Unter the heading “Summer of Riesling. All Summer. All German.” a number of restaurants and wine bars across the USA are offering German Riesling, from June 20 to the end of August, 2016. The 2016 campaign is organized by Wines of Germany in the USA (German Wine Institut).
One of the wine bars that is participating is Aldo Sohm Wine Bar in New York City, the hipp wine bar of Aldo Sohm, just around Le Bernadin, where Aldo Sohm is the Head Sommelier. He offers 3 Rieslings from 3 German world class producers, Weingut Tesch, Weingut JJ Prüm and Weingut Leitz. Interestingly, we visited all three of them on the Germany-North 2016 Tour by ombiasy WineTours earlier this year. Annette was so thrilled to see these three producers who she had selected for this year’s Germany-North tour featuring so prominently on one of the best wine lists in the USA!
Aldo Sohm Wine Bar in New York City
Aldo Sohm Wine Bar: Located in midtown and inspired by each city block, Aldo Sohm Wine Bar embodies the energy of New York with the laid back atmosphere of Aldo’s own living room. Designed with wine director Aldo’s relaxed approach to good food and wine in mind, we invite you to drink, eat, share, relax and enjoy.
Germany-North 2016 Tour by ombiasy WineTours
We spent 7 days (Thursday, May 05, 2016 – Wednesday, May 11, 2016) touring 5 wine German regions (Rheingau, Mittelrhein, Ahr, Mosel and Nahe), tasting fabulous wines, meeting world-renowned wine makers, visiting a top notch Sekt house, and delving deep into German history and culture.
On the Germany-North Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours, we visited a total of 17 wineries in 5 different wine regions: Rheingau, the jewel in the crown, with its perfect, fuller bodied, racy Rieslings; Mittelrhein where the Rieslings grow on the steep slopes of the fortress- and castle-ribboned banks of the Rhine river; Ahr with its sun collecting canyons perfect for the finicky Pinot Noir grape; Mosel with its dizzying steep vineyards and famous elegant Rieslings; Nahe and its serene, peaceful valley where perfect harmonious wines reflect their roots.
Annette Schiller: Our way of traveling allows wine lovers to fully experience authentic Germany. Drawing on our love and deep knowledge of Germany and close personal ties to many personalities in the wine scene, our small group visits many of the hidden gems that other tours pass by, but which are essential to comprehend what German wine is all about.
Vineyard Tour, Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut Leitz in Rüdesheim
Johannes Leitz was our host. He gave us a spectacular vineyard tour and showed us his new production facility. New Managing Director Markus Röll led the tasting.
See also: Germany-North Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours: Quintessential German Riesling and the Northernmost Pinot Noir
The Leitz Family’s viticulture history goes back to 1744 and has been passed on from one generation to the next for almost four centuries. Johannes Leitz, the current owner and winemaker, took charge of the estate in 1985, when he was in his early 20s. At that time, the winery had 7.5 acres of vineyards and was unknown among German wine connoisseurs. Under the leadership of Johannes “Josi” Leitz, the winery grew in size to 100 acres, and he pursued quality in an uncompromising manner. 99% of his vineyards are planted with Riesling. He was able to acquire top Riesling sites in the famous Rüdesheimer Berg (= mountain) vineyards - Berg Schloßberg, Berg Roseneck and Berg Rotland, on the mountain above Rüdesheim facing the south. Unusual for a German winery, Josi exports 90% of his wines, with the US being the most important market.
Tasting at Weingut Jos. Jos. Prüm in Bernkastel-Wehlen, Mosel
Amrei Prüm was our host.
See also: Germany-North Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours: Quintessential German Riesling and the Northernmost Pinot Noir
The contrast cannot be bigger between our previous winery visits and a visit to this world-famous estate on the banks of the Mosel River. At the J.J. Prüm winery all wines are Rieslings and all are sweet. The wines are of great aristocracy, and are renowned for their precision, focus, finesse, and legendary ageing potential, regardless of the way how they achieved their level of sweetness (by chaptalizing or adding sweet reserve or through noble rot). Viticulture traditions in the Prüm family go back to the 17th century, although the J. J. Prüm estate as we know it today, only came into being in 1911 when the property was divided up between seven heirs. Third generation Dr. Manfred Prüm, is the winemaker and owns the estate together with his brother Wolfgang Prüm and his daughter, fourth generation Dr. Katharina Prüm. To describe what winemaking in the Mosel region means, I like to second what Katharina once said: “The Mosel region boasts the coolest climate for wines in the entire Europe, which has both its advantages and disadvantages. Riesling grapes have a longer maturation time on the vines, resulting in more natural acidity and freshness but it’s also harder to achieve ripeness”.
Tasting at Weingut Tesch in Langenlonsheim, Nahe: Riesling and Rock 'N' Roll.
Martin Tesch was our host.
