Riesling from Danube, Rhine, Nahe, and Moselle: the European Riesling Route - A Tasting at the 2014 International Riesling Symposium, Germany, Moderated by Cornelius and Fabian Lange

Picture: Riesling from Danube, Rhine, Nahe, and Moselle: the European Riesling Route - A Tasting at the 2014 International Riesling Symposium, Germany, Moderated by Cornelius and Fabian Lange

The 2nd International Riesling Symposium took place on May 26 and 27, 2014, at Schloss Rheinhartshausen in the Rheingau. Riesling experts from around the world - top winemakers, representatives from the trade and restaurant sector, and journalists – gathered to celebrate, discuss and taste the arguably most noble white grape in the world - Riesling.

I have already provided an overview about the 2nd International Riesling Symposium event: The 2nd International Riesling Symposium in the Rheingau, Germany and reported about particular events (see below)

This posting focuses on one particular event, a spectacular tasting, led by Cornelius and Fabian Lange: Riesling from Danube, Rhine, Nahe, and Moselle: the European Riesling Route.

Picture: Riesling from Danube, Rhine, Nahe, and Moselle: the European Riesling Route - A Tasting at the 2014 International Riesling Symposium, Germany, Moderated by Cornelius and Fabian Lange

For last year's Riesling Rendezvous in Seattle, see:
The 4th Riesling Rendezvous in Seattle: Impressions from the Grand Tasting at Chateau Ste. Michelle in Woodinville, Washington State, USA
The World of Riesling in Seattle - Fourth Riesling Rendezvous in Washington State, USA

For the 1st International Riesling Symposium in the Rheingau, see:
1.International Riesling Symposium
Aging Potential of Riesling – A Wine Tasting at the 1st International Riesling Symposium in Germany Led by Jancis Robinson

Riesling in the World

There are about 47000 hectares planted with Riesling worldwide. Germany – with 22500 hectares – accounts for about half of the total. The second and third largest Riesling producer are the US (mainly Washington State and Finger Lakes Region) with 4800 hectares and Australia with 4100 hectares. But this is only about 1/10 of the total. Alsace follows with 3500 hectares. Alsace, Ukraine and Austria follow with 3500 hectares, 2700 hectares and 1900 hectares.

Overall, Riesling is really a niche wine, accounting for less than 1 percent of total wine production in the world - but a very special niche wine. In terms of quality wines, Riesling is usually included in the top three white wine varieties, with Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. Riesling is highly terroir-expressive, meaning that the character of Riesling wines is clearly influenced by the wine’s place of origin.

The Tasting

1. Flight

Wein- und Sektgut Barth Rheingau
Barth Sekt Primus Brut, made from 2009 Hattenheim Hassel Erstes Gewaechs
2009 Hattenheim Hassel Erstes Gewächs

Cornelius and Fabian Lange: The same grape material in 2 different interpretations – as a sparkling wine and as a still wine. It is hard to believe that the 2 wines were made with the same grape material.

2. Flight

Weingut Rudolf Fürst Franken
2009 Bürgstadt Centgrafenberg VDP.Grosses Gewaechs

Picture: Sebastian Fürst, Weingut Rudolf Fürst

Wein- und Sektgut F.B. Schönleber Rheingau
2009 Mittelheim St. Nikolaus Erstes Gewaechs

Weingut F.X. Pichler Wachau
2009 Duernstein Kellerberg Smaragd

Picture: Lucas Pichler, Weingut F.X. Pichler and Annette Schiller, Ombiasy PR and WineTours

Weingut Hirtzberger Wachau
2009 Spitz Singerriedel Smaragd

Weingut Knoll
2009 Duernstein Schuett Smaragd

Pictures: Emmerich Knoll, Weingut Knoll, and Christian G.E. Schiller

Domaine Trimbach Alsace
2009 Riesling Cuvee Frederic Emile

Domaine Weinbach Alsace
2009 Riesling Grand Cru Schlossberg Cuvee Saint Catharine

Cornelius and Fabian Lange: A baroque, opulent style, with botrytis influence, is a common feature of these 7 wines. The Hirtzberger wine is a super-sized Riesling, the Knoll is peppery, the Weinbach is punchy and a bit bitter, which we like.

