German wines were conclusive winners in probably the biggest ever
international Riesling tasting held this month. Over 1700 Rieslings
from 10 countries were tasted by an international panel of 160 tasters
at the best of Riesling 2002 competition held in Mainz, Germany.
In all, 14 of the 15 winning wines (see below)
were German. Winning producers included Emrich-Schönleber (Charles
Taylor Wines Ltd, tel: 020 7928 8151); Weingut Darting - whose 2001
Riesling will be available in Marks & Spencer as part of a new
German wine range from the end of this month; and Horst Sauer (Noel
Young Wines, tel: 01223 844744 / Justerini & Brooks, tel: 020
7484 6400), who has been enjoying an incredibly successful 2002 as
winner of a German Wine Marketing Initiative Award and three Gold
Medals in the International Wine Challenge.
The best of Riesling competition is particularly timely given the new
buzz which surrounds Riesling, widely regarded by wine experts as the
world's greatest white grape variety.
'It is our goal to give Germany’s showpiece vine the appreciation it
deserves and to hold it up at the same time for international
comparison,' said Hans-Artur Bauckhage, the Rheinland-Pfälzische
Minister of viticulture, organiser of the competition.
The best of Riesling 2002 included entrants from Australia, France,
Canada, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Austria, South Africa, Hungary, the
USA and, of course, Germany.
It is the second time the competition has been held, but the first time
it has taken the form of an official wine tasting. The winning wine
makers will be invited to an official awards celebration gala to be
held in Germany on 4 September 2002. The next best of Riesling
competition will be held in 2004.
