The world of Riesling returned to Seattle in Washington State. The attraction was the 4th Riesling Rendezvous, a gathering of Riesling producers and enthusiasts from around the world.
Riesling Rendezvous is sponsored by Chateau Ste. Michelle, the Washington State giant wine producer and Weingut Dr. Loosen, one of Germany’s top Riesling producers from the Mosel Valley. The famous Eroica Riesling from Washington State is a joint venture of Ste. Michelle and Dr. Loosen.
Riesling Rendezvous is the largest international gathering of Riesling producers and enthusiasts in the world. It features three days of tasting, discussing and learning about Riesling.
This posting is part of a series of a dozen or so postings on the 4th Riesling Rendezvous in Seattle. I have posted sofar:
Coming Up in July: 4th Riesling Rendezvous in Seattle, Washington State, USA
The German Winemakers at the Forthcoming 4. Riesling Rendezvous in Seattle, Washington State, USA
Riesling Rendezvous Grand Tasting
The 4th Riesling Rendezvous kicked off Sunday, July 14, with the Grand Tasting on Chateau Ste. Michelle’s winery grounds in Woodinville, about 15 miles from downtown Seattle. Almost 70 Riesling producers from seven countries - United States, Germany, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Slovakia and Austria - presented their wines. From within the United States, wineries from seven states participated: Washington State, Oregon, Idaho, California, New York, New Jersey and Michigan.
Riesling-friendly food was provided by popular Seattle food trucks Marination Mobile, Snout and Co and Barking Frog Mobile Kitchen, as well as appetizers by Chateau Ste Michelle culinary Director John Sarich. Guests also enjoyed live music by The Josh Rawlings Trio. About 700 consumers, media, trade and producers attended.
First Day of Riesling Rendezvous Featured Dry Rieslings
The Monday and Tuesday program events were held at the Bell Harbor International Conference Center located on Seattle's beautiful waterfront.
About 300 attendees were at Monday and Tuesday's program events.
On Monday, July 15, the morning started with opening remarks from Ernst Loosen, Ste. Michelle CEO Ted Baseler and global Riesling authority Stuart Pigott.
After that, 300 Riesling enthusiasts participated in a fascinating blind tasting of global dry Rieslings (20 wines). The tasting was moderated by US wine-author John Haeger.
Lunch featured Northwest wines.
After lunch, three breakout sessions took place in parallel:
“Riesling’s Outer Limits” with Stuart Pigott.
“Proving that Terroir Matters” with Dr. Ulrich Fischer.
“Winemakers Roundtable: To Blend or not to Blend” led by Bob Bertheau of Chateau Ste. Michelle and Ernst Loosen.
The afternoon concluded with special walk-around tastings:
Pairing Riesling with Smoked Salmon with German food writer Ursula Heinzelmann
Riesling and Cheese Tasting presented by Oregon’s Rogue Creamery
Riesling Taste Test: How Dry/Sweet is it? Where would you place it on the IRF scale? Presented by the International Riesling Foundation
Riesling Friendly Appetizers
Wines from Idaho, New York State and Germany.
Second Day of Riesling Rendezvous Featured Sweeter Wines
On Tuesday, July 16, the day began with another fascinating blind tasting of 20 Rieslings, this time off-dry and sweet Rieslings from around the world, moderated by London-based wine journalist Tim Atkin, a Master of Wine.
The International Riesling Foundation then made a presentation called “Riesling Research and Revelations.”
Lunch featured Australian Rieslings, sponsored by Icons of Australia.
After a lunch, there were three breakout sessions:
“Grosses Gewaches – the New VDP Classification” with Steffen Christmann and Wilhelm Weil.
“The Electric Riesling Acid Test” with Emily Wines, M.S.
“Marketing Riesling: Preaching Beyond the Choir” with Leslie Sbrocco.
The event concluded with a farewell reception at Chihuly Garden and Glass at the Seattle Center. The Chihuly Garden and Glass is a breathtaking gallery space showcasing the spectacular art of Northwest glass master Dale Chihuly. It was a dramatic and entertaining way to bid farewell to new and old friends as we concluded our Riesling celebration.
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The German Winemakers at the Forthcoming 4. Riesling Rendezvous in Seattle, Washington State, USA