Did you know that at the turn of the 19th Century, the Rieslings of Germany were more costly and sought after than the greatest wines of Bordeaux? It’s hard to say that it’s been downhill ever since, but almost certainly, Riesling doesn’t get the attention it deserves. At least from some people. Me? I drink more of it than any other single grape, simply because it goes so darn well with the Shanghainese food that we eat a lot of around my house. Oh, and because it’s one of the world’s greatest wines.
But a lot of people don’t know how amazing Riesling can be, mostly because they’ve never really tasted the good stuff, or paid close enough attention to it. Well, anyone in New York City or nearby is going to get a chance to address that issue, if they have it, on Saturday, January 27th. That’s when Rieslingfeier comes to New York.
The brainchild of Stephen Bitterolf of New York’s Crush Wine and Spirits, Rieslingfeier is a celebration of the greatness, versatility, and downright deliciousness of German Riesling. The event has two components, an amazing BYOB dinner where everyone brings a great bottle of Riesling, many of them old, some of them true treasures — and a grand tasting event earlier that day.
I encourage anyone and everyone to go to both events, but at $335, the dinner is a little pricey. The Grand Tasting, though, at $33 is a downright steal, for the chance to taste through scores of great German Riesling being poured by some of the country’s greatest producers. Most people would pay $33 just to taste the latest releases from Dönnhoff, for instance, but Cornelius is being joined by Lauer, Leitz, Egon Müller, and more. The full list of producers pouring can be found here.
If I lived in New York, there’s nothing that could keep me away from this tasting. If you live in New York and consider yourself a wine lover, you owe it to yourself to go. Especially at these prices. And what are you going to be doing on a frigid Saturday afternoon anyway? Go find out what the big deal is all about.
2018 Rieslingfeier
Saturday, January 27th
10:30am – 3:00pm
Craft Restaurant
43 East 19th Street
New York, NY 10003 (map)
Tickets to the dinner are still available, as are tickets to the Grand Tasting. Both should be bought online, in advance. And for once, go ahead and wear white to a wine tasting! But don’t forget to spit if you want to taste a lot.
