July Sweet Club: Iowa

Posted on June 25, 2025 by mcginnessalex

Dr. H. Thanisch
Bernkasteler Badstube
Kabinett Riesling
Mosel, Germany

NECTAR WINE STYLE

The wine shows a pronounced bouquet of very ripe red and yellow fruits with exotic and slightly spicy notes with well-integrated acidity. The slatey minerality so typical of the Mosel adds further complexity.

Varietal: 100% Riesling
Analysis: 9% alcohol / volume
Residual Sugar: 36 g/L
TA: 7.6 g/L
Quality level: Kabinett
Food Pairing: Matches delicate foods excellently, or try with veal, shellfish, roasted poultry or fish

TERROIR:
The Dr. H. Thanisch estate (the heirs Müller-Burggraef) includes over 12 hectares (over 30 acres) of the best sites in the middle Mosel valley. Black & blue slate is the predominant structure of this steep Bernkastel hillside, sloping down to the Mosel river. The terroir is reflected in the wine with its flinty minerality, a lively and refreshing Riesling with racy and stable acidity and an extraordinary potential for maturing over many years. Ripe & healthy grapes are selected from the Badstube vineyards for this wine, fermented naturally with no chaptalization.

ABOUT THE WINERY:
The wine-growing tradition of the Dr. Hugo Thanisch family can be traced back more than 350 years. In 1636, the name was mentioned for the first time in the registers of Bernkastel-Kues. The quality of the family’s wines soon extended their excellent reputation far beyond the Mosel valley. At the end of the 18th Century, the Thanisch’s acquired the Berncasteler Doctor vineyard, a very steep site with deep devon slate structure, situated behind and overlooking the rooftops of the quaint old town of Bernkastel. The Doctor name originates in a legend about Prince Boemond II of Trier who fell sick and then was cured by a wine from this vineyard. Medicinal powers of fine wines are today being re-discovered. Without a doubt, the Doctor Vineyard is the most valuable and most famous German site. Learn more about the winery here.

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May Sweet Club: Iowa

Posted on April 29, 2025 by mcginnessalex

Dr. H. Thanisch
Feinherb Riesling
Mosel, Germany

CRISP WINE STYLE

Picked early at Kabinett-level Ripeness, grapes from the Mosel vineyards are fermented to a just dry-off wine in order to produce a drier-style Riesling to pair with a wide array of foods or simply drink as an aperitif. This wine is extremely well structured with a deep golden color and powerful but also elegant characteristics: Minerals, peaches, pear cumquat, watermelon, currant grapefruit with a hint of gooseberry and raspberry. It is blended with the Badstube Kabinett from the Dr. H. Thanisch estate to increase the quality and character of the wine but it is not a 100% Estate wine.

Varietal: 100% Riesling
Analysis: 12% alcohol / volume
Residual Sugar: 23.1 g/L
Acidity: 7.9 g/L
Estate: Dr. H. Thanisch
Vines & Viticulture: Black and blue slate is the predominant structure of these steep hillsides, sloping down to the Mosel river. The terroir is reflected in the wine with flinty minerality.
Food Pairing: Asian cuisine, particularly sweet & sour dishes or sushi. Also pairs with delicately flavored poultry and seafood dishes.

Primo Amore
Moscato IGT
Veneto, Italy

NECTAR WINE STYLE

After the grapes are selected, the juice is fermented until it reaches their desired alcohol content. The grape’s natural sugar content is then preserved by refrigeration, giving this wine its unique sweet and aromatic characters. Is straw-yellow in color with golden reflections. The nose is fruity and very inviting, with intense scents of peaches and exotic fruit. The palate is refreshing and delicately sweet with hints of stone fruit on the finish.

Varietal: Muscat
Analysis: 7% alcohol / volume
Appellation: Veneto, Italy
Food Pairing: Try with spicy food or with desserts like apple pie, ice cream, lemon merangue or cheese cake.

