Woodinville, Wash. – August 5, 2015 — 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, with more than 75 producers from Germany, Alsace, Austria, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Michigan, Washington, Oregon, California and New York that participated in the previous 2013 Riesling Rendezvous, an unprecedented celebration of the diversity and attributes of Riesling. 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 are limited and include one extra hour of tasting. (Ticket sales for the Grand Tasting only begin in May 2016.) Registration for the three-day event will begin January, 2016 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 guided by distinguished producers 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:
- The Changing Riesling Climate
- The Reinvention of Dry Riesling
- Marketing Riesling: Preaching beyond the Choir
- Rediscover Alsace Riesling
- Winemakers Only Roundtable: A candid exchange of ideas on the challenges of growing and making Riesling.
- Sponsor Showcase and Walk Around Activities including Rieslings from featured regions, pairing Riesling with Salmon, Riesling & cheese tasting, 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 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 nine 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.
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.