Here are some more pix from our 2010 Customer Tour. Enjoy! And if these pix inspire you to see the beautiful Mosel Valley for yourself, see “How to Visit Us” on our Facebook page.
The Dr. Loosen Patio
The group goes for a Mosel Cruise
Before the vineyard hike.
Ernie talks about slate
Hiking in Erdener Treppchen
Matt, Wendy, Ian and Ernie
The party is on!
MORE FUN CUSTOMER TOUR PIX ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE.
If you didn’t make it to Riesling Rendezvous 2010 at Chateau Ste. Michelle earlier this month, you can still read all about it.
Here is a selection of articles written by media people who attended. Reading them is like taking a mini-course about Riesling!
WineBusiness.com – All About Riesling
Decanter.com – Global Warming “Boon” for Riesling
Richard Leahy’s Wine Report – Finger Lakes, Michigan, Ontario Rieslings Shine at Riesling Rendezvous
Michigan By the Bottle – North By Northwest
Wine Peeps Blog – Riesling Rendezvous: Ageability of Riesling
Vint-ed – Swirls: Tasting My Way Through the Riesling Rendezvous
The Wine Economist – Riesling’s Rising Tide
Indian Wine Academy – Rendezvous Highlights Riesling’s Past and Future
JancisRobinson.com – Gallo, Constellation Follow the Riesling trend.
WineReviewOnline.com – Riesling: America’s Favorite Wine Grape?
Wine Beer of Washington State – Riesling Rendezvous Grand Tasting Review
Check out this fun vid of Matt Horbund (A Good Time With Wine) reviewing our JL Wolf Pinot Gris, our Villa Wolf Gewürztraminer and Dr. L Riesling.
To see more of Matt’s on air wine reviews, click here.
Here are some more great pics from our 2010 Customer Tour. Enjoy!
Crossing the Rhine on the little ferry from Bingen to Rüdesheim, on our way to Weingut Robert Weil. Pictured (l to r) are Brian Harlan, Loosen Bros. USA national sales manager; John Metz, Jr., owner of Aqua Blue, Atlanta; Ron Mumford, J&P Wholesale, Las Vegas; Stephen Hoppin, Southern Wine & Spirits, Colorado.
Martina Weil, wife of Wilhelm Weil, greets the tour group at the estate’s very modern Vinothek.
The group enjoys a welcoming glass of Riesling Sekt (sparkling wine) at the Robert Weil Vinothek.
Here’s the whole group, neatly arranged on the front porch of the Robert Weil manor house. From left to right: Ian Dick, East Coast Sales Manager for Loosen Bros. USA; Ken Winn, Signature Wine & Spirits, Chicago; Deb Donohoe & Chris Forniciari, Classic Wine Imports, Boston; Roberta Nemo & John Metz, Jr., Aqua Blue, Atlanta; Ron Mumford, J&P Wholesale, Las Vegas; Doug Krenik (hiding behind the post), Midwest Sales Manager for Loosen Bros. USA; Brian Harlan, our National Sales Manager; Stephen Hoppin, Southern Wine & Spirits, Colorado; Wendy Stuckey, winemaker for Chateau Ste. Michelle; Ernie Loosen; Stefan Bieber, cellarmaster at Weingut Robert Weil; Marie-Charlotte Weil, daughter of Wilhelm and Martina; Martina Weil, our host.
Deb Donohoe & Kirk Wille: One of the great things about this annual tour is all the great people we get to meet. Here's Loosen USA VP Kirk Wille at the Weil estate with Deb Donohoe, from Classic Wine Imports in Boston.
Posing with our good friends and colleagues at Robert Weil (l to r) Brian, Ian, Martina, Kirk, Marie-Charlotte, Doug, Ernie, Stefan.
Join us for the Ultimate Riesling Experience with the Wines of Dr. Loosen & Robert Weil At MoonFish Restaurant in Orlando, Florida.
Friday, July 16th
6:30pm
MENU AND PAIRINGS
Course 1
Dr. L Riesling
Yellow fin Ahi Tuna Tar Tar
With Fresh CIlantro, thinly sliced California Jalapenos, Hass Avocado,
and Fresh Mango Puree
______________________________________________
Course 2
Loosen Estate Kabinett
Espresso Encrusted Wagyu “Kobe” Beef Tenderloin
With Hoisin Cream and spicy Asian Garlic Mashed Potatoes
______________________________________________
Course 3
Robert Weil Trocken
MoonFish Lobster Encrusted Sea Bass
with Balsamic reduction and Szechwan Green Beans
______________________________________________
Course 4
Loosen Beerenauslese Riesling
Double Chocolate Cherry Brioche
With Amarena Cherries and sweet Riesling reduction
______________________________________________
$50 per person
(Tax & Gratuity not included)
Limited Space • Reservations (407) 363-7262
The BBC recently did a series of stories quoting Ernie Loosen on the worldwide protest to stop construction of a bridge that will threaten the world’s most valuable Riesling vineyards and ruin the entire character of the lovely Mosel Valley.
Please view these stories and add your voice to the protest.
Anger Over Riesling Road Scheme Plans. (video)
Rescuing the Riesling. (article)
Our National Sales Manager, Brian (“The Harlanator”) Harlan attended the Kapalua Wine & Food Festival on Maui in June. Here’s his report:
The 2010 Kapalua Wine Festival featured a seminar entitled “Wine Idol: The Master Sommelier Challenge”, hosted by Geoff Kruth, MS, of the Farmhouse Inn in Forestville, California. Seven Master Sommeliers each selected a wine for the competition. The wines were poured in the order below and each sommelier had up to five minutes to pitch their choice.
PANEL MEMBERS:
* Fred Dame, MS
* Blakesley Chappellet
* Michael Jordan, MS
THE MASTER SOMMELIERS AND THEIR WINE SELECTIONS:
Shayne Bjornholm, MS, Washington State Wine Director
2007 Simonnet-Febvre Chablis Premier Cru “Vaillons”, France
Brian Cronin, MS
2009 Domaine Sigalas Santorini Assyrtikos, Greece
Michael Jordan, MS, Word Vineyards
2006 Williams Selyem Pinot Noir “Rochioli River Block”, RRV
Greg Harrington, MS, Gramercy Cellars
2007 Gramercy Cellars Syrah “John Lewis”, Walla Walla
Emily Wines, MS, Kimpton Restaurant Group
1998 Robert Mondavi Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa
Joe Spellman, MS, Justin Winery
2007 Justin ‘Savant’ (Cabernet/Syrah), Paso Robles
Jay Fletcher, MS, Southern W&S of Colorado
2006 Dr. Loosen Erdener Prälat Auslese, Mosel, Germany
***
Jay Fletcher told the Prälat Bishop story in glorious detail with Michael Jordan urging him on. Jay said: “You want to know why the priest on the label is so happy? He gets to drink Erdener Prälat each and every vintage!”
Several members of the audience commented the Prälat “is the best wine we’ve tasted all weekend.”
The Dr. Loosen Erdener Prälat was awarded First Place. Second Place was the Williams Selyem Pinot Noir.
If you’re not yet familar with our joint venture with Chateau Ste. Michelle, Eroica Riesling, be sure to try a bottle soon.
Here’s what Wine Spectator’s Harvey Steiman had to say about it recently.
“Most recently, I popped a 2005 for guests to drink before dinner and through a first course of spaghetti dressed with asparagus pesto (Mark Bittman’s recipe from a recent New York Times article). Under its top layer of white grapefruit and floral character, the wine showed plenty of minerality, which rose up more prominently against the mild asparagus flavor. 90 points, non-blind. It was a hit.”
Read the rest of the article here.