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October Sweet Club: Iowa

Posted on September 30, 2024 by mcginnessalex

Raimund Prüm
Essence
Riesling
Mosel, Germany

NECTAR WINE STYLE

Pale gold in color. On the nose, aromatic, with scents of apricot, green apple and peach. On the palate, fresh fruit flavors of pineapple and apricot are perfectly balanced by a racy acidity and mineral character.

Analysis: 10.5% alcohol / volume
Variety: 100% Riesling
Appellation: Qualitatswein, Germany
RS: 21.3 g/L
TA: 5.7 g/L
Serve: Enjoy on its own or with a range of light appetizers, seafood dishes, BBQ, perfect with Asian cuisine and all styles of spicy food.
Accolades: 91 point review Wine Spectator 2021

WineStyles’ Wine and Cheese Pairing: This wine, with its bright acidity and floral notes, pairs wonderfully with aged Gouda. The nutty and caramel flavors of the Gouda complement the wine’s fruitiness and balance its acidity beautifully. Learn more about our wine and cheese pairings here.

Winemaking: Grapes are hand harvested in mid-October and undergo a gentle crush. The juice is fermented for four weeks in stainless steel tanks then bottled under Stelvin closure to preserve its character.

About Raimund Prüm:
The Prüm family’s roots in the Mosel region of Germany date back as far as 1156, making it one the country’s preeminent winemaking dynasties. Their incredible Riesling portfolio reflects traditional winemaking practices with exceptional single vineyard designated wines in every style. Family-owned S.A. Prüm, founded in 1911 by Sebastian Alois Prüm, has been in the hands of Raimund Prüm, head winemaker and Sebastian’s grandson, since 1971. Under Raimund’s leadership the property has earned a reputation as one of the most successful wineries in Germany’s celebrated Mosel wine region.

Luccio^®
Special Collection Moscato
Piedmont, Italy

NECTAR WINE STYLE

Fresh, fragrant, and frizzante with bright, floral aromas that give way to flavors of ripe stone fruit, tangerines, and honey.

Analysis: 5.5% alcohol / volume
Variety: 100% Moscato Bianco di Canelli
Region: Asti, D.O.C.G., Piedmont, Italy
Critical Acclaim:

Double Gold – San Francisco International Wine Competition | 2022
Highly Recommended, Best Buy – Beverage Testing Institute | 2021
Highly Recommended, Best Buy – Beverage Testing Institute | 2020

WineStyles’ Wine and Cheese Pairing: This sweet and bubbly Moscato goes well with fresh goat cheese. The creamy texture and tangy flavor of the goat cheese enhance the fruity and floral notes of the wine, creating a delightful contrast. Learn more about our wine and cheese pairings here.

About Luccio Wines:
Luccio^® wines are made and imported from the finest winemaking regions in Italy. Since 1994, Luccio has represented Italian passion in a bottle with offerings ranging from semi-sweet Moscato’s to a full-bodied Chianti. Learn more here.

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September Sweet Club: Iowa

Posted on August 27, 2024 by mcginnessalex

Schmitt Söhne
Riesling Auslese
Mosel, Germany

NECTAR WINE STYLE

This Auslese (selected harvest) Riesling is produced from grapes that remain on the vine until extremely late in the year. Individually selected overripe grapes result in a full-bodied, luscious wine with hints of apricot, nectarine and honey. It has intense flavors and a lingering finish.

Analysis: 8.5-9% alcohol / volume
Variety: Riesling
Appellation: Mosel, Germany
RS: 52-56 g/L
TA: 8-9 g/L
Pairing Recommendation: Enjoy with cheeses, fruits, richly seasoned foods and desserts. Or enjoy as a wine cocktail or sipping after a memorable dinner.
Serve: Chilled

WineStyles’ Wine and Cheese Pairing: A perfect cheese pairing for this wine would be Gorgonzola Dolce. Gorgonzola Dolce is a creamy, slightly sweet blue cheese that balances the wine’s sweetness with its mild tang, while the creaminess complements the wine’s rich texture. The fruitiness of the Riesling will also contrast beautifully with the savory elements of the cheese. Learn more about our wine and cheese pairings here.

