BEST OF Silvaner 2017/ 2018 - Marcus Hofschuster, Wein Plus, Germany

Pictures: Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut Zehnthof Luckert, in Sulzfeld, Franken, with Philipp Luckert - Germany-East Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Art, Culture, History - Berlin, Saale-Unstrut, Sachsen, Württemberg, Franken

Marcus Hofschuster is Editor-in-Chief and Lead Taster of Wein-Plus, a leading European on-line wine guide, based in Germany. Marcus Hofschuster is the man behind the reputation that Wein-Plus has gained over the past 2 decades. All wines are tasted blind. Marcus Hofschuster uses the 100 points scale.

From time to time, Marcus Hofschuster summarizes his tasting results in a "BEST OF" list. This time, he published a list summarizing his tasting results with regard to German Silvaner from the 2015 and 2016 vintages.

Picture: Nico Rechenberg, Dirk Würtz, Weingut Balthasar Ress, Marcus Hofschuster, Wein-Plus, Armin Diel, Schlossgut Diel, Paul Truszkowski, Wine in Black, and Felix Bodman at the GG Pre-release Tasting in Wiesbaden, Germany, 2016. See: Germany’s Grosses Gewächs GG Wines Released (2015 White and 2014 Red) - Notes from the Pre-release Tasting in Wiesbaden, Germany

Silvaner in Germany

Sylvaner or Silvaner is primarily grown in Alsace and Germany. In Germany it is best known as a component of Liebfraumilch and production boomed in the 1970s to the detriment of quality, but it has long enjoyed a better reputation in Franconia than in other German wine regions. While the Alsatian versions have primarily been considered simpler wines, it was recently (2006) included among the varieties that can be used to produce Alsace Grand Cru wine together with the four 'noble grapes' of Alsace, although only in one vineyard, Zotzenberg.

This dichotomy is explained by the vigour of the Sylvaner vine and the grape's neutral flavour, which can lead to blandness unless yields are controlled. On the other hand, it gives a blank canvas for the expression of terroir, and on good sites with skilled winemaking, Sylvaner can produce elegant wines. It has high acidity but naturally reaches high must weights, so is often blended with other varieties such as Riesling or Elbling, and is sometimes made into a dessert wine.

First recorded in Germany at Castell in 1659, Silvaner (with an 'i') reached a peak in the 1960s-1970s, with 30% of German vineyards. However overproduction during the Liebfraumilch years ruined its reputation, and it has since retreated to its stronghold in Franconia (Frankenland) (1,425 ha), where on the best chalky Muschelkalk terroir it can produce wines that can compete with the best German white wines which usually are made out of the Riesling grape. These powerful wines are considered food-friendly and are often described as having an "earthy" palate. Under VDP Erste Lage/Grosses Gewächs rules, Silvaner may be used for Grosses Gewächs wines (top-end dry wines), but only in Franconia and Saale-Unstrut and not in any of the other 11 German wine regions. Silvaner is also grown in Rheinhessen (2,486 ha) and Palatinate, and is sometimes also made into dessert wine.[9] Currently there are 6,000 hectares (15,000 acres) in Germany, just 5.9% of the total area under vine.

Picture: Christian Schiller Tasting with Kai Schätzel at Weingut Schätzel, see: A New Fixture in the Reemerging Red Slope of Nierstein - Visiting Kai Schaetzel and his Weingut Schaetzel in Nierstein, Rheinhessen, Germany

Pictures: Lunch cum Tasting with Nanne Schätzel, see: Tour, Tasting, and Lunch at Weingut Schätzel in Nierstein, Rheinhessen – Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2014)

Vintage 2018

WP stands for Wein-Plus Points.