See also: Germany-North Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours: Quintessential German Riesling and the Northernmost Pinot Noir
The Tesch winery exists since 1723 and is founding member of the VDP Nahe. Dr. Martin Tesch, a PhD microbiologist, took over the winery in 1996 and has presided over fundamental changes both in the vineyard and the wine cellar as well as in the marketing of the Tesch wines. He streamlined the portfolio and only three varietals were left for cultivation, Riesling, Pinot-Blanc, and Pinot-Noir, with Riesling accounting for 85% of the vines. He only produces bone-dry wines and has moved to natural and non-interventionist winemaking and strict yield control of between 20-30 hl/ha. The harvest is manual and he picks the grapes at full ripeness, but avoids botrytis. Martin’s signature wine is “Riesling Unplugged”, reflecting the recorded “unplugged” albums for the MTV unplugged CD series: creating wine or music with as much authenticity as possible. Last year Martin left the VDP because of a dispute over the new VDP classification.
Summer of Riesling
The Summer of Riesling Campaign is the brainchild of New York Riesling Guru Paul Grieco. The first Summer of Riesling took place in 2008. The Summer of Riesling Campaign in 2014 was the final chapter, according to the Summer of Riesling website.
See also: Summer of Riesling with Annette and Christian Schiller in Washington DC, USA
This year, the Summer of Riesling is back: “Summer of Riesling Returns! It’s All German, All Summer. Wines of Germany is giving wine lovers nationwide the opportunity to celebrate their love of Riesling. Restaurants and wine shops across the country will be offering by-the-glass specials and tastings beginning the first day of summer (June 20) through the end of August.
Summer of Riesling with Annette and Christian Schiller
Annette and I will have our traditional Riesling BYOB Party on August 14th at the Schiller Residence in the Washington DC/ Northern Virginia area. You are invited!
Postings: Germany-North Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours: Quintessential German Riesling and the Northernmost Pinot Noir (Posted and Forthcoming)
Germany-North Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours: Quintessential German Riesling and the Northernmost Pinot Noir
Tour and Tasting at Weingut von Oetinger, Rheingau, with Achim von Oetinger – Germany-North 2016 by ombiasy WineTours
Lunch and Tour: Kloster Eberbach in the Rheingau – Germany-North 2016 by ombiasy WineTours
Tasting at Weingut Chat Sauvage in Johannisberg, Rheingau, with Winemaker Michael Städter
Cellar Tour and Tasting at Wein- und Sektgut F.B. Schönleber in Östrich-Winkel, Rheingau, with Bernd and Ralph Schönleber
Vineyard tour, Cellar tour and Tasting at Weingut Leitz in Rüdesheim, with Johannes Leitz
Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut August Kesseler in Assmanshausen, with Winemaker Simon Batarseh
Cruise on the Rhine River from Lorch to Boppard
Tasting at Weingut Matthias Müller in Spay, Mittelrhein, with Matthias Müller and son Johannes Müller
Visit and Tasting at Winzergenossenschaft Mayschoss in Mayschoss, Ahr
Tasting Pinot Noir at Weingut Kreuzberg in Dernau, Ahr with Owners/ Winemakers Ludwig Kreuzberg and Frank Josten
Tasting at Weingut Markus Molitor in Haus Klosterberg, Mosel
Tasting at Weingut Jos. Jos. Prüm in Bernkastel-Wehlen, Mosel, with Frau Prüm
The Wines of the Berncasteler Doctor, Bernkastel-Kues in the Mosel Valley, Germany
Wining in Bernkastel-Kues in the Mosel Valley: Wine Tavern “Spitzhaeuschen”, Germany
Tasting at Weingut Schloss Lieser in Lieser, Mosel, with Thomas Haag
Schiller’s Favorite Wine Taverns in Trier, Germany
Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut Forstmeister Geltz-Zilliken in Saarburg, Saar with Hanno Zilliken
Lunch at Landgasthof Zur Traube in Meddersheim, Nahe: Remembering Klaus Peter Wodartz' Ente in Wiesbaden
Tasting at Weingut Schäfer-Fröhlich in Bockenau, Nahe
Dinner with Wine Pairing at the new Wine Tavern of Weingut Kruger-Rumpf in Bingen, Rheinhessen, with Stefan Rumpf
Tasting at Weingut Tesch in Langenlonsheim, Nahe, with Martin Tesch
Cellar Tour and Wine Pairing Lunch at Weingut Hans Lang in Hattenheim, Rheingau, with Urban Kaufmann and Eva Raps
schiller-wine: Related Postings
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Germany-North Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours: Quintessential German Riesling and the Northernmost Pinot Noir
Schiller’s Favorite Wine Bars in New York City, USA
A German Riesling Feast in New York City: Rieslingfeier 2015, USA
Summer of Riesling with Annette and Christian Schiller in Washington DC, USA
Annual Riesling Party at the Schiller Residence in Washington DC, USA (2015)
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