Winemaking: Auslese is picked at ultimate ripeness, sometimes two months after harvest season has started. This allows the fruit flavors to develop and ripen. During picking, the grapes are handled very carefully to avoid bruising, letting the natural sweetness shine through. Harvested in the cool early morning, the grapes are brought quickly to the winery, destemmed and placed in stainless steel tanks that help retain the Riesling’s crisp acidity. The wine is kept cool, between 50-65 ºF, during fermentation.

Vineyards:
Schmitt Söhne Auslese Riesling hails from select vineyards along the Mosel River in Germany. Mosel is regarded as the oldest wine-growing region in Germany, believed to have been established by the Romans around 50 AD. It is one of the most northernly wine regions in world. Mosel vineyards are famous for their steep south-facing slopes and blue slate soil, reflected in the balanced minerality of Schmitt Söhne’s Auslese Riesling.

About Schmitt Söhne Wines:
Family-owned and operated, over 200 years ago the Schmitt ancestors settled in the small village of Longuich, along the Mosel River, and began managing vineyards and producing wine. Now in the fifth generation, Schmitt Söhne is one of Germany’s largest and most successful wine exporters around the world. While they have continued to develop their winemaking techniques and technologies, the family has never lost sight of their traditions. Learn more here.

Pacific Rim
Sweet Riesling
Columbia Valley, Washington

NECTAR WINE STYLE

This wine is wonderfully aromatic with notes of honey, pear and orange blossom. On the palate, it is sweet, with bright acidity, pineapple and white peach.

Analysis: 8% alcohol / volume
Variety: 100% Riesling
Appellation: Columbia Valley, Washington
RS: 73.3 g/L
TA: 7.2 g/L
Pairing Recommendation: Ideal with fiery fare – especially Thai, Szechwan, Mexican, Middle Eastern, and Caribbean cuisine. Or enjoy with one of their suggested recipes >

WineStyles’ Wine and Cheese Pairing: Sweet wines from our ‘Nectar’ section pair well with an herbal cheese, such as a gorgonzola. Learn more about our wine and cheese pairings here.

PRODUCTION:
The winery picks their Riesling grapes early (20-21 Brix). Using only native yeasts and fermenting at low temperatures in stainless steel tanks – there is no use of oak barrels or malolactic fermentation. They stop the fermentation at about 7% residual sugar, and clean the wine rapidly to retain as much freshness and fruitiness as possible. They leave a fair amount of natural carbon dioxide in the wine to create a lively mouth feel.

ABOUT THE WINERY:
First released by Randall Grahm of Bonny Doon Vineyard in 1992, Pacific Rim Dry Riesling quickly gained a loyal following among Riesling lovers. Known for its fresh and bright characteristics, the wine was a welcome alternative to over-oaked, one-dimensional white wines. As the American palate evolved in recent years toward wines with greater complexity and crisper acidity, the popularity of Pacific Rim Dry Riesling grew. Demand and enthusiasm for Pacific Rim Dry Riesling continued to gain momentum — and the excitement around the wine inspired a radical idea… the creation a winery exclusively dedicated to Riesling. In August of 2006, a small band of Bonny Doon expats moved to the Northwest from California with a common desire to craft the best Riesling in America… thus, Pacific Rim became its own winery. Learn more about the winery here.

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May Sweet Club: Iowa

Posted on April 24, 2024 by mcginnessalex

Carl Sittmann
Riesling
Mosel, Germany

NECTAR WINE STYLE

The Carl Sittmann Riesling features notes of green apples, pears, and apricots on the nose. Its sweet peach and apple flavors are delicately offset by crisp acidity, ensuring the wine remains elegantly refreshing and not overly sweet.

Analysis: 9.5% alcohol / volume
Varietal: 100% Riesling
Region: Mosel, Germany

WineStyles’ Wine and Cheese Pairing: Reach for a tangy goat’s milk cheese to complement the wine’s acidity and fruity notes. Learn more about our wine and cheese pairings here.

