The Top League of German WinemakersImportant German Wine Guides Published in November; Awards for the German Wine Elite Released December 4, 2006, Mainz, Germany With bated breath German winemakers and German wine enthusiasts await the annual publication – traditionally, in November – of the well-known German wine guides “Gault Millau WeinGuide” and “Eichelmann Deutschlands Weine.” This year marks the 14th edition of Gault Millau and the 8th for Eichelmann. Both guides offer a wealth of information about German wine estates and individual wines, and every year the subjective evaluations of the authors become the premium reference of Germany’s finest wines and wineries. Together, the guides comprise some 1,600 pages of reviews by Armin Diel & Joel Payne and Gerhard Eichelmann, who sample thousands of wines during the year preceding publication. Gault Millau WeinGuide 2007 pays tribute to more than 800 German winemakers, whose achievements are rated with grape clusters (one to five). An additional 260 estates are listed as “recommended” – candidates for “grape cluster status” in coming years. Wines are awarded up to 100 points. There is many a discovery to be made among the some 7,100 wines rated in the new edition, not least among the 150 top-quality wines listed as “bargains.” Fewer than a dozen estates qualified for the top ranking (five grape clusters): Weingut Fritz Haag, Mosel-Saar-Ruwer Theo Haart of Weingut Reinhold Haart in Piesport on the Mosel is the tasting panel’s “winemaker of the year.” According to the editors: “His grandiose Rieslings can blossom into true works of art. With great perseverance he has secured a place among the world’s best winemakers.” The “rising star of the year” is Rainer Schnaitmann from Fellbach in Württemberg. Gault Millau writes: “In less than a decade, Rainer Schnaitmann, with his red wines, has managed to work his way up into the rank of Germany’s finest producers. A remarkable achievement.” Hanspeter Ziereisen of Weingut Ziereisen in Efringen-Kirchen, southern Baden, has been named “discovery of the year.” His collection was so convincing that he was awarded two grape clusters straightaway. The honorary title “collection of the year” goes to to Weingut Joh. Jos. Prüm in Bernkatel-Wehlen on the Mosel. Eichelmann Deutschlands Weine 2007 reviews 944 German estates as well as 9,756 wines. The wines are rated according to the internationally common practice based on 100 points, whereas stars (one to five) are used to indicate the estates’ overall achievement. The following 29 estates rated five stars in this edition: Weingut Meyer-Näkel, Ahr Weingut Josef Leitz in Rüdesheim, Rheingau, holds the title for the “best white wine collection of the year” and “best red wine collection of the year” honors go to Weingut Bernhard Huber in Malterdingen, Baden. The award for the “best lusciously sweet wine collection of the year” goes to Weingut Forstmeister Geltz-Zilliken in Saarburg, Mosel-Saar-Ruwer. The “rising star of the year” is Weingut Wagner-Stempel in Siefersheim, Rheinhessen. Finally, Eichelmann’s “wine of the year” is the Riesling Auslese trocken “R” Kallstadter Saumagen from Weingut Koehler-Ruprecht in Kallstadt, Pfalz. ABOUT WINES OF GERMANYWines of Germany, formerly known as the German Wine Information Bureau, is the exclusive U.S. office of the Deutsches Weininstitut. Wines of Germany is focused on creating greater awareness to further enhance the image and increase sales of German wine in the U.S. through educational and promotional activities. It is the primary information source on German wines for members of the wine trade, the media, and U.S. consumers. The promotional and educational efforts of Wines of Germany focus primarily on Riesling, the most famous German grape variety. Gault Millau WeinGuide Deutschland 2007 Gerhard Eichelmann |
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