Cornelius and Fabian Lange: Thesis # 1 – the message of Riesling is a mantra of diversity.

3. Flight

Weingut van Volxem Mosel
2010 Kanzem Altenberg Alte Reben VDP.Grosse Lage

Roman Niewodniczanski: We try to make our wines in a traditional style, low yields, old vines, a wine that is low in alcohol.

Picture: Roman Niewodniczanski, Weingut van Volxem

Weingut von Winning Pfalz
2010 Deidesheim Kieselberg VDP.Grosses Gewaechs

Weingut Bründelmayer Kamptal
2010 Zoebinger Heiligenstein Alte Reben Erste Lage

Picture: Willi Bründelmayer, Weingut Bründelmayer

Weingut Loimer Kamptal
2010 Langenlois Seeberg Erste Lage Kamptal DAC Reserve

Picture: Fred Loimer, Weingut Loimer

Cornelius and Fabian Lange: We find a lot of modern ideas in the Bründelmayer Riesling and more traditional ideas in the van Volxem Riesling, both wines are brilliant, the Bründelmayer Riesling is like a new-borne baby fresh in your hand, with the van Volxem, we have super slate sensations, a soft appearance, notes of litchis, roses, an amazing wine, the most interesting wine is the von Winning Riesling, we find a lot of acidity, but we also find oak, which is well integrated, a most-interesting interpretation of Riesling, the Loimer Riesling is pure freshness, pure acidity, a razor sharp interpretation.

Cornelius and Fabian Lange: Thesis # 2 – Riesling is the Conchita Wurst of grape varieties – it is something in-between.

4. Flight

Gut Hermannsberg Nahe
2011 Schlossböckelheimer Kupfergrube VDP. Grosses Gewaechs

Weingut Tesch Nahe
2011 Laubenheimer Kartaeuserhof Riesling trocken

Martin Tesch: We have lots of different soils. We like to keep things simple and short: one grape variety, no oak, screw caps.

Picture: Martin Tesch, Weingut Tesch

Weingut Kühling-Gillot Rheinhessen
2011 Nierstein Pettenthal VDP.Grosses Gewaechs

H.O. Spanier: We produce bio-dynamic. We do not do anything. The wine ferments and we leave the wine alone to develop.

Picture: H.O. Spanier, Weingut Kühling-Gillot

Cornelius and Fabian Lange: The last 3 wines are very close together, very similar interpretations, a good trio from the southern, middle and northern parts of Germany

Cornelius and Fabian Lange: Thesis # 3 – There is no reference wine in the world of dry Rieslings. This is not the case for noble-sweet wines (JJ Prüm, Egon Mueller, Weil, Dönnhoff).

5. Flight

Weingut A. Christmann Pfalz
2011 Gimmeldinger Mandelgarten VDP.Grosses Gewaechs

Stefan Christmann: This wine shows very well what the Pfalz can do, spontaneously fermented, let the wine develop.

Picture: Stefan Christmann, Weingut A. Christmann

Weingut Dr. Loosen Mosel
2011 Uerzig Wuerzgarten Alte Reben Reserve VDP.Grosses Gewaechs

Cornelius and Fabian Lange: Super soft, a lot of harmony in the wine.

Picture: Ernst Loosen, Weingut Dr. Loosen

Weingut Johannishof Rheingau
2011 Ruedesheim Berg Rottland Erstes Gewaechs

Picture: Johannes Eser, Weingut Johannishof

Cornelius and Fabian Lange: Thesis #4 – on a global scale, Riesling is not very successful, acidity levels are often regarded as excessive, sweet-style Rieslings are completely out of fashion, Riesling is not a good dinner companion.