Terra d’Oro
Moscato
Amador County, California

NECTAR WINE STYLE

Inviting aromas of honey, white peach, honeysuckle, pineapple and lemon zest lead into vibrant flavors of Meyer lemon, pineapple and a hint of anise. The wine has a pleasing viscosity on the palate and finishes with fresh acidity. This makes the Terra d’Oro Moscato extremely versatile and enjoyable with a meal as well as after it. Try it with spicy Asian cuisine, or a fruit tart.

Analysis: 9.5% alcohol / volume
Varietal: 100% Moscato
Acidity: 0.63 g/100mL
pH: 3.27

WineStyles’ Wine and Cheese Pairing: If you’re looking for a dessert pairing, mascarpone cheese topped with some tart fruit jam is a fantastic choice. Its creamy texture and mild flavor with a punch from the jam will pair well with the sweetness of Moscato, making it suitable for desserts or as a simple, luxurious treat. Learn more about our wine and cheese pairings here.

Vineyard Notes:
Moscato, also called Muscat, is grown in nearly every wine-producing region in the world, resulting in an array of styles. It is believed the name derived from the French word “Musque”, meaning “perfumed”— a fitting moniker for this intensely aromatic variety. Grapes were sourced from several select vineyards to create a wine with that perfect balance of sweetness and acidity.

Winemaker Notes:
When making the Moscato, the goal was to craft a wine that is full of flavor with perceptible sweetness, yet is still light on the palate. The Terra d’Oro Moscato is crafted in a different manner than their other varietals. Grapes are destemmed and crushed in stainless steel tanks and left overnight before pressing. This “cap and drain” method keeps the grapes in contact with their skins for an extended period, delivering greater varietal intensity. After gentle pressing, 70% of the juice is inoculated with yeast. The remaining unfermented juice is kept at a very low temperature and then added back into the blend after fermentation to create a lightly sweet and refreshing wine with a lower alcohol.

About the Winery:
Amador’s first winery established after Prohibition was founded in 1970 by renowned winemaker Cary Gott, and he released the first wines under the Terra d’Oro label in 1973. Terra d’Oro’s early success with Amador Zinfandel and other wines, in particular Italian varietals, were key in helping re-establish the region’s reputation for fine wine. In 1988, the Trinchero family, which had been purchasing grapes from the Amador region for 20 years, purchased the winery and 240-acre vineyard. Over the years, the family invested in subsequent vineyards, and in early 2000, completed construction of a new, state-of-the-art winery at the site of the original winery, designed to unlock the potential of each acre of Terra d’Oro’s vineyards. Today, Terra d’Oro farms produces award-winning wines from its 800+ acres of sustainably farmed vines in Amador County and the Clarksburg AVA. Learn more about their sustainable practices here.

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June Sweet Club: Iowa

Posted on May 24, 2023 by mcginnessalex

Schmitt Söhne
Riesling Spätlese (Late Harvest)
Mosel, Germany

NECTAR WINE STYLE

Germany’s harvest is typically a month later than other wine regions, allowing for a long ripening season. Their Late Harvest Riesling is made from grapes that remain on the vine, where they continue to ripen and intensify in flavor and picked several weeks after the main harvest. The result is a delicious concentration of fruit, with flavors of apricots and peaches coupled with enough acidity to give it a firm and juicy mouth feel.

Analysis: 8-8.5% alcohol / volume
RS: 46-50 g/L
TA: 8-9 g/L
Pairing Recommendation: Enjoy by itself, with soft or blue cheese, richer foods, Asian dishes, Thai, Cajun or any spicy cuisine. Or enjoy with one of their suggested recipes >
Serve: Chilled

WineStyles’ Wine and Cheese Pairing: These sweet wines from our ‘Nectar’ section will pair well with blue cheese, or a soft cheese, such as brie. Learn more about our wine and cheese pairings here.

