Legends • SaarRieslingSommer • Press

mention for the first time a press house that belonged to the farm, which, however, was later torn down in 1905. In 1314, the monastery obtained four morgen of vineyards that were probably in Scharzhofberg. The Benedictine Abbey of St. Marien built today’s Scharzhof in 1719. In 1801, during the French secularization, Johann Jakob Koch, a member of the Benedictine convent, bought the property at auction in Luxembourg. He purchased it on behalf of his abbot Placidus Mannebach. Koch, who was an active priest in the parish of Wiltingen, married his housekeeper and drove off his former religious brothers out of the property, which he kept for himself. The old Scharzhof was then sold by Clara Koch, who wanted to atone for her father’s breach of celibacy, to the Hohe Domkirche. The new part stayed in the possession of the family Müller-Koch, whom, to this day, uses it as a residence and winery.

At SaarRieslingSommer 2013, Bischöfliche Weingüter Trier opens the doors of the legendary Scharzhof for one weekend. Together with many other renowned Saar growers, all wine lovers are cordially invited for two late summer days to visit the producers and taste their wines along the Saar.

The Saar River meanders leisurely along the green, sometimes gently rising, in other places, impressively steep falling slopes. The vines are reflected in the dark waters of the scenic Saar. The two headstreams, Sarre Rouge and Sarre Blanche, have their origins in France’s Lorraine region.

In Hermelange, south from Sarrebourg, the two streams join together to form the Saar, which runs 235 km through Lorraine, Alsace, Saarland, and Rhineland-Palatinate before flowing into the Mosel River at Konz, just south of Trier.

Like the Mosel, the Saar is also best known for great wine first and foremost. The majority of the Bischöfliche Weingüter Trier’s vineyard holdings are located here. The first-rate sites on steep slopes, such as Ayler Kupp, Kanzemer Altenberg, and Scharzhofberger, have made Saar Riesling famous around the world. The latter, the legendary Scharzhofberg, is one of the best vineyards in Germany. Since 1851, the Hohe Domkriche has owned the historic building on the Scharzhofstraße, between Oberemmel and Wiltingen. What few people know, not only the wines, but also the history of Scharzhof is legendary and dates back to the 10th century.

In 1030, Adalbero von Luxemburg, provost of St. Paulin in Trier, bequeathed to the monastery St. Marien about five Hufen (or oxgang) land. In 1239, ancient records

AwArds

No.3 \ Summer 2013 Information for the trade

decanter world wine Awards (May 2013)GERMAN SWEET WINE TROPHY & GOLD for the 2010 Kanzemer Altenberg Riesling BeerenausleseSILVER: 2011 Kanzemer Altenberg Riesling Spät-lese, and 2011 Kaseler Nies’chen Riesling Auslese

International wine & spirits Awards (May 2013)SILVER: 2011 DOM Riesling Qualitätswein trocken, 2011 Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Kabinett

International wine Challenge (May 2013)SILVER: 2011 Piesporter Goldtröpfchen Riesling Kabinett

wine Enthusiast Magazine (April 2013)91 points (Editors’ Choice): 2011 Scharzhofberger Riesling Kabinett

Berliner weinführer (März 2013)1st place (under 7 €): 2011 DOM Riesling trockenOutstanding: 2011 Kaseler Nies’chen Riesling Spätlese trockenOutstanding: 2011 Scharzhofberger Riesling KabinettVery good: 2011 Ruwer Riesling trockenVery good: 2011 Kanzemer Altenberg Riesling Spätlese trockenVery good: 2011 Piesporter Goldtröpfchen Riesling Kabinett

Very good: 2011 Scharzhofberger Riesling Spätlese

wine spectator (März 2013)90 points: 2011 Scharzhofberger Ries-ling Spätlese

ThE MyTh of sChArzhof

Riesling from the Saar Valley and the villages where they come from are famous. The reactions to the 2011 collection – especially the Rieslings from Kanzemer Altenberg and Scharzhofberg – have confirmed again the distinctiveness of this region.

Bischöfliche Weingüter Trier cultivates six hectares in Scharzhofberg on the Saar. The grapes are pressed and vinified in the old Scharzhof.

