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
This posting focuses on Austria, more specifically, the Austrian wines that were presented and the Austrian winemakers participating in the 2nd International Riesling Symposium. See below for more postings on the 2nd International Riesling Symposium.
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. 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.
Austrian Winemakers at the 2nd International Riesling Symposium
Weingut Bruendelmayer
Weingut Schloss Gobelsburg
Weingut Franz Hirtzberger
Weingut Jurtschitsch
Weingut Emmerich Knoll
Weingut Fred Loimer
Weingut F.X. Pichler
Austrian Wines at the 2nd International Riesling Symposium
Austrian wines were shown in 2 of the 4 major tastings: (1) 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, and (2) Riesling and Aging Potential. A Tasting at the 2nd International Riesling Symposium, led by Caro Maurer, MW, 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
Weingut F.X. Pichler Wachau
2009 Duernstein Kellerberg Smaragd
See:
Vintage 2011 Tasting with Lucas Pichler, Weingut F.X. Pichler, with Dirk Wuertz at his Koenigsmuehle in Rheinhessen, Austria/Germany
Weingut Hirtzberger Wachau
2009 Spitz Singerriedel Smaragd
Weingut Knoll
2009 Duernstein Schuett Smaragd
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.
See:
Austria at the 4th Riesling Rendezvous in Seattle, USA
Weingut Bründelmayer Kamptal
2010 Zoebinger Heiligenstein Alte Reben Erste Lage
Pictures: Christian G.E. Schiller and Willi Bründelmayer, Weingut Bründelmayer
Weingut Loimer Kamptal
2010 Langenlois Seeberg Erste Lage Kamptal DAC Reserve
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.
See:
Austria at the 4th Riesling Rendezvous in Seattle, USA
Riesling and Aging Potential. A Tasting at the 2nd International Riesling Symposium, led by Caro Maurer, MW, Germany
Weingut Jurtschitsch Kamptal
2003 Zöbinger Heiligenstein
Caro Maurer: 2003 was a hot and dry year, has prevented noble rot from developing, Alwin Jurtschitsch, the young winemaker, met his wife Stefanie Jurtschitsch (nee Hasselbach – Weingut Gunderloch), also a winemaker, in that year, fermented and aged in stainless steel, a very typical Kamptal wine, exotic in the nose, it shows an elegant leanness, despite the high alcohol content, which is amazing, still a very young wine.
See:
The Wines of Stefanie and Alwin Jurtschitsch, Weingut Jurtschitsch, Kamptal, Austria
"Wurzelwerk" Goes America: 3 Vineyards, 3 Winemakers and 9 Wines
Schloss Gobelsburg Kamptal
2002 Kammerner Gaisberg Alte Reben
Caro Maurer: Same vintage, different country, the wine is more on the floral side than on the fruity side, has some aging notes, very dry, a complex wine.
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 - Visit of 3 Prestigious, Historic Rheingau Wineries: Weingut Robert Weil, Hessische Staatsweingüter Kloster Eberbach and Schloss Johannisberg, Germany
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
Riesling and Aging Potential. A Tasting at the 2nd International Riesling Symposium, led by Caro Maurer, MW, Germany
Wines and Winemakers from Australia and New Zealand at the 2nd International Riesling Symposium, Rheingau, Germany
Austrian Wines and Winemakers at the 2nd International Riesling Symposium in Germany (Rheingau)
German Riesling Producers at the 2. International Riesling Symposium in the Rheingau, Germany
American and 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
Vintage 2011 Tasting with Lucas Pichler, Weingut F.X. Pichler, with Dirk Wuertz at his Koenigsmuehle in Rheinhessen, Austria/Germany
Austria at the 4th Riesling Rendezvous in Seattle, USA
The Wines of Stefanie and Alwin Jurtschitsch, Weingut Jurtschitsch, Kamptal, Austria
"Wurzelwerk" Goes America: 3 Vineyards, 3 Winemakers and 9 Wines