About Schmitt Söhne Wines:
Family-owned and operated, over 200 years ago the Schmitt ancestors settled in the small village of Longuich, along the Mosel River, and began managing vineyards and producing wine. The Mosel is regarded as the oldest wine-growing region in Germany, believed to be established by the Romans around 50 AD. It is one of the most northernly wine regions in the world and famous for their steep south-facing slopes and blue slate soil, reflected in the touch of minerality in their Spätlese. Now in the fifth generation, Schmitt Söhne is one of Germany’s largest and most successful wine exporters around the world. While they have continued to develop their winemaking techniques and technologies, the family has never lost sight of their traditions. Learn more here.

Pierre Sparr
Alsace Riesling AOC
Alsace, France

NECTAR WINE STYLE

This dry and elegant wine has a fine nose with mineral notes of citrus fruits and yellow lemon. It has beautiful length with salinity and a very nice freshness that is well-balanced with a huge and exceptional terroir expression.

Analysis: 12.7% alcohol / volume
RS: 5.80 g/L
TA: 4.20 g/L TH2
Storage: 7-8 years
Serve: 42.8ºF-46.4ºF

WineStyles’ Wine and Cheese Pairing: These sweet wines from our ‘Nectar’ section will pair well with an herbal or spicy cheese. Learn more about our wine and cheese pairings here.

About Pierre Sparr Winery:
The origin of winemaking in the Sparr family dates back to 1680. Generations later, Charles Sparr developed the business that his son, Pierre, later took the succession at the age of 20. Pierre had a distinct sense for business, making him a pioneer of “estate bottled” wines in Alsace. Pierre also had the courage and obstinacy to rebuild their entire estate after Sigolsheim and its vineyards were completely destroyed during WWII. In doing so, Pierre rebuilt one of Alsace’s most beautiful and prestigious Domaines. Today, with the help of the 9th generation, the aim is still to perpetuate tradition, passion and emotion. Learn more here.

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September Sweet Club Iowa

Posted on August 24, 2022 by mcginnessalex

Nik Weis – St. Urbans-Hof
Riesling
Estate Bottled from Old Vines
Saar Valley, Germany

NECTAR WINE STYLE

The nose is fruity and floral, while on the palate the elegant mouthfeel is dominated by fresh and fine flavors of ripe stone fruits, such as peaches and yellow plums. The minerality of the slate soils delivers a salty and spicy character that goes perfectly along with the lively acidity and delicate medium sweetness.

Varietal: 100% Riesling
Analysis: 11.5% alcohol / volume (approx.)
Trellising: VSP and single post trellising
Age of Vines: 40-60 years
Production: Fermented with indigenous yeasts in stainless steel tanks
Serving Temperature: 46.4ºF
Food Pairing: Dishes like Thai curries poultry in piquant sauces, sweet and sour pork or game are delicious accompaniments to this classic Riesling.
Highlights / Ratings:
– Up to 80 years old vineyards in the Mosel and the Saar Valley
– Traditional Mosel style Riesling with a subtle residual sweetness and a radiant minerality
– Wine Spectator: Top 100 the most exciting wines of 2018 (#44)
– Wine Spectator 100 Top Value Wines for 2020 (#90) (JG 2018)
– Robert Parker: 90 pts. (JG 2017)
– Yves Beck: 90 pts. (JG 2019)

WineStyles Wine and Cheese Pairing: Sweet wines from our ‘Nectar’ section pair well with an herbal cheese. Learn more about our wine and cheese pairings here.

THE VINEYARD:

Harvesting Single Posts Credits Jon Wyand

Nik Weis is one of the few winemakers in his region to make wine from the Mosel and the Saar Valley. Half of his 111 acre property is located in the Saar Valley, a sub-appellation, where the microclimate is even cooler than in the Mosel area. This means that the difference between warm days and cool nights is more extreme and causes even better conditions for the development of many flavors in the skins of the berries. In comparison to the Mosel Valley, with its rather soft and blue slate soils, the slate in the Saar Valley is either red or grey, causing a distinctive smoky and almost salty minerality.