93WP Maustal GG, Zehnthof Luckert
93WP “Ab Ovo”, Rainer Sauer
92WP Himmelspfad GG, May
92WP Am Lumpen 1655 GG, Horst Sauer
92WP Küchenmeister GG “Hoheleite”, Weltner
91WP Langenberg VDP Erste Lage, May
91WP Stein GG, Knoll
91WP Am Lumpen 1655 GG, Rainer Sauer
90WP Pfülben GG, Schmitt’s Kinder
90WP Stein GG, Staatlicher Hofkeller
90WP Kallmuth GG “Asphodill”, Fürst Löwenstein
90WP Rothlauf GG, May
90WP “Vinz Alte Reben”, Knoll
90WP Stein-Harfe GG, Bürgerspital
90WP Am Lumpen 1655 GG, Zur Schwane
90WP “Der Schäfer” VDP Erste Lage, May
90WP Hohnart VDP Erste Lage, Fürstlich Castell’sches Domänenamt
90WP Probstey, Thörle
90WP Alte Reben “#nofilter”, Neumeister
89WP Sonnenberg “Gelbkalk”, Zehnthof Luckert
89WP Am Lumpen 1655 GG, Fröhlich
89WP Pfaffenberg VDP Erste Lage, Bürgerspital
89WP Rossthalber VDP Erste Lage, May
89WP Nierstein VDP.Aus Ersten Lagen, Schätzel
89WP Vögelein “Edle Rebe”, Rudloff
89WP Hohen-Sülzen VDP.Ortswein “Leopold”, Battenfeld-Spanier
89WP Lump VDP Erste Lage “S”, Horst Sauer
89WP Kronsberg VDP Erste Lage “Alte Reben - Trias”, Ruck
88WP Stein “Grenzstein”, Höfling
88WP Saulheim “Kalkstein”, Thörle
88WP Gau-Algesheim VDP.Ortswein “Terrassen”, Bischel
88WP Würzburg VDP.Ortswein, Bürgerspital
88WP Marsberg “Alte Reben”, Bardorf
88WP Vigneti delle Dolomiti IGT, Garlider
88WP Westhofen “Alte Reben - pour toujours”, Wechsler
88WP Rödelsee VDP.Ortswein, Weltner
88WP Innere Leiste VDP Erste Lage, Büergerspital
88WP “Fass 27”, Bastian Hamdorf
88WP Lump VDP Erste Lage, Rainer Sauer
88WP Heller Berg VDP Erste Lage “G”, Roth
88WP Julius-Echter-Berg VDP Erste Lage “Trias”, Ruck
88WP Fürstenberg VDP Erste Lage, Schäffer
88WP Escherndorf VDP.Ortswein “Muschelkalk”, Rainer Sauer
88WP Fürstenberg VDP Erste Lage “S”, Horst Sauer (Blauer Silvaner)
88WP “Kalb Alte Reben”, Ilmbacher Hof
88WP Küchenmeister VDP Erste Lage, Juliusspital
88WP Sonnenstuhl Spätlese trocken “Alte Reben”, Schmachtenberger
88WP Kalb VDP Erste Lage “Trias”, Ruck
88WP Teufelskeller VDP Erste Lage, Staatlicher Hofkeller
88WP Nackenheim VDP.Aus Ersten Lagen “x.t.”, Gunderloch
88WP “Tempus et Spatium”, Borst
88WP Lump, Braun
88WP Stein VDP Erste Lage, Knoll
88WP Kronsberg VDP Erste Lage, Juliusspital
88WP Stein VDP Erste Lage, Juliusspital
88WP Altenberg, Heid

Pictures: Vineyard Tour and Tasting at Weingut Horst Sauer in Eschendorf, Franken, with Horst Sauer - Germany-East Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours

Vintage 2017

91WP Julius-Echter-Berg GG, Juliusspital
91WP Julius-Echter-Berg GG “Trias”, Ruck
90WP “Indigenius”, Rothe
90WP Johannisberg GG “Rothlauf”, Bickel-Stumpf
89WP Am Lumpen 1655 GG, Schäffer
89WP Kronsberg GG, Wirsching
89WP Julius-Echter-Berg GG, Wirsching
89WP Lump VDP Erste Lage “Maische”, Horst Sauer
89WP VDP.Gutswein “Sehnsucht”, Horst Sauer
88WP “Alte Reben”, Roth
88WP Ratsherr GG, Zur Schwane
88WP Küchenmeister “Der Küchenmeister”, Weigand
88WP Lump VDP Erste Lage, Schäffer
88WP Landsknecht Spätlese trocken “Gässberg”, Leipold
88WP Sonnenstuhl GG “Konsequent R”, Trockene Schmitts
88WP Stein GG, Juliusspital
88WP Mönchshof GG, Bickel-Stumpf

