Between mid-August and mid-November 2013, my wife Annette Schiller (ombiasy PR and WineTours) and I were Germany-based. Many interesting things happened during this period, including a Wuerttemberg Wine Tour, the Apple Wine Festival 2013 in Frankfurt am Main, the German Wine and Culture Tour 2013 by ombiasy, the Bordeaux Tour 2013 by ombiasy, the Digital Wine Communication Conference 2013 in Spain and Portugal and a Germany Tour with American Whiskey Producers. The last, and perhaps the most impressive event, before we flew back, was the Rheingau Riesling Gala 2013 at Kloster Eberbach.
See for ombiasy PR and WineTours:
Bordeaux Wine Tour 2013 by ombiasy
German Wine and Culture Tour by ombiasy, 2013
American Whiskey Producers in Germany
See also:
Touring (and Visiting 4 Wineries in) the Württemberg Wine Region (Zabergäu), Germany Impressions from the Apple Wine Festival 2013 in Frankfurt am Main, Germany
The 2013 Digital Wine Communications Conference (DWCC) in Logroño, Rioja,
Glorious Rheingau Days
The Rheingau Riesling Gala is the grand finale and the highlight of the Glorious Rheingau Days, an annual celebration of the Rheingau Riesling, this year for the 27th times. Over 10 days or so, VDP members of the Rheingau present their wines at winemaker dinners and similar events at the Rheingau’s top restaurants or other interesting places.
The grand finale is the Rheingau Riesling Gala on the last day of the Glorious Rheingau Days (a Sunday) in the “Laiendormitorium” of “Kloster Eberbach”. It is a culinary and social event in which wine enthusiasts meet in the historic settings of the Laiendormitorium of Kloster Eberbach (the largest room of the Romanesque period north of the Alps) in order to celebrate the noblest of all grapes, the Riesling.
From 11 am to 6 pm, VDP producers of the Rheingau, their guest winemakers from other regions and their 560 guests enjoyed a 6 courses dinner, each course prepared by a different top chef, almost all of themMichelin-starred. 3 Chefs were from the Rheingau and each of them had invited a Guest-Chef from another wine region.
The wines served differed, depending on who was hosting you and who his or her guest winemaker was. This year, my wife Annette and I were the guests of Wilhelm Weil, whose guest winemaker was Ernst Loosen from the Mosel. So, we enjoyed the superb wines of Weingut Robert Weil and Weingut Dr. Loosen. Please note that Robert Weil wines are part of the “Friends of Erni” portfolio at Loosen Bros. USA.
See also:
Weingut Robert Weil (VDP)
German Riesling and International Grape Varieties – Top Wine Makers Wilhelm Weil and Markus Schneider at Kai Buhrfeindt’s Grand Cru in Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Visiting Wilhelm Weil at his Weingut Robert Weil in Kiedrich, Germany
Tasting with Wilhelm Weil the 2010 Weingut Weil Wines in Kiedrich, Germany
The German Winemakers at the 4th Riesling Rendezvous in Seattle, USA
Weingut Dr. Loosen (VDP)
Riesling from Germany and Pinot Noir from Oregon: A Winemaker Dinner with Ernst Loosen, Weingut Dr. Loosen and J.Christopher Wines, at Black Salt in Washington DC.
Riesling, Pinot Noir and Indian Cuisine: A tête-à-tête Dinner with Winemaker Ernst Loosen, Weingut Dr. Loosen, at Rasika in Washington DC, USA
Ernst Loosen and Dr. L. Riesling - His Hugely Popular Entry-level Wine Sold Throughout the World;
The Doctor Made a House Call - A Tasting with Ernst Loosen, Weingut Dr. Loosen, at MacArthur Beverages in Washington DC, USA
A Riesling Guru and a Killer Guitarist cum Cult Winemaker: Ernst Loosen and Jay Somers and their J. Christopher Winery in Newberg, Oregon
Wine ratings: Two American/German wines - Eroica and Poet's Leap - on Top 100 Wines from Washington State list for 2009
German American Wines: (1) Pacific Rim Riesling (2) Eroica and (3) Woelffer's Schillerwein
The German Winemakers at the 4th Riesling Rendezvous in Seattle, USA
The Rheingau
It is remarkable: For its entire length of nearly 560 miles, the Rhine flows north with one exception – a 28-mile stretch where the river changes its course. Here, it flows to the west, thereby enabling both the river and the vineyards facing it to bask in the warmth of the sun all day long. This is the Rheingau, one of the medium-size German wine regions. It is a quietly beautiful region, rich in tradition. Queen Victoria's enthusiasm for Hochheim's wines contributed to their popularity in England, where they, and ultimately, Rhine wines in general, were referred to as Hock.
Picture: The Rheingau
The third President of the USA - and notable bon viveur - Thomas Jefferson visited the Rheingau in 1788 and wrote that the wine of the "Abbaye of Johnsberg is the best made on the Rhine without comparison … That of the year 1775 is the best." He also referred to the Rheingau’s Riesling as the "small and delicate Rhysslin which grows only from Hochheim to Rudesheim". Impressed by the quality of the Rheingau Riesling wines, he bought 100 grapevines to take back to his estate in Virginia.
The Rheingau enjoys a distinctly continental climate with cold winters and warm, but not hot, summers. The Rheingau is dominated by Riesling, accounting for 4/5 of the vineyard area. Wilhelm Weil, our host, produces only Riesling wines.
