The Eichelmann Wine Guide Deutschland 2015 – one of the 4 main wine guides in Germany (along with GaultMillau, Feinschmecker and the relatively new Falstaff) - was released in November 2014.
In the Eichelmann Wine Guide Deutschland 2015, Gerhard Eichelmann presents 850 winemakers and reviews 9400 wines. For the rating of the winemakers, he employs a system that awards a winery up to five stars, where 5 stars indicate “world class, top international producers”. There are about 2 dozens of German winemakers in this group and I will post separately about the new list. The wines are assessed using a 50-100 point scale rating system.
Additionally, in each issue a Rising Star of the Year as well as the producers of the best collections of red wines, white wines and noble-sweet wines are named.
Best White Wine Collection of the Year: Weingut Beurer from Stetten in Württemberg
1o hectares. Completely unknown outside of Germany. Even within Germany, not a name that wine drinkers would come up with if asked for the best producer of German white wine. Jochen Beurer is totally committed to biodynamic winemaking; he prunes his vines only when the moon is waning. Weingut Beurer was asked to join the VDP - the German association of about 200 elite winemakers - in 2013.
Gerhard Eichelmann: This award will not please everybody. Those consumers who look for fruity wines that can be consumed rather young, will not find these kind of wines at Weingut Beurer. But those who are looking for authentic wines will find them at Weingut Beurer.
Best Red Wine Collection of the Year: Weingut Wachtstetter in Pfaffenhofen in Württemberg
16.5 hectares. Again, a surprise nomination. As for myself, I visited Weingut Wachstetter and have written about the outstanding wines of Pfaffenberg. In his speech, Gerhard Eichelmann singled out the world class Lembergers of Weingut Wachstetter. Indeed, they are top.
For more, see:
Weingut Wachtstetter in Wuerttemberg – A Profile, Germany
Best Collection of Noble-Sweet Wines of the Year: Weingut Selbach Oster in Zeltingen, Mosel
21 hectares. A world-class producer of Mosel wines, well known in Germany and abroad. Interestingly, earlier this year, Johannes Selbach teamed up with Paul Hobbs to create a new winery in the Finger Lakes Region in Upstate New York. See: Johannes Selbach, Weingut Selbach-Oster, teams up with Paul Hobbs to make Riesling in the Finger Lakes Region in New York State, USA/Germany
Gerhard Eichelmann: The Rieslings of Selbach-Oster convince with their elegance and cleanness, the sweetness is never offensive and the alcohol level always very moderate: Classic Mosel Rieslings
Rising Star of the Year: Weingut Höfflin in Bötzingen, Kaiserstuhl (Baden)
11 hectares. Organic wine producer.
Gerhard Eichelmann: The Höfflin wines are very different and very authentic.
schiller-wine: Related Postings Eichelmann
For previous years, see:
Best German Wines and Winemakers – Eichelmann Wine Guide Deutschland 2015 Awards, Germany
Germany’s 26 Top Winemakers - Eichelmann WeinGuide Deutschland 2014
Best German Winemakers – Eichelmann Wine Guide Deutschland 2014 Awards, Germany
Best German Wines and Winemakers – Eichelmann Wine Guide Deutschland 2013 Awards, Germany
Best German Wines - Eichelmann Wine Guide 2012 Awards, Germany
Wine ratings: German wine --- Eichelmann 2010 (Awards)
schiller-wine: Related Postings
Johannes Selbach, Weingut Selbach-Oster, teams up with Paul Hobbs to make Riesling in the Finger Lakes Region in New York State, USA/Germany
Weingut Wachtstetter in Wuerttemberg – A Profile, Germany
Germany-North Wine Tour by ombiasy, 2014
Germany-South Wine Tour by ombiasy, 2014