Tasting of Rare Wines at the Eberbach Monastery- A Century of Riesling

The year 2010 is a special one for the German wine world: The Association of Prädikat Wine Estates (VDP) celebrates its centennial. This anniversary poses an adequate moment to encounter the achievements of the VDP for German quality winemaking, which were proven in a delicious way during the tasting. The grape variety Riesling, in its diverse facets, was presented as a masterpiece of German wine making art.

The Eberbach monastery, with its special historic importance for German wine and Riesling, offered a worthy surrounding for this special event. A tasting of this kind has never taken place before, and might well never happen again. It was the event of the year for experts and wine enthusiasts.

Ralf Frenzel, owner of the publishing house Tre Torri, which publishes “FINE – Das Weinmagazin”, explains: “In an impressing way, this tasting of rare wines documents that the quality of German Riesling remains continuously high - it is one of the best wines worldwide.”

Other members of the tasting, which was attended by many celebrities, also agreed that they were witnesses and participants of a unique tasting: Internationally renowned British wine critic and Riesling expert Jancis Robinson emphasized that it was a big surprise to see “of what a great condition even the most dry Rieslings were after 50, 60 or 70 years.” For her, the tasting in the Eberbach monastery was “further proof of my opinion that Riesling is the best grape variety in the world.”

Furthermore, sommelier world champion Markus Del Monego was surprised “about the freshness offered by wines older than a century”. It was very important to him that not only wines of famous vintages, but also wines of forgotten vintages could be tasted during this unique event: “Thus, I could get a full picture of the terroir in the context of historic cycles.”

Wilhelm Weil, winemaker and president of the VDP Rheingau, explained, he was able to taste “grandiose fine wines”, but it was only through the choice of wines, representing a century, was he able to “understand the terroir of the Rheingau area anew.” The “representation of vintages, which was completely new, profoundly enriched my knowledge needed to evaluate Riesling.” He concludes: “This courageous tasting was impressive and can most likely not be repeated.” (red.yoopress)