For decades, the Joh. Jos. Christoffel Erben winery in Ürzig has stood for “typical Mosel Rieslings at a high level,” according to Gault Millau. The vines, some of which are more than 100 years old, grow on steep slate slopes, and Robert Eymael, who now runs the winery, knows how to make the most of them.
The entire vineyards of the Joh. Jos. Christoffel Erben are located in the best steep slopes of Ürzig (Ürziger Würzgarten) and Erden (Erdener Treppchen). The Riesling vines, most of which are root-firm, are up to 100 years old. The small yields of these plots are of high quality and the basis for the exquisite wines. The work in these sites is very laborious, as they can only be cultivated by hand. The oenologist and winery manager Philippe Conzen ensures today that tradition passed down and the knowledge of modernity are reflected in the wines. Modern Riesling wines from an old terroir!
Riesling
ZEPH
In 1985, inspired by the pioneering efforts of other Marlborough mavericks, the Glover family converted their farm in Dillons Point to vine. Being a third generation farming family meant that there was a natural ability to see the potential in the land for vineyards and ultimately the production of world-class wine. In 2007 Owen and Wendy Glover’s passion for growing grapes finally overflowed into the desire to release their own brand – Zephyr, inspired by the prevailing wind that cools their vineyards. The wines immediately created a stir in the United Kingdom with Tim Atkin writing “If I were to choose one Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc at the moment it would be Zephyr.” With sons Jack and Ben on board (Ben is currently winemaker for the Accolade NZ Group), this family affair continues to attract the attention of sommeliers and the international press. From the value-driven Massey Dacta label to the Zephyr labeled wines, all wines are made from estate-grown fruit grown according the standards of the NZ Sustainable Winegrowing Association. Massanois is proud to represent their wines in the U.S. for the first time!
Silver Thread
Silver Thread Vineyard is a rocky, hillside vineyard, on the eastern shore of Seneca Lake, at the heart of New York’s Finger Lakes region. At this location, the bottom of the lake drops almost 200 feet below sea level, a dramatic mass of water that creates a distinct microclimate on the eastern hillside — cooling breezes in summer, radiating warmth through the winter, and extending the length of the growing season.
Established in 1982, Silver Thread was one of the first Finger Lakes wineries to produce exclusively dry wines from European grape varieties. For its first 20 years (1991-2011), Silver Thread was known as a pioneer in organic farming practices in the Finger Lakes. Heralded winemaker Paul Brock and wine educator Shannon Brock assumed ownership of Silver Thread Vineyard in 2011. At that point, the Brocks began transitioning the winery to a different form of agriculture called Bio-intensive. This holistic, no-till farming approach uses the best of both biology and chemistry to grow premium wine grapes each year. Bio-intensive viticulture includes elements of both organic and biodynamic viticulture. Silver Thread remains a boutique winery focused on sustainability and premium estate wines. The vineyard was expanded to 8 acres in 2014 and 2015 and the Brocks produce 2,000-3,000 cases of wine depending on the vintage.
The winery is named for a local waterfall, Silver Thread Falls, which was an important spiritual site for the local Seneca Indians. The turtle image on our label was carved in a rock beside one of New York’s woodland creeks by a Native American artist many centuries ago. As an earth symbol to the Haudenosaunee people, the turtle reminds us to care for the land and water that give us the gift of wine. This artifact is on display at the New York Botanical Garden in Bronx, NY.
The Winemakers
The Brocks represent the new generation of young winemakers propelling the Finger Lakes to prominence. Winemaker Paul Brock has a Master’s Degree in Enology and Viticulture from Cornell University and Estate Manager Shannon Brock is a Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) Diploma Holder. Both have prior winemaking experience in the Finger Lakes and New Zealand, and both are wine educators–Paul is a professor of winemaking at Finger Lakes Community College and Shannon teaches WSET courses in the Finger Lakes.
