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 the US and Canada, more specifically, the wines from the US and Canada that were presented and the winemakers from the US and Canada that participated in 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
Canadian Winemakers at the 2nd International Riesling Symposium
Cave Spring Cellars, Niagara Peninsula
Tantalus Vineyards British Columbia (Okanagan Valley)
US American Winemakers at the 2nd International Riesling Symposium
Chateau Grand Traverse, Michigan
Chateau Ste. Michelle, Washington State
Lamoreaux Landing Wine Cellars, Finger Lakes
Red Newt Cellars, Finger Lakes
Trefethen, Napa
Wines from the US and Canada at the 2nd International Riesling Symposium
Wines from the US and Canada were included in 2 of the 4 tastings: (1) Rieslings from the New World – More Traditional than Rieslings from the Old World? A Tasting at the 2014 International Riesling Symposium, Germany, Moderated by Stuart Pigott, and (2) Riesling and Aging Potential. A Tasting at the 2nd International Riesling Symposium, led by Caro Maurer, MW, Germany
Rieslings from the New World – More Traditional than Rieslings from the Old World? A Tasting at the 2014 International Riesling Symposium, Germany, Moderated by Stuart Pigott
New Style Dry Rieslings from North America
Trefethen Family Vineyards, 2013, Dry Riesling
Stuart Pigott: Who says that Riesling does not well in Napa Valley and should not be grown there? Trefethen Family Vineyards was founded in 1968. The vineyard area totals 243 hectares. Annual production is 60000 cases, of which 3% only is Riesling.
See also:
Oysters and Dry Riesling: Tasting the Pacific Coast Oyster Wine Competition Award-winning Trefethen 2012 Dry Riesling with Kumamoto Oysters in Seattle, USA
Tantalus Vineyards, 2012, Riesling
Stuart Pigott: This wine is from Canada, from an area bordering Washington State. Many people would say that it was impossible to make wine there. Tantalus started to make wine in 2005. Production is 6000 cases. Very high acidity. This is a wine that is daring.
Chateau Grand Traverse, 2012, Lot 49 Riesling
Chateau Grand Traverse, 2012, Whole Cluster Riesling
Stuart Pigott: Edward O’Keefe founded Chateau Grand Traverse in 1974 with the aim of producing world class Riesling on the Old Mission Peninsula in Northern Michigan, USA, not a place that people would associate with world class Rieslings. A place where you need to be daring and John O’Keefe, who is responsible for these 2 wines, is daring. The wines have some very interesting aromas that you do not find elsewhere, anis, phenol. Riesling accounts for 70% of the production of Chateau Grand Traverse.
New Style Medium-dry Rieslings from North America
Chateau Ste. Michelle, 2012 Eroica Riesling
Stuart Pigott: A joint venture of Chateau Ste. Michelle in Washington State and Weingut Dr. Ernst Loosen in the Mosel Valley, with grapes from Washington State. A very successful wine. Chateau Ste. Michelle makes almost 3 million cases of wine every year. For me the distinctive aroma is white peach.
Cave Spring, 2012 CSV Riesling
Stuart Pigott: Named after the limestone caves and mineral springs located in their eponymous vineyard, Cave Spring Cellars has been producing outstanding wine for nearly 30 years. Founded and operated by the Pennachetti family and veteran winemaker Angelo Pavan, the estate has been vital in the development of the wine industry in Niagara, most notably as pioneers of vitis vinefera with plantings dating back to the 1970s.
Growing on limestone. In the summer it is almost as warm as in Napa Valley. Extreme climatic situation. A very uncompromising style.
Lamoreaux Landing, 2012 Red Oak Vineyard Riesling
Stuart Pigott: The Finger Lakes region is receiving quite a bit of attention. Both wines (this and the next wine) are from the Seneca Lake, in the medium-dry style. The winery was founded in 1990. Total production is 14000 cases, with 30% accounting for by Riesling.
Red Newt Cellars, 2012, Sawmill Creek Vineyards Riesling North Block
Stuart Pigott: The winery was founded in 1998. Total production is 18000 cases. Riesling accounts for 75%. Red Newt Cellars does not own any vineyards and bus all fruit from growers. Both wines are high in acidity. For both winemakers, Cabernet Franc is the other important grape.
Riesling and Aging Potential. A Tasting at the 2nd International Riesling Symposium, led by Caro Maurer, MW, Germany
Cave Spring Cellars Canada
2002 Riesling CSV
Caro Maurer: 2002 was a very dry vintage in Canada, the vines were planted in the 1970s, lots of apple notes, appears to be bone-dry but in fact has 19 gr/RS, a wonderful balance, a different style, not a German style, not an Austrian style, a Canadian style.
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)
Wines and Winemakers from the US and Canada at the 2nd International Riesling Symposium, Rheingau, Germany
German 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
Oysters and Dry Riesling: Tasting the Pacific Coast Oyster Wine Competition Award-winning Trefethen 2012 Dry Riesling with Kumamoto Oysters in Seattle, USA
Bumping into Randall Grahm in San Francisco, Owner of famed Bonny Doon Vineyard in Santa Cruz in California, USA
Visiting Winemaker Steven Sealock at Pacific Rim Winemakers in Washington State, USA
Pacific Rim Riesling #1 of Wine Enthusiast Top 100 Best Buy List 2011 - Meeting Founder Randall Grahm and Winemakers Nicolas Quille and Steven Sealock
German Winemakers in the World: Johann Schiller - the father of Canada's wine industry
Eiswein in Germany and Icewine in Canada