6. Flight

Weingut Heymann-Löwenstein Mosel
2012 Winningen Uhlen “Blaufuesser Lay” VDP. Grosses Gewaechs

Weingut Hans Wirsching Franken
2012 Iphofen Julius-Echter-Berg VDP.Grosses Gewaechs

Weingut Keller Rheinhessen
2012 Dalsheim Hubacker VDP.Grosses Gewaechs

Cornelius and Fabian Lange: Thesis #5 – If Riesling would become a global player, success would kill it.

7. Flight

Weingut Wittmann Rheinhessen
2012 Westhofen Morstein VDP.Grosses Gewaechs

Picture: Philipp Wittmann, Weingut Wittmann

Weingut August Kesseler Rheingau
2012 Rüdesheim Berg Schlossberg VDP.Grosses Gewaechs

Weingut Prinz
2012 Hallgarten Jungfer VDP.Grosses Gewaechs

Picture: Fred Prinz, Weingut Prinz

Cornelius and Fabian Lange: Thesis #6 – It is best to let Riesling continue its freedom.

Postings about the 2014 International Riesling Symposium on schiller-wine

This posting is part of a series about the 2nd International Riesling Symposium in the Rheingau, Germany. Here is a list of the Postings already published and those still coming.

The 2nd International Riesling Symposium in the Rheingau, Germany
A Tour through the Rheingau - Visits of 3 Prestigious, Historic Rheingau Wineries: Weingut Wilhelm Weil, Kloster Eberbach and Schloss Johannisberg
Rieslings from the New World – More Traditional than Rieslings from the Old World? A Tasting at the 2nd International Riesling Symposium, led by Stuart Pigott, Germany
The Grand Cru Couple from VDP.Grosse Lage – Riesling Grosses Gewächs and Riesling Spätlese. A Tasting at the 2nd International Riesling Symposium, led by Giuseppe Lauria, Germany
Riesling from Danube, Rhine, Nahe, and Moselle: the European Riesling Route - A Tasting at the 2014 International Riesling Symposium, Germany, Moderated by Cornelius and Fabian Lange
2. International Riesling Symposium: Tasting with Caro Maurer Aged Rieslings from around the World: Riesling and its Aging Potential
German Riesling Producers at the 2. International Riesling Symposium in the Rheingau, Germany
American Riesling Producers at the 2. International Riesling Symposium in the Rheingau, Germany
Austrian Riesling Producers at the 2. International Riesling Symposium in the Rheingau, Germany
New Zealandian Riesling Producers at the 2. International Riesling Symposium in the Rheingau, Germany
Australian Riesling Producers at the 2. International Riesling Symposium in the Rheingau, Germany
Canadian Riesling Producers at the 2. International Riesling Symposium in the Rheingau, Germany

schiller-wine: Related Postings

3 Wine Tours by ombiasy Coming up in 2014: Germany-North, Germany-South and Bordeaux

New Developments in German Wine - Annette Schiller at the German Wine Society in Philadelphia, USA 

The 2nd International Riesling Symposium in the Rheingau, Germany

1st International Riesling Symposium, Rheingau, Germany

Aging Potential of Riesling – A Wine Tasting at the 1st International Riesling Symposium in Germany Led by Jancis Robinson

The World of Riesling in Seattle - Fourth Riesling Rendezvous in Washington State, USA

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

When Americans Drink German Wine - What They Choose

German Wine Basics: Sugar in the Grape - Alcohol and Sweetness in the Wine

Riesling, Pinot Noir and Indian Cuisine: A tête-à-tête Dinner with Winemaker Ernst Loosen, Weingut Dr. Loosen, at Rasika in Washington DC, USA

Top 10 Riesling Producers in the World – Snooth 2012

Steffen Christmann (Weingut A. Christmann) and Wilhelm Weil (Weingut Robert Weil) Presented the New Wine Classification of the VDP, Germany