Pictures: Visit and Tasting at Weingut Am Stein Ludwig Knoll in Würzburg, Franken - Germany-East Wine and Art Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Older Vintags

90WP 2016 Schlossberg GG, Fürstlich Castell’sches Domänenamt
89WP 2016 Réserve, Riffel
88WP 2016 Lützeltalerberg “Carus Granit”, Giegerich
88WP 2016 “Fass N°1”, Dahm
88WP 2012 Langenberg “Recis 1963”, May

Fruity-Sweet and Noble-Sweet

95WP 2018 Kronsberg TBA, Ruck
94WP 2017 Marsberg TBA, Bardorf
88WP 2018 Landsknecht Auslese, Leipold

Pictures: 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)

schiller-wine: Related Postings

UPCOMING Tours/ Wine Dinners/ Tastings - Annette and Christian Schiller/ ombiasyPR & WineTours/ schiller-wine, Germany, France, USA (Issued: November 1, 2019)

Announcement: Upcoming ombiasy Wine Tours 2020 - (1) Alsace and Germany South, (2) Rhône Valley, (3) Bordeaux

Annual Riesling Party at the Schiller Residence in Washington DC, USA (2019)

Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut Zehnthof Luckert, in Sulzfeld, Franken, with Philipp Luckert - Germany-East Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Art, Culture, History - Berlin, Saale-Unstrut, Sachsen, Württemberg, Franken

Germany’s Grosses Gewächs GG Wines Released (2015 White and 2014 Red) - Notes from the Pre-release Tasting in Wiesbaden, Germany

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

Lunch cum Tasting with Nanne Schätzel, see: Tour, Tasting, and Lunch at Weingut Schätzel in Nierstein, Rheinhessen – Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2014)

Vineyard Tour and Tasting at Weingut Horst Sauer in Eschendorf, Franken, with Horst Sauer - Germany-East Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours

Visit and Tasting at Weingut Am Stein Ludwig Knoll in Würzburg, Franken - Germany-East Wine and Art 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)

BEST OF Silvaner 2015/ 2016 - Marcus Hofschuster, Wein Plus, Germany

Picture: Vinyard Tour and Tasting at Weingut Horst Sauer in Eschendorf, Franken, with Horst Sauer - Germany-East Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours

Marcus Hofschuster is Editor-in-Chief and Lead Taster of Wein-Plus, a leading European on-line wine guide, based in Germany. Marcus Hofschuster is the man behind the reputation that Wein-Plus has gained over the past 2 decades. All wines are tasted blind. Marcus Hofschuster uses the 100 points scale.

From time to time, Marcus Hofschuster summarizes his tasting results in a "BEST OF" list. This time, he published a list summarizing his tasting results with regard to German Silvaner from the 2015 and 2016 vintages.

Picture: Nico Rechenberg, Dirk Würtz, Weingut Balthasar Ress, Marcus Hofschuster, Wein-Plus, Armin Diel, Schlossgut Diel, Paul Truszkowski, Wine in Black, and Felix Bodman at the GG Pre-release Tasting in Wiesbaden, Germany, 2016. See: Germany’s Grosses Gewächs GG Wines Released (2015 White and 2014 Red) - Notes from the Pre-release Tasting in Wiesbaden, Germany

Silvaner in Germany

Sylvaner or Silvaner is primarily grown in Alsace and Germany. In Germany it is best known as a component of Liebfraumilch and production boomed in the 1970s to the detriment of quality, but it has long enjoyed a better reputation in Franconia than in other German wine regions. While the Alsatian versions have primarily been considered simpler wines, it was recently (2006) included among the varieties that can be used to produce Alsace Grand Cru wine together with the four 'noble grapes' of Alsace, although only in one vineyard, Zotzenberg.

This dichotomy is explained by the vigour of the Sylvaner vine and the grape's neutral flavour, which can lead to blandness unless yields are controlled. On the other hand, it gives a blank canvas for the expression of terroir, and on good sites with skilled winemaking, Sylvaner can produce elegant wines. It has high acidity but naturally reaches high must weights, so is often blended with other varieties such as Riesling or Elbling, and is sometimes made into a dessert wine.