Reception
The event started with a reception, where Rheingau Charta Rieslings were served.
Gala Luncheon
6 courses in 7 hours, i.e. basically every hour one cours with 2 wines, from Weingut Weil and Weingut Dr. Loosen at our table.
Marinierte Fjordforelle, mit rettich,rucola und limonene-crème fraiche – Chef: Dirk Schroer, Burg Schwarzenstein (18 points Gault Millau)
2012 Graacher Riesling Trocken, Dr. Loosen
2011 Kiedricher Riesling Trocken, Robert Weil
Landei, mit spinat, risottoschaum, culatello, bergkaese und roestbrot – Chef: Hans Stefan Steinheuer, Steinheuers Restaurant (Bad Neuenahr Heppingen) (2 stars Michelin)
1998 Erdener Treppchen Riesling Kabinett, Dr. Loosen
2009 Kiedricher Klosterberg Riesling Trocken, Robert Weil
Zander und Geschmolzener Kalpskopf, an salat von geraeucherten graupen, kalbskopf und linsen im lauchsud – Chef: Rolf Straubinger, Burgrestaurant Staufeneck (Salach) (1 star Michelin)
2011 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling VDP.Grosses Gewaechs, Dr. Loosen
2008 Kiedricher Graefenberg, Riesling Trocken Erstes Gewaechs, Robert Weil
Saumagen mit Gaenseleber, auf trueffelmousseline und heller pfeffersauce – Chef: Stefan Neugebauer, Schwarzer Hahn im Deidesheimer Hof (1 star Michelin)
1990 Uerziger Wuerzgarten, Riesling Auslese, Dr. Loosen
2006 Kiedricher Turmberg, Riesling Spaetlese, Robert Weil
Faersenfilet, auf schwarzwurzel mit hummer, estragon und kuerbisnocken – Chef: Michael Ritter, Wiesbaden
2011 Uerziger Wuerzgarten, Riesling Alte Rebe, VDP. Grosses Gewaechs, Dr. Loosen
2009 Kiedricher Graefenberg, Riesling Trocken, Erstes Gewaechs, Robert Weil
1999 Uerziger Wuerzgarten, Riesling Beerenauslese, Dr. Loosen
2007 Kiedricher Graefenberg, Riesling Auslese, Robert Weil
Wilhelm Weil thanked the 6 Chefs and their teams for making this extraordinary event possible.
After Party
The event ended with an after party, where one could taste all the wines that were poured during the luncheon … but also could go for a draft beer.
schiller-wine: Related Postings
Germany’s Top 10 Winemakers (with 5 Grapes) - The Gault Millau WeinGuide Deutschland 2013
German Spaetlese Wines Can Come in Different Versions. I Have Counted Five.
Visiting Weingut Josef Leitz in Ruedesheim – Johannes Leitz is Germany’s Winemaker of the Year, Gault Millau WeinGuide 2011
Hanging out with Rheingau Winemakers: Dirk Wuertz, Desiree Eser, Alexander Jakob Jung, Hansi Bausch and Christian Ress in Hattenheim, Rheingau, Germany
JJ Pruem Goes Supermarket: Meeting Katharina Pruem and Tasting the Incredible JJ Pruem Wines at Wegmans
Five Hochheim (Rheingau) Winemakers Presented their Vintage 2011 Wines in Hochheim, Germany
Bollinger Chef de Cave Mathieu Kauffmann Moves to Weingut Reichsrat von Buhl in the Pfalz, Germany
Meeting Valckenberg Owner Wilhelm Steifensand and Tasting his Wines
Bordeaux Wine Tour 2013 by ombiasy
German Wine and Culture Tour by ombiasy, 2013
American Whiskey Producers in Germany
German Riesling and International Grape Varieties – Top Wine Makers Wilhelm Weil and Markus Schneider at Kai Buhrfeindt’s Grand Cru in Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Visiting Wilhelm Weil at his Weingut Robert Weil in Kiedrich, Germany
Tasting with Wilhelm Weil the 2010 Weingut Weil Wines in Kiedrich, Germany
The German Winemakers at the 4th Riesling Rendezvous in Seattle, USA
Riesling from Germany and Pinot Noir from Oregon: A Winemaker Dinner with Ernst Loosen, Weingut Dr. Loosen and J.Christopher Wines, at Black Salt in Washington DC.
Riesling, Pinot Noir and Indian Cuisine: A tête-à-tête Dinner with Winemaker Ernst Loosen, Weingut Dr. Loosen, at Rasika in Washington DC, USA
Ernst Loosen and Dr. L. Riesling - His Hugely Popular Entry-level Wine Sold Throughout the World
The Doctor Made a House Call - A Tasting with Ernst Loosen, Weingut Dr. Loosen, at MacArthur Beverages in Washington DC, USA
A Riesling Guru and a Killer Guitarist cum Cult Winemaker: Ernst Loosen and Jay Somers and their J. Christopher Winery in Newberg, Oregon
Wine ratings: Two American/German wines - Eroica and Poet's Leap - on Top 100 Wines from Washington State list for 2009
German American Wines: (1) Pacific Rim Riesling (2) Eroica and (3) Woelffer's Schillerwein
The German Winemakers at the 4th Riesling Rendezvous in Seattle, USA