2013 and 2014) and the acidity being very healthy (more than 2014 or 2012!) That meant even less talented winemakers made some good wines, and the high flyers could get close to the optimum possible. I am now going to disappoint the group of you looking for power wines by saying that the great majority of 2015s from the leading producers are remarkable because of their subtlety of aroma and flavor, their brightness and delicacy. There are far fewer imposing wines or showy wines than in some recent vintages. And 2015 is not only great for Riesling there are many excellent Weissburgunder (Pinot Blanc), Grauburgunder (Pinot Gris) and Silvaner (Sylvaner), just to name the most obvious success stories.
The biggest problem for the vintage is probably going to be that the euphoria about it (not entirely justified, because nearly all the producers who made exciting 2015s also made the best wines in 2013 and 2014 too) will probably result in most of the wines being drunk before they’ve had even a few months in the bottle to open up. Then, a couple of years down the line there will be widespread moaning about how the producers should have held back some 2015s, and how terrible it is that they don’t have many bottles even for themselves. If you want to drink 2015s in the future PUT THEM IN YOUR CELLAR!
Jancis Robinson on twitter: Really enjoyed German 2015s today. Probably a better vintage for Germany than for Bordeaux - tho have tasted only Mosel & Nahe so far.
Producers and Ombiasy WineTours
90% of the VDP members were present in Mainz. Prominent producers not present included Weingut Egon Müller and Weingut JJ Prüm from the Mosel, but also Weingut Pawis and Weingut Lützkendorf from the Saale Unstrut region and Weingut Zimmerling from Saxony. Below you find a list of all the winemakers present in Mainz. Annette and I talked to and tasted the wines of about 1/3 of them during the 2 days. Our selection was very much driven the 3 forthcoming Germany tours by ombiasy WineTours, Germany-North, Germany-South and Germany-East.
Ahr
Deutzerhof - Cossmann-Hehle, J. J. Adeneuer, Jean Stodden, Meyer-Näkel, Nelles
Baden
Andreas Laible, Bercher, Bernhard Huber, Blankenhorn, Burg Ravensburg, Dr. Heger, Franz Keller, Freiherr von und zu Franckenstein, H. Schlumberger, Heitlinger, Konrad Schlör, Lämmlin-Schindler, Markgraf von Baden, Reichsgraf und Marquis zu Hoensbroech, Salwey, Schloss Neuweier, Seeger, Staatsweingut Freiburg, Stigler, Wöhrle
Announcement: 5 Exciting ombiasy WineTours in 2016 - BURGUNDY BORDEAUX GERMANY
Franken
Am Stein, Ludwig Knoll, Bernhard Höfler, Bickel-Stumpf, Bürgerspital zum Hl. Geist, Egon Schäffer, Fürst Löwenstein, Fürstlich Castell'sches Domänenamt, Glaser-Himmelstoss, Gregor Schwab, Hans Wirsching, Horst Sauer, Johann Ruck, Juliusspital Würzburg, Michael Fröhlich, Rainer Sauer, Roth, Rudolf Fürst, Rudolf May, Schmitt's Kinder, Staatlicher Hofkeller Würzburg, Stadt Klingenberg - Benedikt Baltes, Störrlein Krenig, Weltner, Zehnthof Luckert, Zur Schwane