First recorded in Germany at Castell in 1659, Silvaner (with an 'i') reached a peak in the 1960s-1970s, with 30% of German vineyards. However overproduction during the Liebfraumilch years ruined its reputation, and it has since retreated to its stronghold in Franconia (Frankenland) (1,425 ha), where on the best chalky Muschelkalk terroir it can produce wines that can compete with the best German white wines which usually are made out of the Riesling grape. These powerful wines are considered food-friendly and are often described as having an "earthy" palate. Under VDP Erste Lage/Grosses Gewächs rules, Silvaner may be used for Grosses Gewächs wines (top-end dry wines), but only in Franconia and Saale-Unstrut and not in any of the other 11 German wine regions. Silvaner is also grown in Rheinhessen (2,486 ha) and Palatinate, and is sometimes also made into dessert wine.[9] Currently there are 6,000 hectares (15,000 acres) in Germany, just 5.9% of the total area under vine.

Marcus Hofschuster: Silvaner 2015 and 2016

Marcus Hofschuster: Die Silvaner-Szene ist weiter in Bewegung. Dass vor allem die rheinhessischen Winzer immer weiter zu den Franken aufschließen, ist langsam nichts Neues mehr; aber auch innerhalb Frankens herrscht weiter Aufbruchstimmung. Jedes Jahr entdecken wir neue, junge Winzer mit bemerkenswerten Weinen, während sich altbekannte Betriebe oft weiter steigern.

Das war nach dem exzellenten Silvanerjahr 2014 im schwierigeren 2015 deutlich zu merken. Derart warme Jahrgänge hätten früher gerade in der Spitze viele allzu fette und alkoholische Weine hervorgebracht. Inzwischen haben die besten Produzenten auch solche Bedingungen im Griff, wovon wir uns ganz aktuell anhand vieler aktuell probierter 15er Topsilvaner - auch das ein begrüßenswerter neuer Trend - überzeugen konnten. Die fallen zwar durchaus immer wieder recht kräftig aus, aber nurmehr sehr selten so schwer und mächtig wie in früheren Hitzejahren.

2016 kam dem Silvaner wieder deutlich entgegen, was sich auch in einer so wohl noch nie dagewesenen Serie an Spitzenweinen niederschlägt. Besonders auffällig ist, dass es sich hier längst nicht nur um Grosse Gewächse oder ähnliche Prestigeweine handelt; auch erheblich preiswertere Silvaner, etwa aus den mittleren Qualitätslinien der führenden Betriebe, aber genauso von weniger bekannten Erzeugern, zeigten in der Verkostung ein bisher nicht dagewesenes Niveau und landeten zuweilen auf vordersten Plätzen.

Mehr als 250 Weine haben wir heuer für dieses BEST OF probiert. Die besten von Ihnen haben wir hier aufgelistet und wie immer zu einem handlichen PDF verarbeitet.

Christian Schiller's Translation: The Silvaner scene is still on the move. The fact that in particular the winemakers from the Rheinhessen region continue to catch up with the winemakers from Franken is by no means new; but there is also a movement with Franken. Every year we discover new, young winemakers with remarkable wines, while well-known companies often improve further.

This was clearly noticeable after the excellent Silvaner year 2014 in the difficult 2015 year. Such warm vintages would have produced in the past many too fatty and alcoholic wines, particularly at the top. The best producers have learnt how to handle such conditions. That became obvious when we tasted the 2015 vintage top Silvaners - a welcome new trend. Although they are always quite strong, but only very rarely as heavy and powerful as in previous hot years.

In 2016 was a good year for Silvaner, which is reflected in such an unprecedented number of premium wines. Particularly noticeable is that the elevate quality is not just a trend in the premium segment. Also the significantly less expensive wines, from the middle quality level of the leading producers, but also from lesser-known producers, showed in the tasting an unprecedented quality level.

More than 250 wines were tasted this year for this BEST OF Silvaner list. The best of them we have listed below.

BEST OF Silvaner 2015 and 2016

WP stands for Wein-Plus points.