Old Riesling vine III- Credits Jony Wyand

Old Vine © Photo by Jony Wyand

Another particularity of Nik Weis is the wide spectrum of the age of his vines that goes up to 130 years. Having many old vineyard parcels is another key for making authentic and long-lasting wines since old vines root much deeper into the ground and gather more nutrients and minerals than young vines do; they also have a better water uptake which prevents them from drought and water shortage in warm summers. In addition to that, the grape clusters also change within the years, and for that, old vines produce smaller berries with thicker skins. This results naturally into lower crop yields with a higher aromatic concentration and complexity.

PRODUCTION:
The Riesling Estate Bottled from Old Vines unites all particularities of Nik Weis. It is grown on different kinds of slate, comes from the old vineyards in the Saar valley, and was fermented with indigenous yeasts in stainless steel tanks in order to keep the fine and elegant body.

Nik Weis in front of the Goldtröpfchen vineyards Credit Peter Kunz

Nik Weis © Credit Peter Kunz

Nik Weis – St. Urbans-Hof
Urban Riesling
Mosel, Germany

NECTAR WINE STYLE

This Riesling is honest, authentic and made with true origin. It has a complex, smoky and floral nose, and a juicy, fruity, and elegant mouthfeel with minerality that leaves a desire for the next sip. It reflects the traditional taste profile of top quality Mosel Riesling wines, in that it has brilliant fruit and lively acidity.

Varietal: Riesling
Analysis: 10.5% alcohol / volume
Trellising: VSP and partly traditional single post system
Serving Temperature: 46.4ºF
Food Pairing: Delicious on its own, or a perfect accompaniment to light or spicy dishes.
Highlights / Ratings:
– Wine & Spirits: Top 100 Values of the Year | 2020 – Urban Riesling 90 pts.
– Wine Enthusiast: Top 100 Best Buys | 2017 & 2018
– Wine Spectator: Wine of the Week | January 2022
– James Suckling: Vintage 2021 | 90 pts

WineStyles Wine and Cheese Pairing: Sweet wines from our ‘Nectar’ section pair well with an aged cheese. Learn more about our wine and cheese pairings here.

Background:

Nik Weis © Photo Credits to David Weimann

Inspired by the ‘urban lifestyle’ of many cities like New York, London, or Paris, winemaker and globetrotter, Nik Weis wanted to create a wine whose individual character would stand out against the average mass of wines – even in famous cities with genuine character and flair. But how could one combine an urban lifestyle with a rather rural region like the Mosel valley? Luckily, Mosel Riesling is one of the world’s most famous wines and has been consumed in the world’s best restaurants and hotels for more than a century. Nik soon knew that his wine would bring the Mosel ‘zest for life’ to the world’s biggest cities back again.

Today, Urban Riesling has become a well-known and regularly-awarded wine that never forgot about its roots: The soil on which the vines grow consists of blue, highly decomposed slate rocks that give the wines their great minerality- a somewhat salty finish. The temperatures vary from warm during the day to cold at night; this lets the grapes keep their elegant and fruity acidity and makes them produce a wide range of beautiful flavors. The vinification takes place in a minimalistic way in order to make the wines as authentic as possible.

ABOUT NIK WEIS – ST. URBANS-HOF:
Nikolaus (Nik) Weis is the third generation of his family to tend the vines since his Grandfather, Nicolaus Weis founded St. Urbans-Hof Estate in 1947. Nicolaus was awarded the prestigious title “Oekonomierat” (Chancellor of Agriculture) in 1969 for his dedication to the wine culture of the country; his name and title have since become a suffix to the estate’s name. Today, Nik oversees the estate’s 111 acres in the Mosel and Saar Valleys. Since 2000, the Riesling winery has been a member of Germany’s renowned VDP (Association of German Quality Wine Estates). Learn more about their story here.

Drohne-Mosel-between-Leiwen-and-Trittenheim-Credits-David-Weimann_796x395px

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October Sweet Club Iowa

Posted on September 28, 2021 by mcginnessalex

Willi Haag
Juffer Brauneberg Auslese
Grosse Lage Riesling
Mosel, Germany

NECTAR WINE STYLE

Honeysuckle and crushed minerals give a modest introduction to this light-footed Auslese (select harvest) wine. The palate is bursting with ripe flavors of yellow-peach and pineapple. The wine’s sharp, zippy acidity lends balanced to a long finish.

