Press Release Archives

Jan

13

2016

Chateau Ste. Michelle & Dr. Loosen to Host 5th Riesling Rendezvous July 17-19, 2016

Woodinville, Wash.

Celebrate Riesling with top Producers & Experts from around the World!

Chateau Ste. Michelle of Washington state and Dr. Loosen estate of Germany will host the fifth Riesling Rendezvous July 17-19, 2016 at Chateau Ste. Michelle and Bell Harbor International Conference Center in Seattle. The event brings together leading experts and producers to explore the versatility of Rieslings from around the world, discuss issues and opportunities surrounding the advancement of Riesling, and forge alliances among producers and Riesling enthusiasts.

Riesling Rendezvous is the largest event dedicated to Riesling in the United States. More than 75 producers from Germany, Alsace, Austria, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Michigan, Washington, Oregon, California and New York participated in the previous 2013 Riesling Rendezvous.Tickets for the 3-day event pass are $800.Grand Tasting only tickets are $125 for VIP and $85 for General Admission. *Grand Tasting VIP tickets include one extra hour of tasting. Registration for the three-day event is now open at rieslingrendezvous.com.

Riesling Rendezvous 2016 Program

Sunday, July 17 - GRAND TASTING at Chateau Ste. Michelle, Woodinville, Washington 4-8 pm VIP, 5-8 pm General Admission.
Sample the finest Rieslings from around the globe, mingle with winemakers, savor Riesling friendly cuisine by several of Seattle’s popular food trucks and enjoy live music on the picturesque grounds of Chateau Ste. Michelle.

Monday and Tuesday, July 18 & 19 – Educational Seminars at Bell Harbor International Conference Center, Seattle, Washington
BLIND TASTINGS explore Riesling styles, from powerful dry wines of Austria, Alsace and Australia to the elegant German variations and flavorful interpretations from North America. The blind tastings will be moderated by Ray Isle, Executive Wine Editor, Food & Wine and Joshua Greene, Editor, Wine & Spirits.

BREAKOUT SESSIONS will delve into topics including:

  • The State of Riesling: Climatic Trends, Current Growing Conditions and Future Projections Presented by Prof. Hans Schultz, Geisenheim University, and Prof. Gregory Jones, Southern Oregon University
  • Discovering the Diversity of Australian Riesling. Moderator, Mike Bennie, Journalister. Sponsored by Wine Australia
  • The Essential Elements of Dry Riesling Riesling An exploration of the effects that vintage, viticulture and winemaking techniques can have on the quality and expressiveness of dry Rieslings. Moderator, John Haegar, Wine Writer and Author
  • Tips from the Pros on Selling Riesling in Restaurants
  • Rocks & Riesling: Alsace’s Diverse Terroir An exploration of five distinct soil profiles from the 13 terroirs of Alsace. Led by Thierry Fritsch, Head Oenologist and Chief Wine Educator of the Alsace Wine Bureau in France. Sponsored by Alsace Wines / CIVA.
  • Winemakers Only Roundtable Is global warming real? Winemakers share the truth about climate change from personal experience.
  • Sponsor Showcase and Walk Around Activities including Rieslings from Featured Regions, Riesling and Smoked Salmon pairing, Dry Riesling & Cheese tasting, Riesling Cocktails, Riesling Friendly Appetizers, and more…

More than a decade ago, Chateau Ste. Michelle teamed up with Ernst Loosen to collaborate on Eroica Riesling, an ultra-premium Washington Riesling. Riesling Rendezvous was born out of this special partnership’s commitment to promote the extraordinary nature of Riesling. Riesling Rendezvous is a member of the Riesling Coalition that brings events to North America, Australia and Germany on a rotating basis.

About Chateau Ste. Michelle
Founded in 1934, Chateau Ste. Michelle pioneered vinifera grape growing in Washington state and has been producing classic European varietal wines under the Ste. Michelle label since 1967. The winery combines an ongoing dedication to research with a commitment to classic winemaking traditions. The winery owns 3,500 acres of vineyards in the Columbia Valley of eastern Washington, including Canoe Ridge Estate and Cold Creek, which are LIVE and Salmon Safe certified. Chateau Ste. Michelle enjoys winemaking partnerships with two of the world’s most distinguished vintners. Col Solare is an alliance with Tuscany’s Piero Antinori and Eroica Riesling is a partnership with the Mosel’s Ernst Loosen. Chateau Ste. Michelle has been a champion of Riesling for more than 45 years and was among the first to plant Riesling in Washington state. Ste. Michelle was catapulted into the national spotlight when its 1972 Johannisberg Riesling won the now-famous blind tasting of nineteen White Rieslings sponsored by the Lost Angeles Times.

About Dr. Loosen Estate The Dr. Loosen estate has a 200-year tradition of producing Riesling in Germany’s Mosel region. With his modern world view and his traditional approach to winemaking, Ernst Loosen strives to produce wines that unmistakably express the character of Riesling and of the vineyards where they are grown. Decanter magazine named Ernst Loosen 2005 “Man of the Year” for his perseverance in promoting and producing great Rieslings around the world.

Riesling Rendezvous thanks its sponsors: Wine Australia, Alsace Wines, Idaho Wine Commission, Oregon Riesling Producers (Alexana, Argyle, Brandborg Vineyards and Winery, Brooks Wines, Chehalem, Elk Cove Vineyards), Great Northwest Wine, Beecher’s, and Fromagerie du Prebyt`ere, Kaeskuche.

View Completed Riesling Rendezvous Program Schedule.

View Riesling RendezvousVideo.

For more information, visit rieslingrendezvous.com.

Riesling Rendezvous is a registered trademark of Ste. Michelle Wine Estates Ltd.

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For further information:
Lynda Eller
media@ste-michelle.com