2016

94WP Escherndorf Am Lumpen 1655 GG, Horst Sauer
92+WP Escherndorf Am Lumpen 1655 GG, Rainer Sauer
92WP Rödelsee Küchenmeister GG, Weltner
92WP Würzburg Stein-Harfe GG, Bürgerspital
92WP AB OVO, Rainer Sauer
92WP Stetten Stein GG, Am Stein
91WP Thüngersheim Johannisberg GG “Rothlauf”, May
91WP Würzburg Stein Erste Lage, Bürgerspital
91WP Würzburg Stein GG, Staatlicher Hofkeller
91WP Escherndorf Lump Erste Lage “Alte Reben”, Rainer Sauer
91WP “L”, Rainer Sauer
91WP Querkopf, Schätzel

Pictures: Vineyard Tour and Tasting at Weingut Horst Sauer in Eschendorf, Franken, with Horst Sauer - Germany-East Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours

90WP Sulzfeld Maustal GG, Zehnthof-Luckert
90WP Escherndorf Lump Erste Lage “S”, Horst Sauer
90WP Escherndorf Fürstenberg Erste Lage Blauer Silvaner “S”, H. Sauer
90WP Gau-Algesheim Goldberg, Bischel
90WP Randersacker Sonnenstuhl GG, Wilhelm Arnold
90WP Würzburg Stein GG, Bürgerspital
90WP Hoch 3, Am Stein

Pictures: Visit and Tasting at Weingut Am Stein Ludwig Knoll in Würzburg, Franken - Germany-East Wine and Art Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

89WP Großheubach Bischofsberg, Kremer
89WP Volkach Ratsherr “The Egg”, Daniel Then
89WP Holznagel, Nagel
89WP Gau-Algesheim Terrassen, Bischel
89WP Escherndorf Lump Erste Lage, Rainer Sauer
89WP Sehnsucht, Horst Sauer
89WP Retzstadt Langenberg GG “Himmelspfad”, May
89WP Retzstadt Langenberg Erste Lage, May
89WP Ihringen Fohrenberg, Dr. Heger
89WP Iphofen Julius-Echter-Berg Erste Lage, Ruck
89WP Großheubach Bischofsberg, Hamdorf

Pictures: Tasting and Weingut Dr. Heger and Christian Schiller and Joachim Heger. See: Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut Dr. Heger in Ihringen, Kaiserstuhl, Baden – Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

2015

92WP Rödelsee Küchenmeister GG “Hoheleite”, Weltner
92WP Iphofen Julius-Echter-Berg GG, Wirsching
92WP Silex, Kraemer
91+WP Escherndorf Am Lumpen 1655 GG, Rainer Sauer
91WP Escherndorf Am Lumpen 1655 GG, Horst Sauer
91WP Iphofen Julius-Echter-Berg GG, Juliusspital
91WP Iphofen Kronsberg GG, Wirsching
91WP Iphofen Julius-Echter-Berg GG, Ruck
91WP Der Held, Weigand
91WP Réserve, Riffel
91WP Würzburg Stein GG, Staatlicher Hofkeller

Pictures: 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)

90+WP Sulzfeld Maustal GG, Zehnthof-Luckert
90WP Homburg Kallmuth GG “Asphodill”, Fürst Löwenstein
90WP Querkopf, Schätzel
90WP Sehnsucht, Horst Sauer
90WP Gau-Algesheim Goldberg, Bischel
90WP Harxheim Lieth, Werther Windisch
90WP Würzburg Stein GG, Bürgerspital
89+WP Stetten Stein GG, Am Stein
89WP Würzburg Stein GG, Juliusspital
89WP Wiesenbronn Wachhügel “Vis-à.vis”, Grebner
89WP Iphofen Julius-Echter-Berg Erste Lage “R”, Weltner
89WP Sommerhausen Steinbach-Alttenberg 1172 GG, Schloss Sommerhausen
89WP Volkach Ratsherr GG, Zur Schwane

Picture: Christian Schiller Tasting with Kai Schätzel at Weingut Schätzel, see: A New Fixture in the Reemerging Red Slope of Nierstein - Visiting Kai Schaetzel and his Weingut Schaetzel in Nierstein, Rheinhessen, Germany

Pictures: Lunch cum Tasting with Nanne Schätzel, see: Tour, Tasting, and Lunch at Weingut Schätzel in Nierstein, Rheinhessen – Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2014)

