If you are a fan of Riesling – fruity sweet, noble sweet and dry - and like good food, and have not yet been to one of the 25 Riesling Gala events at Kloster Eberbach in the Rheingau, you should mark your calendar and make an early reservation for the next Riesling Gala in November 2016. Tickets are for a bit more than Euro 200 and available from the VDP Rheingau and its participating members. What you will get is an amazing event in a breathtaking historic setting that starts at 11 am with a reception, goes on with a 6 course seated luncheon until 6 pm and ends with an after-party with more wine, also at the historic Kloster Eberbach.
All of the pictures in this posting are mine, with the exclusions of a few pictures I took from the facebook pages of Weingut Robert Weil, Mario Scheuermann and Hotel Restaurant Friedrich von Schiller.
For last years' Riesling Gala, see here:
Riesling Gala 2014 at Kloster Eberbach in the Rheingau, Germany
Rheingau Riesling Gala 2013 at Kloster Eberbach, Germany
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 28th 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 600 guests enjoyed a 6 courses dinner, each course prepared by a different top chef, almost all of them Michelin-starred.
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.
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.
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 6 hours, i.e. every hour one course with 2 wines, from Weingut Weil and Weingut Dr. Loosen at our table.
After each course, you had a bit of time to walk around, talk with other guests and try the wines of other winemakers.
Welcome Greetings by Wilhelm Weil, Weingut Robert Weil
Wilhelm Weil, Weingut Robert Weil and President of the VDP Rheingau, welcomed the guests, with all participating winemakers and the Rheingau Wine Queens.
In the Kitchen
To prepare world class food for 600 guests implied a major effort in the kitchen.
Starter
First Course: Chef Nils Henkel
gebeizte fjordforelle
butternusskürbis, lebercreme, miso, kernöl
2014 Graach Riesling Trocken
VDP.Ortswein
Weingut Dr. Loosen
2014 Kiedricher Turmberg Riesling Trocken
VDP.Erste Lage
Weingut Robert Weil
Second Course: Chef Hans Stefan Steinheuer
kalbsblutwurst
mit geräuertem aal, apfel und kalbskopf im sud
2011 Ürzig Würzgarten Trocken GG
VDP.Grosse Lage
Weingut Dr. Loosen
2011 Kiedrich Gräfenberg Riesling Trocken EG
VDP.Grosse Lage
Weingut Robert Weil
Third Course: Chef Dieter Müller
kastaniencremesuppe
trüffel, gänseleber-geflügelflan
1998 Ürzig Würzgarten Riesling Spätlese
VDP.Grosse Lage
Weingut Dr. Loosen
2002 Robert Weil Riesling Spätlese
VDP.Grosse Lage
Weingut Robert Weil
Fourth Course: Chef Sonja Frühsammer
kabeljau
auf liebstöckelbohnen
mit ochsenmaul-vinaigrette
2013 Wehlen Sonnenuhr Riesling Trocken GG
VDP.Grosse Lage
Weingut Dr. Loosen
2013 Kiedrich Gräfenberg Riesling Trocken GG
VDP.Grosse Lage (Magnum)
Weingut Robert Weil
Fifth Course: Chef Matthias Schmidt
hirschkalb
rote bete in lauberde gegart
holunderbeeren, fichte, kornelkirsche, wacholder
2011 Erden Prälat Riesling Trocken GG
VDP.Grosse Lage Reserve
2012 Kiedrich Gräfenberg Riesling Trocken GG
VDP.Grosse Lage
Weingut Robert Weil
Sixth Course: Chef Elmar Simon
variation von pflaume & sellerie
gebrannte mandeln, zimt, isla del ron
2014 Erden Treppchen Riesling Spätlese
VDP.Grosse Lage
Weingut Dr. Loosen
2006 Kiedrich Gräfenberg Riesling Auslese
VDP.Grosse Lage
Weingut Robert Weil
Closing Ceremony
At the end of the luncheon, the chefs came to the stage again with their teams.
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. I finsihed the 2015 Riesling Gala with a Curry Wurst.
schiller-wine: Related Postings
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Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), Germany
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A German Riesling Feast in New York City: Rieslingfeier 2015, USA
Riesling Gala 2014 at Kloster Eberbach in the Rheingau, Germany
Rheingau Riesling Gala 2013 at Kloster Eberbach, Germany