Silver Thread’s winemaking philosophy is vineyard-focused. They believe control over the style of the wine is best achieved by practices during the growing season, picking date, and sorting of grapes during harvest. Levels of sugar, acid and tannin are always natural and unadulterated. After a healthy fermentation, wines are minimally filtered for stability and bottled in order to best express their vineyard origins.
RICH
The 2015 vintage marks a great, great success for Constantin Richter. Especially fans of lighter Rieslings—medium-dry or medium-sweet Kabinett, sweet Spätlese and Auslese—get their money’s worth: For more-than-reasonable prices, they can buy world class Mosel classics from old, ungrafted vines that belong to the very best the exceptional 2015 vintage has to offer in these categories.” – The Wine Advocate, Issue #230 – April 2017
The estate of Max Ferdinand Richter has been owned by the Richter family for more than 300 years. Today this enterprise, owned and run by winemaker Dirk Richter, is one of the leading producers of top Rieslings in the heart of the central Mosel area with total holdings of 43 acres and an annual production of about 10,500 cases. Richter not only produces fine wines that are well known throughout the world, such as Erdener Treppchen, Wehlener Sonnenuhr, Graacher Himmelreich, and Brauneberger Juffer, but also two coveted top wines: Mülheimer Helenenkloster and Veldenzer Elisenberg. The possession of these vineyards dates back to 1813 when their ancestor, in an extreme demonstration of personal courage, succeeded in preventing the sacking of Mülheim by Napoleon. They produce a wide variety of wines from estate-grown grapes that reflect the individual style of each single vineyard. The terroir of their steep vineyard sites is generally fresh weathering grey slate with different compositions of ferruginous (Brauneberg), mineral quartz (Veldenz), or clay soils (Graach, Erden, Wehlen, Mülheim), which determine character and flavour. The wines of Max Ferdinand Richter enjoy worldwide acclaim. They are ambassadors of the rich cultural heritage of the unique Mosel landscape.
DBERG
Were one to seek an absolutely typical (in the most positive sense of the word) representative of the Weinviertel, one would certainly find this in Weingut Dürnberg. But this producer is still so much more. The wines from Dürnberg embody all the virtues that demanding international wine consumers expect from Austrian wine: crystal clear fruit, crisp elegance, charming varietal character and, above all else, light-footed mineral expression. This is achieved because Christoph Körner conscientiously abstains from cloying voluptuousness and focuses instead on elegance and freshness. Respectful cultivation and gentle guidance in the cellar result in wines with authentic character.” -Falstaff Guide 2017
Weingut Dürnberg is one of the wine estates that have been pioneering the development of a “new Weinviertel style”. Christoph Körner is a Weinviertel native with heart and soul who proves with every new vintage that the Wienviertel, Austria´s most undiscovered winegrowing area, has incredible potential. The wines exude freshness and balance, and while they are as crystal clear as a Winter night, they display complexity and finesse as well, comprising all of the virtues that are expected from Austrian wine. Dürnberg‘s goal is to have long-lasting vinyards. They do not seek high yields but consistently high quality, healthy grapes that reach full phenolic ripeness. To that end, they do not use nitrate fertilizers but rather work with carefully chosen plantings of legumes and grasses in the vinyards. This keeps their soils healthy and rigorous. This green management helps them to build up the humus content and eliminate the need for irrigation, thus successfully also reducing botrytis as well. Two years ago they succeeded in convincing all their vintner collegues in the valley to abstain from insecticides. Sustainibility is very important for Dürnberg and their strategy. They focus on getting the highest quality out of old and healthy vinyards. So they keep their vineyards green for at least 10 months of the year without erosion and compaction. In summer, they cut the roots of the weeds in between the rows with a special machinery and turnover the soil in every other row of the vinyard. Later in August they plant legumes again. Dürnberg is certified by Sustainable Austria, who has certified only 23 wineries so far, of which Dürnberg is the only one from Weinviertel.