Sweet Wines

95WP 2015 Retzstadt Langenberg Erste Lage TBA, May
89WP 2015 Sommerach Katzenkopf BA, Then
89WP 2015 Sulzfeld Maustal Auslese, Brennfleck

schiller-wine: Related Postings

Ombiasy Wine Tours 2018: 3 x France and 3 x Germany - Ombiasy Newsletter December 2017

Vineyard Tour and Tasting at Weingut Horst Sauer in Eschendorf, Franken, with Horst Sauer - Germany-East Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours

Germany’s Grosses Gewächs GG Wines Released (2015 White and 2014 Red) - Notes from the Pre-release Tasting in Wiesbaden, Germany

Visit and Tasting at Weingut Am Stein Ludwig Knoll in Würzburg, Franken - Germany-East Wine and Art Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut Dr. Heger in Ihringen, Kaiserstuhl, Baden – Germany-South 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)

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

Tour, Tasting, and Lunch at Weingut Schätzel in Nierstein, Rheinhessen – Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2014)

Drinking RS Rheinhessen Silvaner - and other Wines of Weingut Alwin Schmitz - with Alwin Schmitz - and other Members of the Mainzer Weingilde - at Weingut Alwin Schmitz in Mainz, Germany

Picture: Christian G.E. Schiller, Alwin Schmitz and Bertram Verch, President of Weingilde Mainz

A few weeks ago, when I was in Germany, I was able to participate in one of the monthly or so events of the Weingilde Mainz, which is a wine brotherhood in Mainz, Germany. This time, we did a vineyard walk and then stopped at Weingut Alwin Schmitz, where we had dinner, with wines of Weingut Alwin Schmitz. One of the wines we had was RS Rheinhessen Silvaner.

Weinrallye #54 Region im Glass – Region in the Glass

This posting is being published as part of the Weinrallye, a monthly blog event in Germany. Participating wine bloggers - mainly in Germany - are all releasing postings today under the heading “Region im Glass – Region in the Glass”. Weinrallye is the brainchild of Thomas Lippert, a winemaker and wine blogger based in Heidelberg, Germany. The first wine rally took place in 2007. Thomas Lippert is the author of the wine blog Winzerblog.

This month's wine rally is organized by the Weinreich Blog, which is run by the Rheinland-Pfalz Tourismus GmbH,  an institution that is charged with promoting the wine “Land” Rheinland-Pfalz. Six of Germany’s 13 wine regions are located in this State: Pfalz, Rheinhessen, Nahe, Mittelrhein, Mosel and Ahr, which combined account for 70 percent of German wine production.

Rheinhessen

Rheinhessen is the largest viticultural region in Germany. Every fourth bottle of German wine comes from Rheinhessen. About one third of Rheinhessen’s agricultural area is cultivated with vines, more than 26000 hectares. The high-yielder Mueller-Thurgau accounts for about 1/5 of the vineyards, and Silvaner and Dornfelder both for 1/10. Riesling is on the backburner. 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.

Pictures: In the Vineyards of Rheinhessen with Bertram Verch, where the Weingilde Mainz has its own vineyard, which is under the supervision of Eva Vollmer. See:"Winemaker Eva Vollmer is Germany’s Discovery of the Year 2010" and "International Women's Day 2012: Meeting the Wine Amazones Tina Huff, Mirjam Schneider and Eva Vollmer of Mainz, Germany"

At the same time, Rheinhessen is at this time among Germany’s most interesting wine regions. A lot is happening there. This is not because of the terroir, but because of the people. There is an increasing group of young, ambitious and dynamic winemakers who want to produce and indeed do produce outstanding wine and not wines in large quantities.

Silvaner

The absolute classic among Rheinhessen's white wine varieties has been cultivated in Germany for over 350 years. Silvaner is a cross between Traminer x Österreich-Weiß. The first Silvaner vines in Germany were planted in Castell am Steigerwald. Not long after that they were found all throughout the country, and in the middle of the last century every second vine was a Silvaner - owing to its secure yields and reliability. For more than a century Rheinhessen has been the largest cultivation area for Silvaner in the world, with around 2,500 hectares.