Dr. Karsten Weyand, Estate Director, and Anna Reimann, Sales Director, in conversation at Scharzhof

PlAyful, ChEErful, And CoMPACT:ThE wInEs of ThE sAAr

As varied as the countryside along the banks of the Saar is, so diverse are the wines here. The lime-free, well-drained, clayey slate soils have a high stone content, which warms up quickly and can store the sun’s heat for a long time. The dense covering of primarily gray slate stones protects against soil erosion during rainfall. Saar wines have a compact structure and well-defined fruit, because of the stony slate soil. Saar Riesling, as it’s called in the new publication Eine kulinarische Entdeckungsreise Mosel (Neuer Umschau Buchverlag, 34.95 €), possess a “playful, off-dry, joyous” character and often have aromas of peach and apricot, sometimes even exotic mango and passion fruit. Saar wines are famous for their extraordinary longevity – even after many years, they are still a delight.

Bischöfliche Weingüter Trier cultivates vines in four renowned Saar sites: Ayler Kupp, Scharzhof-berger, and Kanzemer Altenberg, as well as in Wiltingen, a picturesque wine village between Ayl and Kanzem. In autumn, Scharzhof serves as the press house.

The vineyards around Wiltingen are dominated by slate soils, good water supply, as well as different wind and sun exposure. The interplay of these various factors results in thrilling, savory, lively, and pure wines in a light style, which connoisseurs around the world prize in Saar wines.

Ayler Kupp takes its name from the top of the hill, on which the famous and mostly southwest-facing steep slope is located. The site, which looks like a whale near Ayl, produces singular, full fruity, and racy Rieslings. “Ayler is one of the best vineyards on the Saar,” Karl Heinrich Koch said in 1897. That’s right, as even in “small” years, Ayler Kupp can exploit its full potential.

Scharzhofberg lies south of the Middle Mosel and Rheingau and is considered the coolest great site on the Saar. It’s more than 300 meters high. The slope rises behind the Scharzhof like a

mighty wall; the soil consists mostly of gray slate. Scharzhofberg is a prime example of a northern vineyard. The Romans planted vines here in the middle of the third century. Scharzhofberger wines are characterized by their subtlety and delicacy, a stark contrast to the weathered-battered hillside. The cold winds from the Hunsrück regularly sweep over the hill to provide the vines with good ventilation. The extreme temperature differences between day and night are balanced by the high proportion of weathered slate soil that stores the sun’s heat during the day and releases it back to the vines at night.

The nature of Kanzemer Altenberg is absolutely unique. The south-to-southeast-facing steep slate site looks similar to an enormous wall and is located on the right bank of the Saar, opposite the village of Kanzem. The imposing slope is optimally protected from the cold north winds. With its proximity to the Saar, the temperatures are neither too high nor too low. The steep slope favors the sunlight and makes the hillside ideal for storing heat.

dATEssaarrieslingsommer 2013August 24 and 25, 12 till 6 p.m.

On the Saar, a very special experience awaits wine lovers on the last weekend in August: For the second time, Bischöfliche Weingüter Trier, together with other Saar growers, invite you to SaarRieslingSommer. Numerous renowned Saar producers open their doors and invite you to visit and taste.

Admission:10 € per person and wine estate / 30 € for all wine estatesAlter Scharzhof, Bischöfliche Weingüter Trier,scharzhofstraße, 54459 wiltingenGuest producer: Weingut Ziereisen, Markgräflerlandsend reservations to:info@bischoeflicheweingueter.de

shuttle service between the wine estates:10 € per person and day

shuttle service between the individual properties and to and from sizernich, schweich, Ehrang, Trier hbf, and Konz: 15 € per person and day.

for shuttle rides from the surrounding areas, please register in advance at Kylltal-reisen:tel.: +49 651 968900, email: info@busmieten.de

The bus schedules are available at Kylltal-reisen online, by phone, or at the wine estates, and on the saarrieslingsommer 2013 facebook Page.

nEws: Events, awards, and the wine estate journals are available at all timesdIsTrIBuTors: here, we list on request all restaurants, specialized trade, and importersfACTshEETs: An invaluable tool for the trade and restaurants – can be downloadedPrEss: Facts for journalists, but also information and images on the fly

The team at Bischöfliche Weingüter Trier is pleased to introduce the new website. With the new and uncluttered look, you will have an easy time to browse our wine collection from top vineyards on the Mosel, Saar, and Ruwer. In addition, we have fascinating insight into the history, plus current events and awards. We look forward to your virtual visit.