Mittelrhein
Bastian, Lanius-Knab, Matthias Müller, Ratzenberger, Toni Jost - Hahnenhof
Mosel-Saar-Ruwer
Clemens Busch, Dr. Fischer, Dr. Heinz Wagner, Dr. Loosen, Forstmeister Geltz-Zilliken, Fritz Haag, Grans-Fassian, Heymann-Löwenstein, Karthäuserhof, Maximin Grünhaus, NIK WEIS St. Urbans-Hof, Peter Lauer, Piedmont, Reichsgraf von Kesselstatt, Reinhold Haart, S. A. Prüm, Schloss Lieser, Schloss Saarstein, Stiftungsweingut Vereinigte Hospitien, Van Volxem, Von Hövel, Von Othegraven, Willi Haag, Wwe. Dr. H. Thanisch, Erben Thanisch
Nahe
Dr. Crusius, Emrich-Schönleber, Gut Hermannsberg, H. Dönnhoff, Joh. Bapt. Schäfer, Kruger-Rumpf, Prinz Salm, Schlossgut Diel, Schäfer-Fröhlich
Pfalz
A. Christmann, Acham-Magin, Bergdolt - Klostergut St. Lamprecht, Bernhart, Dr. Bürklin-Wolf, Dr. Wehrheim, Fitz-Ritter, Friedrich Becker, Geheimer Rat Dr. von Bassermann-Jordan, Georg Mosbacher, Georg Siben Erben, Herbert Meßmer, Karl Schaefer, Knipser, Kranz, Müller-Catoir, Münzberg - Lothar Kessler & Söhne, Pfeffingen - Fuhrmann-Eymael, Philipp Kuhn, Reichsrat von Buhl, Rings, Siegrist, Theo Minges, Von Winning - Dr. Deinhard, Ökonomierat Rebholz
Rheingau
August Eser, August Kesseler, Balthasar Ress, Baron Knyphausen, Diefenhardt, Domdechant Werner'sches Weingut, Domäne Schloss Johannisberg, Dr. Nägler, F. B. Schönleber Wein- und Sektgut, Freiherr Langwerth von Simmern, Freimuth, Fritz Allendorf, G.H. von Mumm, Geheimrat J. Wegeler - Gutshaus Rheingau, Georg Müller Stiftung, Graf von Kanitz, Hamm, Hans Lang – Inh. Urban Kaufmann, Hessische Staatsweingüter Kloster Eberbach, Jakob Jung, Joachim Flick, Johannishof, Josef Spreitzer, Künstler, Peter Jakob Kühn, Prinz, Prinz von Hessen, Robert König, Robert Weil, Schloss Vollrads, Wein- und Sektgut Barth, Weingut Leitz, Weingut der Hochschule Geisenheim, von Oetinger
Rheinhessen
Battenfeld Spanier, Brüder Dr. Becker, Gunderloch, Gutzler, J. Neus, K. F. Groebe, Kühling-Gillot, Rappenhof, Schloss Westerhaus, Schätzel, St. Antony, Staatliche Weinbaudomäne Oppenheim, Wagner-Stempel, Winter, Wittmann
Sachsen
Schloss Proschwitz - Prinz zur Lippe
Württemberg
Aldinger, Beurer, Dautel, Drautz-Able, Fürst Hohenlohe Oehringen, Graf Adelmann, Graf von Bentzel Sturmfeder, Hans-Peter Wöhrwag, Heid, Herzog von Württemberg, Jürgen Ellwanger, Karl Haidle, Kistenmacher-Hengerer, Rainer Schnaitmann, Schlossgut Hohenbeilstein, Staatsweingut Weinsberg, Wachtstetter, Weingut des Grafen Neipperg
Side Events
There were a number of side events during the days of the 2016 Weinbörse. For instance, at the invitation of Wilhelm Weil, we spent Sunday evening at Weingut Robert Weil.