Analysis: 8.5% alcohol / volume
Varietal: Riesling
Region: Brauneberg, Mosel, Germany
Critical Acclaim: 91 points – Wine Enthusiast

WineStyles Wine and Cheese Pairing: Sweet wines from our ‘Nectar’ section also pair well with an herbal cheese. Learn more about our wine and cheese pairings here.

ABOUT THE WINERY:
The Willi Haag Estate has been in the family more than 500 years – now run by Marcus Haag, the grandson of Willi Haag. Marcus took over the entire management in 1997 after completing his viniculture studies. Today, Marcus combines his family’s wine-making traditions with modern viniculture approaches to produce award winning wines. Learn more about the winery and its vineyards here.

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July Sweet Club Iowa

Posted on June 26, 2021 by mcginnessalex

Römerhof
Riesling Kabinett
Mosel, Germany

NECTAR WINE STYLE

The Römerhof Riesling Kabinett is a well-balanced young wine. It highlights flavors and aromas of peaches and citrus, and is fresh and fruity with a crisp acidity.

Analysis: 8.5% alcohol / volume
Varietal: 100% Riesling
Region: Mosel, Germany
Vineyard: Very ripe Riesling grapes from the middle of the Mosel Valley of Germany are used in making this wine. These grapes are allowed to hang longer, earning the designation of ‘Kabinett’.
Pairing: The sweetness from this wine makes it a perfect pairing to aged cheeses, chicken and cream sauces.

WineStyles Wine and Cheese Pairing: Sweet wines from our ‘Nectar’ section pair well with an aged cheese. Learn more about our wine and cheese pairings here.

WINEMAKER NOTES:
“Drought and heat as well as the fear of heavy rain were of primary concern. As in the other regions, vine development was well ahead of the average and picking started in mid-September. The grapes were healthy which brought much relief. September brought rain, but thanks to cool nights it did not lead to rot.” – Römerhof Winery

ABOUT THE WINERY:
Römerhof Winery is owned by Heinz Eifel, whose family has been producing wines in the heart of the Mosel Valley for over 400 years. Based in the village of Trittenheim, Heinz works closely with his winemaker daughter, Anne Eifel-Spohr, to produce award winning Rieslings. Learn more about their history here.

Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery
Semi-Dry Riesling
Finger Lakes, New York

NECTAR WINE STYLE

A delicate Semi-Dry Riesling initially, then rounding out to be tropically ripe. It is brimming with notes of apricot, nectarine, and a hint of pineapple. Flavors of citrusy lemon and acacia blossom balance the sweetness effortlessly.

Analysis: 11.5% alcohol / volume
Varietal: 100% Riesling
RS: 22 g/L
pH: 3.11
TA: 7.0 g/L
Vineyard: Seneca and Keuka Vineyards
Vinification: De-Stemmed. Direct Press.
Vessel: Stainless Steel. Temperature Controlled.
Fermentation: Traditional. No Malolactic Fermentation.
Élevage: Unoaked. Aged 5 months on the lees.
Dryness: Semi-Dry. 2.2% Residual Sugar
Pairing: Enjoy with Middle Eastern, Moroccan, Thai or Asian cuisines. This wine pairs exceptionally well with ingredients such as pepper, ginger, curry, sesame, soy, spicy BBQ, and pork.

WineStyles Wine and Cheese Pairing: Sweet wines from our ‘Nectar’ section also pair well with an herbal cheese. Learn more about our wine and cheese pairings here.

WINEMAKER NOTES:
“Budbreak and flowering started about two weeks later than normal. Temperatures during the summer were moderate, August and September were cooler than average. Luckily, the weather in the fall was extremely favorable with extended periods of sunny and dry days followed by cool nights. This offered excellent conditions to fully ripen the grapes well into October.