ThE nEw

wEBsITE Is

onlInE!

www.BIsChoEflIChEwEInguETEr.dE

Friedrich-Wilhelm-Gymnasium Trier is one of the oldest high schools in Germany. The school, which was financed to a large degree and for a long time by the their own vineyards, has cultivated these with the highest-quality standards since 1561. In 2004, the vineyards merged with those of the Bischöfliches Priesterseminar in Trier.

Since the acquisition, the 25 hectares of vine are cultivated under the name “Friedrich-Wilhelm-Gymnasium GbR” and led to an independent estate. The cellar of Friedrich-Wilhelm-Gymnasium is located directly under the center of Trier’s old town. A Jesuits’ foundation stone from 1593 testifies to the centuries-old history of the cellar.

The look of Friedrich-Wilhelm-Gymnasium has been completely redesigned in 2012 and can be seen in

all materials – such as labels, website, and the actual, newly printed price lists. The history of the property, whose most famous pupil is Karl Marx, is provided in detail. In addition, the structure of the portfolio has been revised, so that customers have a better overview of the wide range and high quality of the wines. Since a few weeks, the new website is online.

Comments and suggestions are welcome and should be sent to the following email address:

redaktion@bischoeflicheweingueter.de

BIsChöflIChE wEIngüTEr TrIErGervasiusstraße 154290 Trier an der Mosel

www.bischoeflicheweingueter.deinfo@bischoeflicheweingueter.de

AdvICE, ordErs, And sErvICE:Tel.: +49 651 14576-0Fax: +49 651 14576-630

In recent months, Bischöfliche Weingüter Trier’s 2011 vintage has received a lot of praise, both in the national and international press. “This operation deserves special recognition in its category,” wrote Gault & Millau about Bischöfliche Weingüter Trier in November 2012. “The team around the new estate manager, Dr. Karsten Weyand, has given the organization with its skillfully modernized, yet traditional label a fresh start.”

In Eichelmann 2013 – Deutsch-lands Weine, Bischöfliche Weingüter Trier is also praised: “The new collection is very consistent, dry as well as sweet, although the strengths are still in the sweet and nobly sweet segment. As for the dry, we found the pure, vigorous Spätlese from Nies’chen really good, also the warm, lush Auslese Scharzhofberger. The elegant Auslese from Nies’chen and a concentrated, dense Beerenauslese crown the range.”

Internationally, Bischöfliche Wein-güter Trier has received more attention, which shows both in the increasing demand for its wines abroad and in the consistently positive press coverage.

The popular US magazines Wine Spectator (which last reported on one the three estates in the 1950s), Wine & Spirits, and Wine Enthusiast have rated the wines “Best Buy,” “Year’s Best,” and “Editors’ Choice,” respectively. The British magazine Decanter awards above all others the 2010 Kanzemer Altenberg Riesling Beerenauslese with a gold medal for the “German Sweet Wine Trophy.”

Among the wines, one has been become the undisputed star: frequent traveler, only in the best circles, and high up – this is the 2008 Graacher Himmelreich Kabinett from Friedrich-Wilhelm-Gymnasium, which has blossomed into a real Trier jet-setter. At 10,000

meters, guests in business class of the Japanese airline All Nippon Airways are treated to this Mosel Riesling, which is able to inspire above the clouds, too.

PrEssThe jet-setter from Trier – internationally known and loved

QuoTEsThe Tasting PanelScharzhofberger Riesling Spätlese 2011 “embodies the Mosel region in a majestic manner.”

wine spectator, wine & spirits und wine Enthusiast“Best Buy,” “Year’s Best,” and “Editors’ Choice,” respectively

decanterGold Medal and German Sweet Wine Trophy.

gault & Millau“This operation deserves special attention.”

Eichelmann 2013“Very consistent collection.”

feinschmecker“One of the 900 best wine estates in Germany.”

wein-Post“Qualitative recovery of the house.”

wein-Plus.de“Upward trend in the wines of the 2011 vintage.”

IMPr

InT responsible for the content:

Dr. Karsten Weyand, Anna ReimannEditor: Carolin Strunzdesign:propeller – Agentur für Neue Kommunikation, TrierPhotos: Langer, Arnoldi, Bohn

www.frIEdrIChwIlhElMgyMnAsIuM.dE

unITEd By ThE wInE: frIEdrICh-wIlhElM-gyMnAsIuM And BIsChöflIChE wEIngüTEr TrIEr

Anna Reimann is a passionate ambassador of the Bischöfliche wines at home and abroad.