The Eichelmann WeinGuide Deutschland 2017 – one of the 4 main wine guides in Germany (along with GaultMillau, Feinschmecker and the relatively new Falstaff) - was released in November 2016.
In the Eichelmann WeinGuide Deutschland 2017 Gerhard Eichelmann presents 935 winemakers and reviews 11000 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 of the Eichelmann WeinGuide Deutschland a (1) Rising Star of the Year as well as the producers of the best collections of (2) red wines, (3) white wines and (4) noble-sweet wines are named. Further, Gerhard Eichelmann presents a “Classic of the Year” Wine and an Honorary Award for Lifetime Achievement.
Best White Wine Collection: Weingut Max Müller I in Volkach
Franken
18 hectares
38% Silvaner, 15% Riesling, 15% Müller-Thurgau
Gerhard Eichelmann: Already in the first edition of this guide 17 years ago, Rainer Müller was praised as an up-and-coming winemaker in Franconia. Together with his wife Monika, he led the estate to the peak. In recent years they have clearly structured and differentiated the range with their son Christian. Especially their Silvaner wines show variety and class.
Best Red Wine Collection: Weingut Martin Wassmer
Baden
30 hectares
60% Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris
Gerhard Eichelmann: This is the first time that I selected a winemaker from the Baden Markgräflerland for best red wine collection. Martin Wassmer’s 2014 rd wines represent an impressive and harmonious red wine collection, including 4 Spätburgunder wines, which are very precise and very clearly distinguishable from each other.
Best Fruiuty-sweet and Noble-sweet Collection: Weingut Nik Weis - Sankt Urbans-Hof
Mosel
35 hectares
95% Riesling
VDP
Gerhard Eichelmann: Again in 2015, Nik Weis has to offer a number of “fat” wines, Beerenauslese, Trockenbeerenauslesen, wines for eternity. Already now exciting are the Kabinett, Spätlese and Auslese wines, all fascinating with complexity and freshness, race and elegance. And Nik Weis’s wine portfoilio offers you the possibility to contrast Mosel and Saar wines, At Nik Weis, beautiful Mosel and Saar can be juxtaposed, Goldtröpfchen and Bockstein, Saarfeilser and Laurentiuslay.
Rising Star of the Year: Weingut Carl Ehrhard
Rheingau
10 hectares
Gerhard Eichelmann: Since the first edition of the Eichelmann WineGuide, I recommend Weingut Carl Ehrhard fin Rüdesheim. He is now at the helm of his estate for 20 years and the wines get better and better. Is it the serenity Carl Ehrhard or the fact that he lets express his wines the terroir where the grapes come from? The phalanx of his Rieslings from the Rüdesheimer Berg is impressive.
Klassiker des Jahres/ Classic of the Year: Halenberg, Nahe, Riesling, GG, Weingut Emrich-Schönleber
Nahe
18 hectares
85% Riesling
VDP
Gerhard Eichelmann: Every year a fascinating Riesling with a huge aging potential.
In addition to the 4 Wineries of the Year, Gerhard Eichelmann presents a Classic of the Year to be added to the "Mondo Classic Library", a list of the German Grand Cru wines from a grand vineyard.
Honorary Award for Lifetime Achievement: Werner Knipser, Weingut Knipser in Laumersheim
Pfalz
56 hectares
30% Pinot Noir, 20% Riesling, 9% Merlot, 8% Chardonnay
Gerhard Eichelmann: In 1983. Werner Knipser began to ferment and age his wines in barrique, to increase the red wine share, to go back to the classical German red grape varieties, but also to experiment with international grape varieties. It was him who put Laumersheim on the map and establish the Pfalz as a serious red wine producer. But one should not forget also led, with his brother Volker, the estate the elite of German white wine producers.
schiller-wine: Related Postings -Eichelmann
For previous years, see:
Germany's 28 Best Winemakers - Eichelmann WeinGuide Deutschland 2016
Best German Wines and Winemakers – Eichelmann WeinGuide Deutschland 2016 Awards, Germany
Germany's Top 27 Winemakers: 5 out of 5 Grapes - Eichelmann WeinGuide Deutschland 2015
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
Heads up for the 2017 Tours - to Germany and France - by ombiasy WineTours
Germany-East Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Art, Culture and History
Germany-North Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours: Quintessential German Riesling and the Northernmost Pinot Noir
Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)
Tasting at Weingut St. Urbans-Hof in Leiwen, Mosel, with Nik Weis – Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)
A Riesling Feast in an Historic Setting: Riesling Gala 2016 at Kloster Eberbach in the Rheingau, Germany