4th Riesling Rendezvous: Returns to Chateau Ste. Michelle

Winemakers from seven countries will converge at Riesling Rendezvous July 14 in Seattle, giving wine lovers an unprecedented opportunity to explore the finest Rieslings from around the world in one location. Hosted by Chateau Ste. Michelle, of Washington and Dr. Loosen, the famed German Riesling estate, the Riesling Rendezvous Grand Tasting will be held on the picturesque grounds of Chateau Ste. Michelle in Woodinville from 5-8 p.m. More than 70 wineries from Australia, Austria, Canada, Germany, New Zealand, Slovakia, California, Idaho, Michigan, Oregon, New York, New Jersey and Washington will showcase the great diversity of Riesling from their regions. (Many winemakers bring a “surprise wine” from their estates to share as well.) Guests will savor an array of Riesling friendly food from top Seattle food trucks Barking Frog Mobile Kitchen, Marination Mobile and Snout & Co., along with appetizers prepared by Chateau Ste. Michelle’s Culinary Director John Sarich and culinary staff. The event will also feature live music by The Josh Rawlings Trio.

To purchase tickets, visit www.rieslingrendezvous.com/GrandTasting. Tickets are $75 General Admission (5-8 pm) and, $100 VIP & Trade limited availability (4-8 pm). (Attendance is limited to ages 21 and older.)

“Riesling Rendezvous has grown into the largest event dedicated to Riesling in the United States,” says Ted Baseler, president of Ste. Michelle Wine Estates. “We are extremely fortunate to have some of the most renowned Riesling winemakers in the world participate and showcase the great attributes of this noble grape.”

The Grand Tasting is part of the 4th Riesling Rendezvous, a three-day event July 14-16 designed to bring 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. The trade tastings July 15 & 16 will be held at the Bell Harbor International Conference Center in Seattle and feature in-depth blind tastings and seminars led by distinguished speakers and producers, on topics such as Proving That Terroir Matters, The Electric Riesling Acid Test: The Effect of Sweetness & Acidity with Food, Marketing Riesling, Masters of Riesling and Riesling pairing demonstrations with cheese and smoked salmon…and more! Limited tickets are still available for the 3-day package at rieslingrendezvous.com

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. Today, Chateau Ste. Michelle offers up to eight different Riesling styles 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.

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 Grand Tasting Participating Producers:

Australia
Frankland Estate
Jim Barry Wines
Mitchell Wines
Pikes

Austria
Domäne Wachau
Emmerich Knoll – Weingut Knoll
Loimer
Markus Huber

Canada
Cave Spring Cellars
Mission Hill Family Estate
Tantalus Vineyards
Thirty Bench Winemakers

Germany
A. Christmann
Battenfeld Spanier
Clemens Busch
Dönnhoff
Dr. Loosen
Fritz Haag
Geheimer Rat Dr. von Bassermann-Jordan
Leitz
Maximin Grünhaus
Reichsgraf von Kesselstatt
Robert Weil

New Zealand
Framingham Wines Ltd.
Villa Maria Estate

Slovakia
Elesko Winery

United States
{California}
MadroñaVineyards
Municipal Winemakers
Trefethen Family Vineyards

{Idaho}
Ste. Chapelle Winery

{Michigan}
Black Star Farms
Chateau Grand Traverse
Shady Lane Cellars

{New Jersey}
Alba Vineyard

{New York}
Anthony Road Wine Company
Fox Run Vineyards
Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard
Red Newt Cellars, Inc.
Sheldrake Point Winery

{Oregon}
Bridgeview Vineyards
Brooks
Chehalem
Trisaetum
Tunkalilla Vineyard

{Washington}
Anew
Charles Smith Wines
Chateau Ste. Michelle
Efeste
The Hogue Cellars
Mercer Estates Winery
Pacific Rim
Snoqualmie
Tulip Valley Winery
The Woodhouse Wine Estates

Gold Sponsor:
Icons of Australia (Frankland Estate, Jim Barry Wines, Pikes)

Regional Sponsors:
Idaho Wine (Bitner, Colter’s Creek, Koenig, Sawtooth)
Finger Lakes Wine Alliance (Dr. Konstantin Frank, Fulkerson Winery, Glenora Wine Cellars, Red Newt Cellars, Rooster Hill Vineyards, Standing Stone Vineyards, Three Brothers Wineries and Estates, Wagner Vineyards)
Wines of Germany (Dr. Pauly-Bergweiler, Kruger-Rumpf, P.J. Valckenberg, Rebhol, S.A. Prüm, Schloss Johannisberg)

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.

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 trademark of Ste. Michelle Wine Estates Ltd.