schiller-wine: Related Postings
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
The new (VDP) Wine Classification in Germany: Tasting Weingut Robert Weil Wines from Gutswein to Grosse Lage Wine
Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut Salwey in Oberrotweil, Kaiserstuhl, Baden, with Benno Salwey – Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)
Martin Zwick's BerlinKabinettCup 2015: Germany's Best 2014 Riesling Kabinett Wines
Vineyard Walk and Tasting at Weingut Meyer-Näkel in Dernau, Ahr, with Dörte Näkel – Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)
Wine Tasting at Weingut J.J. Adeneuer in Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler, Ahr, with Marc Adeneuer - Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)
Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut Dr. Heger in Ihringen, Kaiserstuhl, Baden – Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)
Tasting and Tour with the Pinot Noir Legend Paul Fürst, Weingut Rudolf Fürst in Bürgstadt, Franken – Germany-East Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)
Tour and Tasting at Weingut Wirsching in Iphofen in Franken with General Manager Uwe Matheus – Germany-East Wine and Art Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)
At Weingut Matthias Müller, Mittelrhein, with Traubenhaus, their US-Importer, Germany
German Wine Dinner with Hanno Zilliken, Weingut Forstmeister Geltz-Zilliken, at Rasika in Washington DC, USA
Lunch, Tasting and Vineyard Walk at Weingut Van Volxem with Owner Roman Niewodniczanski – Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)
Tasting at Weingut St. Urbans-Hof in Leiwen, Mosel, with Nik Weis – Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)
Wine Tasting and Cellar Tour at Weingut Dönnhoff with Christina Dönnhoff – Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2014)
Tasting with Sylvain Taurisson Diel at Schlossgut Diel, Nahe – Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2014)
Wine Dinner with Tour at Weingut Kruger-Rumpf in Münster-Sarmsheim, Nahe, with Georg Rumpf – Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), Germany
Tour and Tasting at Weingut A. Christmann in Gimmeldingen, Pfalz, with Steffen Christmann – Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), Germany
Tour and Tasting at Weingut von Winning in Deidesheim, Pfalz – Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), Germany
Tasting at Weingut Ökonomierat Rebholz in Siebeldingen, Pfalz – Germany-South by ombiasy WineTours (2015)
Visiting Weingut Josef Leitz in Ruedesheim – Johannes Leitz is Germany’s Winemaker of the Year, Gault Millau WeinGuide 2011
Lighting and the Flavor of Wine - With Winemaker Ulrich Allendorf in his Aroma Vineyard and Color Room at Weingut Allendorf in Oestrich Winkel, Rheingau, Germany
At Weingut Jakob Jung in Erbach, Rheingau, with Winemaker Alexander Johannes Jung, Germany
Achim von Oetinger, Weingut von Oetinger, Rheingau, Germany: Welcome to the USA and See You Soon in Germany
Tour and Wine Tasting with Lunch, with Mark Barth at Wein- und Sektgut Barth in Hattenheim, Rheingau – Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)
Weingut Hans Lang, Hattenheim in the Rheingau: Eva Raps, Managing Director of VDP, and Urban Kaufmann, Swiss Cheese Producer, Take Over, Germany
Meeting Winemaker/Owner Desiree Eser, Weingut August Eser, on the Banks of the Rhein River in the Rheingau in Germany
Tour and Tasting at Schloss Johannisberg, Rheingau, with Christian Witte, Domaine Director – Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)
At Weingut Balthasar Ress in Hattenheim, Rheingau, during the 2015 Harvest with Winemaker Dirk Würtz, Germany
Tour and Tasting at Weingut Spreitzer in Oestrich, Rheingau, with Bernd Spreitzer – Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)
Wine Tasting at Weingut Kühling-Gillot in Bodenheim: Kühling-Gillot and Battenfeld-Spanier Wines – Germany-North Wine Tour by ombiasy (2014)
Wine Tasting at Weingut Gunderloch in Nackenheim, with Owners and Winemaker Fritz Hasselbach and Agnes Hasselbach-Usinger – Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2014)
Weingut Schätzel in Nierstein, Rheinhessen, Joins the VDP, Germany’s Association of Elite Winemakers, Germany
Dining with Prinz zur Lippe, Owner of Weingut Schloss Proschwitz, at the Lippe’sches Gutshaus - Germany-East Wine and Art Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)
Vineyard Tour, Cellar Tour and Tasting with Rainer Schnaitmann at Weingut Rainer Schnaitmann in Fellbach, Württemberg – Germany-East Wine and Art Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), Germany
Wine Maker Count of Bentzel-Sturmfeder in Frankfurt am Main Presenting his Wines from Wuerttemberg, Germany
Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut Herzog von Württemberg at Schloss Monrepos with Owner Duke Michael of Württemberg and Winemaker Moriz Just – Germany-East Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)
Wine Pairing Dinner at Restaurant Friedrich von Schiller in Bietigheim-Bissingen in Württemberg – Germany-East Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)
Tasting at Weingut Dautel in Württemberg with Christian Dautel - Germany-East Wine and Art Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)
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