Riesling Weeks 2014 in China - A Celebration at the German Embassy in Beijing, China

Pictures: Riesling Weeks 2014 Reception at the German Embassy in Beijing with German Wine Princess Sabine Wagner

It all started in the U.S in 2005. The world-wide Riesling Renaissance was gaining momentum and the German Wine Institute organized its first ever "Riesling Week" - a promotion of German Rieslings in restaurants and in the wine trade in New York, San Francisco, Chicago and Las Vegas. What started with a few dozen partners in these cities has since then developed into a campaign with a few hundred partners throughout the whole United States. Encouraged by this success, the German Wine Institute has implemented trade and gastro promotions in many other wine markets as well, including China.

In China, the 2014 Riesling Weeks took place from 1st to 16th June 2014. Targeted cities were Beijing, Qingdao, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Changsha and Guangzhou. As part of the 2014 Riesling Weeks in China, the German Ambassador to China had a reception at his residence on June 6, 2014, with the German Wine Princess Sabine Wagner the Guest of Honor. Other guests included German winemakers that were in Beijing for the TopWine China 2014 trade show as well as journalists, retailers, importers and sommeliers from the local wine scene. Ex-Minister Rudolph Scharping – now consulting for Chinese companies – was in town and also attended the reception.

Riesling Weeks 2014 Reception at the German Embassy in Beijing with German Wine Princess Sabine Wagner

Wine Giant China

In a rather short period of time, China has become the 5th largest wine market in the world (following the US, France, Italy and Germany and ahead of the UK, Argentina, Spain, Australia and Portugal). Annual wine consumption in China has reached 16.8 million hectoliters, compared with 29.2 million hectoliters in the US. China is in the top 10 group of wine consuming countries.

Pictures: Annette and Christian Schiller at the Great Wall and in the Metro in Beijing, China

With less than a liter per year, the Chinese per capita consumption is dismal, but the number of consumers is huge. Thus, overall wine consumption is large. And, per capita consumption is on an upward trend. If the per capita consumption increases just by as much as – for example – the Australian per capita consumption increased between 2007 and 2001, China would become the largest wine market in the world, overtaking the US, France, Italy and Germany. China’s wine boom started less than 20 years ago. It is poised to become the largest wine consumer in the world in the not too distant future.

Around 80 % cent of the wine consumed in China is red. The color red is considered lucky in China and is also affiliated with the Communist government, while white is associated with death and is predominantly seen at funerals. About 70% to 80% of wine consumed in China is produced locally or a blend of Chinese and imported wine.

Pictures: German Wine Princess Sabine Wagner Pouring, Chatting and Posing with the German Ambassador

On the production side, China has emerged as the fifth biggest wine producer in the world, mainly for domestic consumption, although Chinese wine has started to appear on the shelves of other countries. Wine producer China, where traces of wild wine dating from the second and first millennium BC have been found, is clearly on the fast track. Most of the grapes used are indigenous to China but international grapes, notably Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, are more and more planted in Chinese vineyards.

Jancis Robinson: China undoubtedly has a present and burgeoning future as a wine producer and consumer, but all Chinese wine regions assayed so far have one major disadvantage. They are either, like Shandong on the east coast, so wet in summer that it is a struggle to harvest fully ripe, healthy grapes, or they are so cold in winter, like Ningxia, where Moët Hennessy recently established a sparkling-wine operation, that the vines have to be laboriously buried every autumn to protect them from freezing to death. Quite apart from the damage it can do to vines, the continuing urbanisation of China suggests that eventually this may become rather expensive.

Nevertheless, both on the consumption side and the production side, it is only a matter of time, until China becomes the world largest wine country.

Picture: Annette and Christian G.E. Schiller with Ex-Minister Rudolph Scharping.

