Current
The name Riesling was mentioned for the very first time in a letter dated March 13, 1435, what it was... an invoice! Klaus Klein Fisch (nice name) calculated Count Johann IV von Katzenelnbogen (even nicer!) various Riesling vines that were planned for his newly built castle in Rüdesheim in the Rheingau. You can therefore enter March 13th in your calendar as #rieslingbirthday !
The Riesling grapes are comparatively small, and their frost resistance and long ripening period indicate a relationship with wild vines . In addition to the taste, this robustness and adaptability to the northern (continental) climate were certainly the main reasons why the sovereigns in the 17th and 18th centuries recommended Riesling at the highest level. These included the electors of the Palatinate (clever men).
The Federal Honorary Award is the highest award that a food company can receive. It has been awarded annually by the Federal Ministry of Food & Agriculture since 1951. The results of the quality tests by the DLG (German Agricultural Society) form the basis.
We at the Graf von Weyher winery have received several special awards in recent years , including second best young winemaker (Peter Graf), for our single-vineyard Rieslings, for our sustainability pioneer (Cabernet Blanc) and for the best collection matured in wooden barrels. But this year we are on the podium for the first time in the overall rating and have received a national honorary award in bronze ! This puts us among the 18 best wineries in the competition . And we're a little proud of that...
As the days get shorter, our menu becomes more autumnal again, and the special highlight of the season is our fresh Federweißer with hearty onion cake.
Federweißer is actually a “ work in progress ”, i.e. not a finished wine yet. It is made from either red or white grapes, although for once the grape variety does not play a major role here. Fermentation (ie the process by which sugar is turned into alcohol) has started but is far from complete.
Now it's finally starting again: The 2022 vintage has begun! Yesterday we harvested the first grapes for the 2022 vintage. These included the grape varieties Müller-Thurgau, Portugieser and Sauvignon blanc.
Even if the vintage is a bit more manual and therefore labor-intensive due to the ongoing drought, we are full of confidence and looking forward to the new vintage. From now on, our harvest team needs about four weeks in the vineyards to harvest the best quality grapes for you.
