Here’s some exciting news for all you Riesling lovers around the world.

In an effort to increase the appreciation of Riesling around the world, Chateau Ste. Michelle and Dr. Loosen estate recently spearheaded a coalition of prominent Riesling producers and organizations that will host Riesling events in key Riesling countries around the world on a rotating basis.

Riesling Rendezvous 2010

Riesling Rendezvous was held in 2007, 2008 and July 2010 in Seattle, Washington, and is the largest Riesling-focused event in the United States. At the most recent Riesling Rendezvous, Chateau Ste. Michelle and Ernie Loosen met with Riesling organizations, including the International Riesling Foundation, VDP-Rheingau (regional branch of the VDP, Association of German Pradikat Wine Estates), Frankland Estate as well as Wines of Germany to come up with a schedule of international Riesling events in the U.S., Germany and Australia every year.

Moving forward, Riesling Rendezvous will take place in Seattle every three years on a rotating basis with the Frankland Estate International Riesling Tasting, in Australia, and the International Riesling Symposium, in Germany, hosted by the VDP-Rheingau.

“Chateau Ste. Michelle and Dr. Loosen have hosted Riesling Rendezvous in Seattle three times now, and we think it is a natural step to work with other groups to support Riesling events in key Riesling regions around the world,” says Ted Baseler, Ste. Michelle Wine Estates president and CEO. “Each event will have a different perspective based on the host region and organization, which will give Riesling enthusiasts and producers a unique experience each time.”

The International Riesling Foundation (IRF) will serve to support and promote all Riesling events. The IRF is an international organization, representing top producers in the world’s major Riesling-producing countries and regions. The calendar of international Riesling events is available on its website at drinkriesling.com.

“Worldwide, the overall quality of Riesling has improved dramatically in the past 20 years,” says Ernie Loosen, “but we still have a long way to go to get Riesling back to the high regard it held in the early 20th century. We see these three events as the global pillars of an on-going effort to firmly establish the commitment to top quality among producers, to educate and inspire members of the wine trade, and to introduce all levels of wine lovers to this amazing grape.”

Judi Cullam, owner of Frankland Estate, added, “This level of global cooperation for one varietal or wine group has never been seen or achieved before, we believe this will give even more weight to encourage wine lovers to celebrate the diversity and quality of the world’s most exciting white wine. “

“Many treasure Riesling as the world’s most precious white wine varietal,” says Wilhelm Weil of Weingut Robert Weil. “As such, we felt the time has come to hold a symposium in the Rheingau to celebrate Riesling in its German-speaking homelands. We need to move forward together with uncompromising quality standards – from protection of our precious terroirs and vineyard management to cellar technique to marketing measures – to safeguard and further develop Riesling’s current position. The IRS (International Riesling Symposium) would take this road in future together with our friends from the U.S. and Australia as the ‘Riesling Coalition’.”

MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR THESE UPCOMING RIESLING EVENTS:

Frankland Estate International Riesling Tasting
February 2012, Melbourne, Australia.

Riesling Rendezvous hosted by Chateau Ste. Michelle & Dr. Loosen Estate
July 14-16, 2013, Seattle, Washington, USA.

International Riesling Symposium sponsored by VDP
2014 Rheingau, Germany .

RELATED WEBSITES:

Riesling Rendezvous
rieslingrendezvous.com

International Riesling Foundation
drinkriesling.com

Frankland Estate
franklandestate.com.au

Dr. Loosen Estate
drloosen.com

Weingut Robert Weil
weingut-robert-weil.com

Wines of Germany
germanwinesusa.com