German Wine in China

China's import wine market is dominated by the French. Over 50 percent of imported wine comes from France. Labels like Chateau Lafite or Mouton have a cult status among the country's nouveau-riche. German wines are much less glamorous. The recent austerity and anti-corruption drive of the Chinese President, Xi Jinping has led to a marked decline in conspicuous consumption and sales of high-end wine.

Picture: German Ambassador Michael Claus and Michaela Liebchen from the German Wine Institute

Concerning German wine, generally, Chinese people do not think of wine when it comes to Germany's finer exports. They think of cars, machines and possibly beer. German winemakers and the German Wine Institute are in the process of changing this. German wine exports to China have increased dramatically in recent years, although from a low base. It is expected that China will soon become the largest wine market in Asia for German wine exports, ahead of Japan.

The Wines

Here are the wines that were poured by Wine Princess Sabine Wagner.

Picture: The Wines that Wine Princess Sabine Wagner Poured

Sparkling Wine

1636 Mosel Riesling Sekt trocken
Producer: Einig-Zenzen, Mosel

Red Wines

Merlot just rose Black Label
Producer: Weingut Albert Glas, Pfalz

Cuvee WS trocken Rotwein
Producer: Weingut Wilhelm Sitzius, Nahe

Cuvee Fuchs Extra Rotwein
Producer: Weingut Fuchs, Rheinhessen

2010 Novis Rotweincuvee
Producer: Weingut Dr. Heger, Baden
Importer: Dalian Yutai Chongxin International Trading

2010 Spätburgunder
Producer: Weingut Knipser
Importer: CCWine

Dry Style White Wines

2011 Blankenhornsberger Muskateller trocken
Producer: Staatsweingut Freiburg, Baden
Importer: Quin International

2012 Sauvignon Blanc
Producer: Weingut Georg Mosbacher, Pfalz
Importer: Connoisseur Club Shanghai

2008 Forster Jesuitengarten Riesling GG
Producer: Weingut Bassermann-Jordan, Pfalz
Importer: German Fine Wine Ltd., Shanghai

2012 Riesling Feinherb
Producer: Weingut Friedrich-Wilhelm-Gymnasium, Mosel
Importer: Euro Starbrands

Fruity-sweet White Wines

Riesling Spaetlese
Producer: Weinallianz
Importer: Shanghai Hengjin Logistics Co. Ltd.

Altum Riesling Spätlese
Producer: Weingut Heinrich Vollmer, Pfalz

2011 Piesporter Goldtröpfchen Riesling Spätlese
Producer: Weingut St. Urbans-Hof, Mosel
Importer: Kerry Wines

Spätburgunder Weissherbst Spätlese
Producer: Weingut Philipp Lang, Baden

Serga König Johann Berg Riesling Auslese
Producer: König Johann Weingut, Mosel
Importer: Run Yang Drinks Co. Ltd

Dienheimer Schloss Riesling Auslese
Producer: Jakob Gerhardt Wein- und Sektkellerei, Rheinhessen
Importer: Jakob Gerhardt Wein- und Sektkellerei

Food: Stir-fries

For dinner (main course), 4 Chefs from the Beijing Kempinski Hotel prepared delicious stir-fries for us.

Pictures: Dinner

schiller-wine: Related Postings

Germany at TopWine China 2014 in Beijing, China

Tasting with the German Wine Princess Sabine Wagner in Beijing, China

China's Wine Boom: Is Jeannie Cho Lee the New Robert Parker?

The Forbes List of Rich People and Wine

The Emerging Wine Giant China - Mouton Cadet Bar Opening

Trends in the global wine market: old world, new world, emerging wine countries

A Global View: Who Makes and who Drinks Wine?

Wine Consumption by Country: Total and Per Capita

Global Wine Consumption and Production

Announcement: A Royal Wine Visit - German Wine Princess Sabine Wagner in Virginia, Philadelphia and Washington DC in June 2014, US/Germany.

