Chateau Ste. Michelle & Dr. Loosen to Host 3rd Riesling Rendezvous

Woodinville, Wash.

Chateau Ste. Michelle, the foremost North American Riesling producer, and Dr. Loosen, the highly acclaimed German Riesling estate, will host the third “Riesling Rendezvous,” an event designed to bring together leading Riesling experts and producers to explore the versatility of Rieslings from around the world. The three-day event features a grand tasting at Chateau Ste. Michelle winery in Woodinville, Washington along with panel tastings and breakout sessions held at the Hyatt Regency Bellevue. Registration details are available at rieslingrendezvous.com

“In 2008 we were amazed to have 73 producers from Germany, Alsace, Austria, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Michigan, Washington, Oregon, California and New York come to Woodinville to showcase the diversity and great attributes of Riesling,” says Ted Baseler, president, Ste. Michelle Wine Estates. “Riesling continues to be the fastest growing white varietal and we look forward to an even greater celebration this summer.”

Riesling Rendezvous kicks off with a grand tasting on the grounds of Chateau Ste. Michelle on July 11 from 5-8 p.m. On July 12 & 13 distinguished producers will guide blind tastings to explore Riesling styles, from powerful dry wines of Austria, Alsace and Australia to the elegant German variations and flavorful, spicy interpretations from North America. Breakout sessions will delve into topics including:

• Effect of climate change on Riesling – What it means in 2010 to say that Riesling is a cool climate grape variety and what could it mean in 2020.
• Greening of Riesling – Explore the latest developments in sustainable vineyard & winemaking practices.
• Riesling & Cheese Pairing – Experience a wide range of Rieslings paired with Northwest artisan cheese.
• Dry Riesling: 10 Years After – a tasting demonstrating Riesling’s capacity for long-term aging from top producers.
• Generation Riesling – A tasting featuring young German winemakers who are Riesling specialists. Sponsored by Wines of Germany.
• Discovering Austrian Riesling – Explore the powerful, dry styles of Rieslings from Austria. Sponsored by the Austrian Wine Marketing Board.
• Producers Only Roundtable – Sessions dedicated to a candid exchange of ideas on the challenges of growing and making Riesling.

“I’m very excited about the 2010 Riesling Rendezvous,” said Ernst Loosen. “Once again we’re going to have a gorgeous line-up of Rieslings from top-quality producers all over the world. And, in addition to all the great wines, we will have the chance to discuss some difficult challenges that wine growers will be facing in the coming years. I think it’s going to have a nice balance between the pure fun of tasting many styles of Riesling and the serious responsibilities we all share as wine producers.”

Chateau Ste. Michelle has been a champion of Riesling for more than 40 years and was among the first to plant Riesling in the state of Washington. 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 Los Angeles Times. Chateau Ste. Michelle offers up to eight different Rieslings designed to showcase the versatility of Riesling and the regional styles within Washington’s Columbia Valley, which produces more Riesling than any other American wine region.

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.

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. 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.

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 is a registered service mark of Ste. Michelle Wine Estates Ltd.

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For further information:
Lynda Eller
lynda.eller@smwe.com