Riesling was first brought to the Finger Lakes by our founder. Those original vines dating back to 1958 are still in production. Riesling blocks on our Keuka vineyard were planted in 1958, 1962, 1968, 1976, 1999, 2006, and 2012 with various clones (88, 90, 11, 318, 239, 49, 110, 38). Soils here are shallow, shale-based which add minerality, acidity, and elegance. Riesling was planted in 2007, 2008, 2010, and 2012 on our Seneca estate vineyard with 90 and 356 clones. Temperatures here are a few degrees warmer than Keuka, thus providing riper fruit notes. Soils on Seneca are characterized by deep Honeoye silt loam.” – Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery

ABOUT THE WINERY:
Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery is a family owned and operated winery situated on the southwestern hills of Keuka Lake. In 1958, Dr. Konstantin Frank planted his first Vinifera vines, igniting the “Vinifera Revolution” – forever changing the course of winemaking in New York. Four generations later, the Frank family continues to grow their winery throughout the Finger Lakes region. Learn more about their story here.

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October Wine Club pairing recipe

Posted on October 1, 2017 by WineStyles Tasting Station

Rosemary and Garlic Roast Beef

INGREDIENTS:
• 3 lbs boneless Rib Eye roast
• ¼ cup chopped fresh rosemary, or other favorite herbs
• ¼ cup chopped garlic (about 20 cloves)
• salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
• 4 tablespoons olive oil, divided
• 4 tablespoons butter, divided
• 4 cups of a variety of mushrooms, sliced to about the same size
• 1 cup of stock

DIRECTIONS:
• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Tie the roast and season generously with salt and pepper.
• Mix together rosemary and garlic. Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil and stir to combine. Reserve.
• In a cast iron skillet, over medium heat, add 2 tablespoons of olive oil and, once smoking hot, sear all sides of the meat.
• Remove skillet from heat. Brush the herb-garlic mixture all over the roast.
• Bring the roast, in the cast iron skillet, to the preheated oven and cook for about 1 to 1.5 hours or until a meat thermometer reads 135°F degrees (medium-rare). Let it rest for at least 10 minutes before serving (final temperature should be 145°F for medium rare.)
• While the roast is resting, sauté the mushrooms over medium heat with 2 tablespoons butter until cooked through and no liquid is left in the pan, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
• Remove roast from the cast iron skillet and bring the skillet to the stove top. Add stock to the pan and deglaze the pan, scraping all the bits from the bottom. Allow to simmer until thick.
• Add the mushrooms to the sauce, stir in the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter and stir until the sauce is silky. Then, place the roast back in the cast iron with the sauce and spoon some of the sauce over the roast. Garnish serving platter with fresh rosemary if desired. Serves 6. Recipe courtesy of Olivia’s Cuisine. Photo © Olivia’s Cuisine

Kilburg
Spätburgunder
Mosel, Germany

In 1465 Johann von Kilburg, a descendant of the Dukes of Flanders, moved to the Moselle Valley to cultivate vineyards. Since that time, wine cultivation has been in their family, without interruption. Indeed nothing essential has changed throughout the past 552 years, the Kilburgs continue their pursuit of high quality wine. The cool climate of Mosel allows for late harvesting, through mid October. The fermentation takes place in closed top tanks, where careful pump overs helps to create more fruit flavors and aromas. Pairs well with rack of lamb, fillet steak and carpaccio, roast or grilled lobster, spring vegetables.

“A vibrant and fresh bouquet filled with black cherry, spice and a mere of spicy stem; the palate is silky and approachable, with seductive levels of sweet fruit, plenty of fine-grained tannin as backbone and a long minerally finish.” – Max Kilburg, winemaker

Max Kilburg, winemaker

Winemaker: Max Kilburg
Appellation: Mosel, Germany
Varietal Blend: 100% Spätburgunder
Analysis: 13% alcohol / volume, 2.8 g/l Residual Sugar, 3.38 g/l Total Acidity

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Tag Archives: Mosel

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Dr. H. Thanisch
Bernkasteler Badstube
Kabinett Riesling
Mosel, Germany