Tasting with the German Wine Princess Sabine Wagner in Beijing, China

Tasting the Wines of the Roter Hang (Red Slope), Nierstein, Rheinhessen, in the Roter Hang, Germany – Schiller’s Favorites

Picture: Christian G.E. Schiller and Kai Schäatzel, Weingut Schätzel, at the Roter Hang Festival

Once a year, the winemakers of the Roter Hang (Red Slope) - the famous vineyard south of Mainz in the Rheinhessen area - invite for a wine tasting in the middle of the vineyard. The Roter Hang wine tasting takes place on a small road leading up the Roter Hang. There are booths, were you can buy wine and food, and plenty of chairs and tables, where you can sit down and enjoy the wine, the food and the gorgeous setting – you look over the vineyards down to the Rhine River and you see the skyline of Frankfurt am Main in the far distance.

This year, 29 winemakers participated and presented about 60 wines at 6 booths. Except for the first booth, where you could buy wines at the Gutswein and Ortswein level, at all other booths you could buy wines from 2 to 3 single vineyards of the 12 single vineyards of the Roter Hang. Thus, stopping at a booth allowed you to go through different interpretations of wine from the same vineyard.

Pictures: Roter Hang Festival

Rheinhessen

Rheinhessen is an area that used to be known for winemakers often focusing on quantity and not quality. Rheinhessen is the largest viticultural region in Germany. Every fourth bottle of German wine comes from Rheinhessen. The high-yielder Mueller-Thurgau accounts for about 1/5 of the vineyards. Unlike in other German wine regions, where monoculture of the vine is the norm, here the many rolling hills are host to a wide variety of crops grown alongside the grape. Rheinhessen also has the rather dubious honor of being considered the birthplace of Liebfraumilch. At the same time, Rheinhessen is among Germany’s most interesting wine regions. A lot is happening there. There is an increasing group of mostly young and ambitious winemakers who want to produce and indeed do produce outstanding wine and not wines in large quantities.

Pictures: Roter Hang Festival

Rheinterrasse

One region of Rheinhessen, the Rheinterrasse, had always been in a somewhat different league, the stretch of vineyards which runs from Bodenheim, south of Mainz, in the north to Mettenheim in the south, often referred to as the Rheinterrasse.

The vineyards of the Rheinterrasse have a favoured mesoclimate in comparison with others in the region. The Rheinterrasse accounts for one-third of the region's Riesling wines. The wines from the Rheinterrasse were at some point even more expensive than Bordeaux wines.

Pictures: Roter Hang Festival

Roter Hang

The Roter Hang (Red Slope) is at the center of the Rheinterrasse. This steep slope extends for some five kilometers (three miles) with a total of 180 ha (445 acres) around Nierstein on the left bank of the Rhine.

The Roter Hang has a very special terroir, resulting from the drop of the Rheinhessen plateau before human life started. As a consequence of these movements the Roter Hang has a mineral-rich soil, a mixture of iron and clayish slate, which is at least 250 million years old (Permian Period). Further, the slope faces south to southeast, which helps in terms of the solar radiation. The red slate retains warmth, and additional warmth comes from the sunlight reflected from the surface of the Rhine.

Pictures: Roter Hang Festival

Schiller’s Favorites (in Alphabetic Order)

I spent an afternoon at the Red Slope Festival, with my wife Annette Schiller and my grandchildren Lorelei and Otto Schiller. I met a number of my favorites Roter Hang winemakers and had a chance to chat with them, while tasting their wines. Some of my favorites I did not meet, because of one of 2 reasons: They are not a member of the Roter Hang Association (this is the case for Weingut Klaus Peter Keller for example) or they did not have a shift while I was there (this was the case for Weingut Gunderloch).