Pictures: Christian G.E. Schiller and Alwin Schmitz 

There is no „typical“ Silvaner, but rather a lot of room for innovation with various styles: fine filigree variations from stainless steel tanks and full-bodied, aromatic-creamy wines from large wooden barrels. Silvaner is a part of Rheinhessen's identity and is being increasingly taken up by its young and innovative vintners. With reduced yields and careful winemaking it really brings out the individual characteristics of whatever soil it grows in.

The RS Rheinhessen Silvaner

The RS Rheinhessen Silvaner is a kind of a brand that was created in the mid 1980 with a view of promoting Silvaner and Rheinhessen. It is supposed to be an expression of a Silvaner made in Rheinhessen. The wine has a clearly defined taste profile – it is a 100% Silvaner QbA with no more than 4 grams/liter residual sugar and a minimum acidity of 5 grams/liter. The RS Rheinessen Silvaner production is subject to strict quality controls.

Pictures: Christian G.E. Schiller, Alwin Schmitz, another member of the Weingilde Mainz and Bertram Verch, President of Weingilde Mainz

The following wine producers currently make RS Rheinhessen Silvaner. They all use the same labels.

Arndt F. Werner – Ingelheim
Hubert Schreiber – Gundheim
Stefan Leber – Mainz-Hechtsheim
Anton Escher – Gau-Bischofsheim
Thorsten Eller – Oppenheim
Albert Ackermann – Harxheim
Roland Doll – Stadecken-Elsheim
Dominik Merl – Großwinternheim
Matthias Bungert – Ockenheim
Manuel Engelhard – Hillesheim
Hans-Jürgen Dexheimer – Saulheim
Alwin Schmitz – Mainz-Ebersheim
Simone Schmitt-Rieth – Mainz-Hechtsheim

Weingut Alwin Schmitz

Weingut Alwin Schmitz is a small, family-owned winery in Mainz-Ebersheim. Alwin’s Great Grandfather started to make wine in the 1890s. Weingut Alwin Schmitz is not one of the 1000 or so wineries that make it to the Gault Millau WeinGuide Deutschland, but one of the say remaining 40.000 producers of very good wines in Germany at reasonable prices. The wine is all sold at the winery to wine drinkers who live in the area and buy their wines at local producers. Weingut Alwin Schmitz has a very nice tasting room.

Pictures: Weingut Alwin Schmitz

The vineyard area totals 3.9 hectares. Annual production stands at about 4000 cases. The top vineyard of Weingut Alwin Schmitz is the Zornheimer Mönchbäumchen

Wine Portfolio

The Wine Portfolio of Weingut Alwin Schmitz comprises about 36 items. Most of the wines are around 4 to 5 Euros. The 2010 RS Silvaner costs Euro 5,50. A 2010 Riesling Spaetlese trocken is available for Euro 4,50. About one third of the Portfolio is accounted for by white wines, another third by red wines and the final tjhird by sparklers and, brandies and juice. The wine list contains a number of interesting barrel-aged red wines, which are in the Euro 5 to 8 range.

Pictures: The Wines of Weingut Alwin Schmitz, including RS Rheinhessen Silvaner

Contact

Weingut Alwin Schmitz

Dalbergstraße 29 (Harxheimerweg 17)
55129 Mainz-Ebersheim
kontakt@weinhof-schmitz.de
www.weinhof-schmitz.de

schiller-wine: Related Postings

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

The Wines of the Roter Hang (Red Slope) in Nierstein, Rheinhessen, Germany

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 Spaetlese Wines Can Come in Different Versions. I Have Counted Five.

Phil Bernstein’s Third Annual German Riesling Tasting with the German Wine Society, Washington DC Chapter - Rieslings With a Touch of Sweetness

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

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

When Americans Drink German Wine - What They Choose
Winemaker Eva Vollmer is Germany’s Discovery of the Year 2010

Weinfest im Kirchenstueck: Meeting the Winemakers of Mainz-Hechtsheim and Tasting Their Wines, Germany 

In the Glass: Mirjam Schneider's 2007 Merlot No.2 from Rheinhessen, Germany

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

Surprising the World with their Pinot Noir: Johannes and Christoph Thoerle, Winzerhof Thoerle, Rheinhessen, Germany