On July 17-19, 2016 , Chateau Ste. Michelle of Washington State and Weingut Dr. Loosen of Germany hosted the fifth Riesling Rendezvous at Chateau Ste. Michelle and Bell Harbor International Conference Center in Seattle.
Riesling experts from around the world - top winemakers, representatives from the trade and restaurant sector, and journalists – gathered in Seattle to celebrate, discuss and taste the arguably most noble white grape in the world - Riesling.
The Riesling Rendezvous in Seattle is part of the so-called Riesling Coalition, encompassing 3 major Rieslings events in Germany (International Riesling Symposium), in the US (Riesling Rendezvous) and in Australia (Riesling Downunder). Following this year’s Riesling Rendezvous in the US, the Riesling Coalition caravan will travel to Germany for the next International Riesling Symposium in the Rheingau in 2017, then to Australia for the 2018 Riesling Downunder and return to Seattle in 2019 for the 6. Riesling Rendezvous.
For the 2013 Riesling Rendezvous, see:
The World of Riesling in Seattle - Fourth Riesling Rendezvous in Washington State, USA
For the 2014 International Riesling Symposium in Germany, see:
The 2nd International Riesling Symposium in the Rheingau, Germany
“Riesling Rendezvous has grown into the largest event dedicated to Riesling in the United States,” says Ted Baseler, president and CEO of Ste. Michelle Wine Estates. “We are extremely fortunate to have some of the most renowned Riesling winemakers in the world sharing their stellar wines to demonstrate the great attributes and diversity of Riesling.”
The grand tasting at Chateau Ste. Michelle, 2 major blind tastings, 6 break out sessions, 2 lunches and 2 early evening social gatherings provided for 2 1/2 fascinating and highly entertaining days around Riesling. The symposium was attended by about 300 people, including such luminaries as Stuart Pigott and Stephan Reinhard (Robert Parker) from Germany and Paul Grieco and David Schildknecht from the US.
This is the first of a series of postings providing an overview about the 5. Riesling Rendezvous in Seattle, Washington State. More, specific, postings will follow:
5. Riesling Rendezvous in Seattle, Washington State: Overview
Grand Tastingin Woodinville
International Tasting Dry Riesling
International Tasting Beyond Dry Riesling
The German Winemakers
Schiller’s Favorite Wine Bars in Seattle
Schiller’s Favorite Oyster Bars in Seattle
The pictures below are mostly mine, but I have also included a few pictures that were published on facebook by other participants.
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, respectively. 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.
First Day: Sunday July 17, 2016
Chateau Ste. Michelle in Woodinville
3:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Riesling Rendezvous Grand Tasting
Participants had the opportunity to explore the Rieslings from around the world, sample Riesling friendly fare by several of Seattle’s popular food trucks and enjoy live music on the picturesque grounds of Chateau Ste. Michelle winery in Woodinville
Second Day: Monday July 18, 2016
Bell Harbor International Conference Center
9:00 am
Welcoming Remarks
Ted Baseler, president, Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, Ernst Loosen, Weingut Dr. Loosen and Stuart Pigott, eminent Riesling authority and noted author
Jamie Goode provides on his blog a good summary of what Ernst Loosen said: Riesling is a grape that has had to struggle a bit to gain the recognition it deserves. ‘We are hitting our heads against the brick wall of understanding,’ said Ernie Loosen, as he kicked things off with a short introductory speech. ‘But we are making progress.’
‘Most people will love Riesling once they taste a good one,’ he says. But it is difficult to simplify the message for normal consumers. ‘I can’t omit the fact that we are talking about a wine that has a particular taste because of how it is made and where it is made,’ said Loosen. ‘There are always a lot of discussion about how to find the most simple single message, but there is no holy grail message: the simple truth is that Riesling is complicated.’
But rather than shy away from this complexity, it should be included as part of the story, and appeal, of Riesling. ‘We should truly embrace its diversity and complexity,’ says Loosen. ‘It is not just Riesling that is complicated – wine itself is complicated. If we winemakers don’t want to simplify what we are doing, why should we make it simple for the consumers? Why shouldn’t we challenge them?’
Loosen thinks that the first step is to get people to dry good dry Riesling and then build from there. ‘We shouldn’t try to make the story of Riesling too simple. We are here to find out how we can communicate our enthusiasm and passion.’
9:30 am – 11:30 am
General Session: International Tasting Dry Riesling
Blind tasting to explore Rieslings perceived as dry. Moderator, Ray Isle, Executive Wine Editor, Food and Wine Magazine
11:45 am – 1:15 pm
Regional Riesling Lunch – Sponsored by the Idaho Wine Commission
1:30 pm – 3:15 pm
Breakout Sessions
The State of Riesling: Climatic Trends, Current Growing Conditions and Future Projections
Presented by Prof. Hans Schultz, Geisenheim University, and Prof. Gregory Jones, Southern Oregon University
Discovering the Diversity of Australian Riesling – Sponsored by Wine Australia
Moderator, Mike Bennie, Journalist, Wine Writer and Presenter
The Essential Elements of Dry Riesling
Moderator, John Haegar, Wine Writer and Author
Olympic Sculpture Park
4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Afternoon Party: Walk Around Tasting
Wines of Alsace
Wine Australia
Idaho Wine Commission
Oregon Riesling Producers
Off-dry Riesling with Smoked Salmon
Dry Rieslings and Cheese tasting (Ursula Heinzelmann
Riesling Taste Test: How Dry/Sweet is it?