Weingut St. Antony

Weingut St. Antony is a winery that has high ambitions, the financial backing of its owner (since 2005) Detlev Meyer, and a gifted winemaker at the helm, Felix Peters, and holdings in the top-rated Nierstein sites Hipping, Ölberg, Orbel and Pettental. Varieties planted here are Riesling (80%), as well as Pinot Noir (8%), Pinot Blanc (8%) and Silvaner (4%). Annual production is around 160.000 bottles of wine. St. Antony is a member of the VDP association. A top producer.

Weingut Jakob Gerhardt

Weingut Jakob Gerhardt is a winery that I did not have on the radar until I visited China a few weeks ago. There, at the TopWine China 2014, I familiarized myself with the portfolio of Weingut Jakob Gerhard, which is expanding into the Chines market.

See:
Germany at TopWine China 2014 in Beijing, China

Weingut Gunderloch

Weingut Gunderloch is a winemaker with an interesting history that has reached fame world wide under the stewartship of Agnes Hasselbach-Usinger, a descendent of Carl Gunderloch, and her winemaker husband Fritz Hasselbach in charge. Gunderloch is very export-oriented and well known in the US, with more than 50%t of the production sold abroad. In 2002, the Winespectator carried an article about Fritz Hasselbach as the only winemaker to have received a perfect 100 points score for not only one, but three of his wines. The 1992, 1996 and 2001 Riesling TBA, Nackenheimer Rothenberg were each awarded 100 points.

My wife and I used to go by bike from Mainz to the Gunderloch Tavern on Sunday afternoon to eat a "Spundekaes" (a regional speciality) with a couple of glasses delicious Gunderloch wines. Unfortunately, they closed the Tavern a few years ago.

A year or so ago, Agnes and Carl’s dynamic son Johannes Hasselbach took over. One of his new projects is the Wurzelwerk project, with his sister and brother-in-law Stefanie and Alwin Jurtschitsch in Austria and Max von Kunow in the Saar Valley.

I was able to taste the excellent Weingut Gunderloch wines, but did not meet any of the Hasselbach family. Johannes, I know, was on a sales trip in Northern Europe.

See:
"Wurzelwerk" Goes America: 3 Vineyards, 3 Winemakers and 9 Wines
Weingut Gunderloch – The New Generation: Owner Johannes Hasselbach in Washington DC, US  
Visiting Agnes and Fritz Hasselbach at their Weingut Gunderloch in Nackenheim, Rheinhessen, German
Riesling Lounge Goes Lomo, Germany

Weingut Fritz Ekkehard Huff

I started to become interested in Weingut Fritz Ekkehard Huff, when Christine Huff began to get involved in winemaking at her father’s winery. With Eva Vollmer and Mirjiam Schneider she has become to be know as the 3 Wine Amazones from Mainz. All three of them make fascinating wines. At the invitation of Stuart Pigott, the 3 Wine Amazones visited New York City last year and I remember vividly, when we met at one of the Terroir Wine Bars shortly after they had landed in New York City and they could not access the ATM machines. I helped them out and they later repaid in kind (with their wine).

When I was at the wine festival, Christine Huff poured at one of the booths.

Picture: Christian G.E. Schiller and Christine Huff, Weingut Fritz Ekkehard Huff

See:
The Mainz Wine Amazones - Christine Huff, Mirjam Schneider and Eva Vollmer - in New York City, USA
International Women's Day 2012: Meeting the Wine Amazones Tina Huff, Mirjam Schneider and Eva Vollmer of Mainz, Germany

Weingut Keller

Klaus Peter Keller is the undisputed star of Rheinhessen and one of the best winemakers in Germany. His GMax ultra-premium dry Riesling sells for several hundred of US dollars. He recently bought land in the Roter Hang, but did not present his wines at the Roter Hang wine tasting.

Weingut Schätzel

Weingut Schätzel is a winery with a long tradition that only entered the limelights when Kai Schätzel took over a few years ago. Under him, the the winery has seen a major upswing. The Schätzel wines are now talked about and Kai Schätzel was there when the VDP Rheinhessen organized a village wine tasting and also invited interesting non-member wineries. The backyard of Weingut Schätzel is georgeous. I celebrated my 60th birthday there.

Kai Schaetzel, his wife and his mother poured at the first booth (Gutsweine and Ortsweine), when I was there.

Picture: Annette Schiller, Ombiasy PR and WineTours, and Kai Schätzel, Weingut Schätzel

See:
Celebrating Riesling and my Birthday at Weingut Schaetzel in Nierstein, Rheinhessen, Germany
A New Fixture in the Reemerging Red Slope of Nierstein - Visiting Kai Schaetzel and his Weingut Schaetzel in Nierstein, Rheinhessen, Germany
Riesling Lounge Goes Lomo, Germany

See:
German Wine and Culture Tour by ombiasy, 2013
3 Wine Tours by ombiasy Coming up in 2014: Germany-North, Germany-South and Bordeaux
New Developments in German Wine - Annette Schiller at the German Wine Society in Philadelphia, USA  

Weingut Georg Albrecht Schneider

Weingut Georg Albrecht Schneider has been a solid Rheinhessen top producer for many years, widely available in the US. The vineyard area totals 14 hectares, of which 50% is accounted for by Riesling.

Long-time patron Albrecht Schneider is in the process of handing over to the next generation. His daughter Ursula Müller (nee Schneider) has married Steffen Müller, Weingut Müller-Schwabsburg, and the young couple is in the process of taking charge of both wineries.

I met the patron Albrecht Schneider at one of the booths and his daughter Ursula Müller and her husband, while walking up the road.

Pictures: Albrecht Schneider, Ursula Müller (nee Schneider) and Steffen Müller, Weingut Müller-Schwabsburg and Weingut Georg Albrecht Schneider

See:
Visit: Weingut Georg Albrecht Schneider in Nierstein, Rheinhessen, Germany - for Upcoming German Wine Society Tasting in Washington DC, USA
Distinguished American Wine Blogger Lindsay Morriss from New England Interns at Weingut Georg Albrecht Schneider in Rheinhessen
An Evening with Lindsay Morriss: The Wines of Weingut Georg Albrecht Schneider and her Ideas on How to Raise the Profile of German Wines in the USA 


schiller-wine: Related Postings

"Wurzelwerk" Goes America: 3 Vineyards, 3 Winemakers and 9 Wines

Weingut Gunderloch – The New Generation: Owner Johannes Hasselbach in Washington DC, US

Visiting Agnes and Fritz Hasselbach at their Weingut Gunderloch in Nackenheim, Rheinhessen, German

Celebrating Riesling and my Birthday at Weingut Schaetzel in Nierstein, Rheinhessen, Germany

A New Fixture in the Reemerging Red Slope of Nierstein - Visiting Kai Schaetzel and his Weingut Schaetzel in Nierstein, Rheinhessen, Germany

Riesling Lounge Goes Lomo, Germany

Germany at TopWine China 2014 in Beijing, China

The Mainz Wine Amazones - Christine Huff, Mirjam Schneider and Eva Vollmer - in New York City, USA

International Women's Day 2012: Meeting the Wine Amazones Tina Huff, Mirjam Schneider and Eva Vollmer of Mainz, Germany

Visit: Weingut Georg Albrecht Schneider in Nierstein, Rheinhessen, Germany - for Upcoming German Wine Society Tasting in Washington DC, USA

Distinguished American Wine Blogger Lindsay Morriss from New England Interns at Weingut Georg Albrecht Schneider in Rheinhessen

An Evening with Lindsay Morriss: The Wines of Weingut Georg Albrecht Schneider and her Ideas on How to Raise the Profile of German Wines in the USA

German Wine and Culture Tour by ombiasy, 2013

3 Wine Tours by ombiasy Coming up in 2014: Germany-North, Germany-South and Bordeaux

New Developments in German Wine - Annette Schiller at the German Wine Society in Philadelphia, USA