Riesling Cocktails
Third Day: Tuesday July 19, 2016
Bell Harbor International Conference Center
9:00 am – 11:00 am
General Session: International Tasting Beyond Dry Riesling
Moderator, Joshua Greene, Editor, Wine & Spirits
11:00 am – 11:30 am
Spreading the Riesling Love: The IRF Social Media Campaign
Presented by the International Riesling Foundation
11:45 am – 1:15 pm
Regional Riesling Lunch – Sponsored by Oregon Riesling Producers: Alexana, Argyle, Brandborg Vineyards and Winery, Brooks Wines, Chehalem and Elk Cove
1:30 pm – 3:15 pm
Breakout Sessions
Tips from the Pros on Selling Riesling in Restaurants
Moderator, Rob Bigelow, Sr. Director Wine Education and On-Premise Development, Ste. Michelle Wine Estates
Rocks & Riesling: Alsace’s Diverse Terroir – Sponsored by Alsace Wines /CIVA
An exploration of five distinct soil profiles from the 13 terroirs of Alsace. Led by Thierry Fritsch, Head Oenologist and Chief Wine Educator of the Alsace Wine Bureau in France
Winemakers Only Roundtable
Moderators, Bob Bertheau, Sr. Director of Winemaking, Chateau Ste. Michelle and Ernst Loosen, Weingut Dr. Loosen
3:30 pm – 5:30 pm
Farewell Reception
We enjoyed 180° views of the Olympic Mountains, Mt. Rainier, Puget Sound’s Elliott Bay and the Seattle skyline while savoring Northwest microbrews, wine, hearty appetizers and music. This was an unforgettable way to bid farewell to new and old friends and conclude our Riesling celebration!
Participating Producers
Australia
Frankland Estate
Grant Burge Wines
Jim Barry Wines
Mac Forbes Wines
Pikes
Rieslingfreak
Austria
Boutique Winery Clemens Strobl
Emmerich Knoll
F.X. Pichler
Malat
Canada
Cave Spring Cellars
Hidden Bench Vineyards & Winery
Kitsch Wines
Little Farm Winery
Synchromesh Wines
Tantalus Vineyards
Von Mandl Family Estates
France
Albert Mann
Domaine Loew
Famille Hugel
Meyer-Fonne
Paul Blanck
Schlumberger
Germany
Ansgar Clusserath
Balthasar Ress
Battenfeld Spanier
Christmann
Donnhoff
Dr. Burklin-Wolf
Dr. Loosen
Egon Muller-Scharzhof
Fritz Haag
Leitz
Maximin Grunhaus
Oekonomierat Rebholz
Robert Weil
Wittmann
New Zealand
Framingham Wines, Ltd.
United States
California Balo Vineyards
Maidenstoen Wines
Stirm Wine Co.
Idaho
Cinder Winery
Michigan
Black Star Farms
Mari Vineyards/Scriptorium Wines
New York
Anthony Road Wine Company
Boundary Breaks
Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery
Fox Run Vineyards
Ravines Wine Cellars
Red Newt Cellars, Inc.
Sheldrake Point Winery
Wagner Vineyards
Oregon
Brooks
Elk Cove Vineyards
Tunkalilla Vineyard
Washington
Charles Smith Wines
Chateau Ste. Michelle
Pacific Rim
Snoqualmie Vineyards
The Woodhouse Wine Estate
Tsillan Cellars
Tulip Valley
About Chateau Ste. Michelle
Founded in 1934, Chateau Ste. Michelle pioneered vinifera grape growing in Washington state and has been producing classic European varietal wines under the Ste. Michelle label since 1967. The winery combines an ongoing dedication to research with a commitment to classic winemaking traditions. The winery owns 3,500 acres of vineyards in the Columbia Valley of eastern Washington, including Canoe Ridge Estate and Cold Creek, which are LIVE and Salmon Safe certified. Chateau Ste. Michelle enjoys winemaking partnerships with two of the world’s most distinguished vintners. Col Solare is an alliance with Tuscany’s Piero Antinori and Eroica Riesling is a partnership with the Mosel’s Ernst Loosen.
Chateau Ste. Michelle has been a champion of Riesling for more than 45 years and was among the first to plant Riesling in Washington state. Ste. Michelle was catapulted into the national spotlight when its 1972 Johannisberg Riesling won the now-famous blind tasting of nineteen White Rieslings sponsored by the Los Angeles Times. Today, Chateau Ste. Michelle offers up to 10 different Riesling styles designed to showcase the versatility of Riesling and the regional styles within Washington’s Columbia Valley, which produces more Riesling than any other American wine region.
About Weingut Dr. Loosen
The Dr. Loosen estate has a 200-year tradition of producing Riesling in Germany’s Mosel region. With his modern world view and his traditional approach to winemaking, Ernst Loosen strives to produce wines that unmistakably express the character of Riesling and of the vineyards where they are grown. Decanter magazine named Ernst Loosen 2005 “Man of the Year” for his perseverance in promoting and producing great Rieslings around the world.
See:
Ernst Loosen Presented his Wines at Weingut Dr. Loosen, Bernkastel-Kues, Mosel Valley, Germany
Wine Tasting at Weingut Dr. Loosen in Bernkastel-Kues, Mosel – Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)
Riesling, Pinot Noir and Indian Cuisine: A tête-à-tête Dinner with Winemaker Ernst Loosen, Weingut Dr. Loosen, at Rasika in Washington DC, USA
The Dry and Ultra-premium Dry GG and GG Reserve Rieslings of Weingut Dr. Loosen – Ernie Loosen in Washington DC
schiller-wine - Related Postings
The World of Riesling in Seattle - Fourth Riesling Rendezvous in Washington State, USA
The German Winemakers at the 4th Riesling Rendezvous in Seattle, USA
The 2nd International Riesling Symposium in the Rheingau, Germany
Heads up for the 2017 Tours - to Germany and France - by ombiasy WineTours
Germany-East Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Art, Culture and History
Germany-North Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours: Quintessential German Riesling and the Northernmost Pinot Noir
Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)
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