Adventures in Wine > Riesling

Riesling

Many critics argue that Riesling is the greatest white grape variety of them all thanks to nuanced delicacy and truly remarkable versatility. In Germany, it makes the most magical ‘terroir’ wines from dry to lusciously sweet. However, Riesling can also flourish in such faraway places as Australia and New Zealand.

Buty (and BEAST)

Winery: Buty (and BEAST)
Region: Washington
Sub-region: Walla Walla

Chardonnay
Columbia Rediviva
Merlot/Cabernet Franc
Rediviva of the Stones
Sémillon, Sauvignon & Muscadelle

BEAST Riesling Sphinx
BEAST Red Wildebeest

Buty and BEAST wines are unified by the people who produce them. They both possess an extraordinary texture, structured backbone, focus on lovely fruit, and a balance of approachability and ability to age.

Buty is the first Northwest winery to create focused blends of cabernet sauvignon and syrah. The Rediviva blends marry cabernet sauvignon’s intensity and syrah’s complexity. Rediviva of the Stones favors syrah and is grown in the cobblestones of the ancestral Walla Walla riverbed in the southern part of the Walla Walla Valley. The Rockgarden Estate will become the exclusive source of Rediviva of the Stones, and will be certified organic. Columbia Rediviva is a cabernet sauvignon centric wine and is grown at Phinny Hill Vineyard. Phinny Hill Vineyard is also transitioning to organic status. This fantastic site provides vistas down on to the famous Champoux Vineyard and across the Horse Heaven Hills.

The two Rediviva wines are named for the sloop Captain Robert Gray piloted up the Columbia River in 1792. He hoped the river would prove to be the Northwest Passage, and so bestowed on it the name of his ship, Columbia Rediviva. Prior to this voyage, she was the first American ship to circumnavigate the globe. As the river that connects all of the vineyards we work with at Buty, the Columbia is a lifeline we honor as the namesake of our Columbia Rediviva wine.

BEAST is the irresistible alter-ego. With BEAST there are no rules. Buty creates what they feel compelled to make each year. With BEAST they present new varietals, new vineyards, or showcase an intriguing wine outside of the Buty portfolio. Sometimes a wily BEAST will tantalize you only once, and sometimes it may appear again unexpectedly. Keep a watchful eye out for the annual Halloween release. Some years an unruly BEAST refuses to stay in hibernation past April Fool’s. Be aware. You’ll want to make acquaintance with these exclusive creations before it’s too late.

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Domaine Schaetzel

Winery: Domaine Schaetzel
Region: France
Sub-region: Alsace

Gewurztraminer Cuvee Isabelle
Tokay Pinot Gris Marckrain Alsace
Riesling Kaefferkpf Granit
Gewurztraminer Reserve
Pinot Blanc Reserve
Pinot Gris Reserve
Riesling Reserve
Pinot Blanc Reserve

Jean Schaetzel is obsessed with quality. He is a man driven to make pure, clean, balanced wines that are correct and express a sense of place. He is not interested in making giant wines in the style of some of his neighbors, favoring more elegant, understated wines with subtlety and finesse. His wines are considered among the best of Alsace.

Located in the town of Ammerschwihr, Domaine Martin Schaetzel has been producing wines since 1803. In 1979 Jean and Béa Schaetzel took over the estate from Jean’s uncle Martin. Jean handles the viticultural and oenological development of the wines, while Bea directs administration.

The 13 hectare Domaine is farmed biodynamically.
Jean’s ambition is to craft three distinct styles of Alsace wine:
Vintage Cuvées express typical characteristics of each varietal.
Hallmark cuvées are rich, complex wines that express terroir.
Late Harvest & Selections de Grains Nobles are mellow, liquorous wines to be savoured.

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Efeste Wines

Winery: Efeste Wines
Region: Washington
Sub-region: Columbia Valley

Riesling Evergreen
Sauvignon Blanc
Cabernet Sauvignon Big Papa
Cabernet Sauvignon/Syrah Final Final
Syrah Ceidleigh

Another great find from Washington State! Efeste believes that a minimal approach makes the best wine. Efeste works primarily with old vines, bringing forth maturity and concentration while maintaining elegance. Native fermentation encourages lovely, earthy notes without eclipsing the fruit that is unique to the vineyard. The fruit speaks for itself, not unlike art, where beauty and excitement are found in the unique aberrations, Efeste encourages the production of wines with character, as they believe great wines have personality.

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Petra Unger

Winery: Dr. Unger
Region: Austria
Sub-region: Wachau

Riesling Hinters Kirchl
Gruner Veltliner Alte Reben
Gruner Veltliner Q
Gruner Veltliner Alte Reben Reserve
Gruner Veltliner Oberfeld
Gruner Veltliner Reserve Gottschelle

Founded in 1987 by Dr. Wolfgang Unger, and now operated by his daughter Petra, and Konrad Hackl, the 11 hectare Dr. Unger estate is located in the prestigious Kremstal and Wachau regions of Austria.

Wachau regional wines are some of the most sought-after in Austria. The steep, terraced hillsides have a unique terroir, due to glacial deposits from the last ice-age. Riesling is king in this region, as some of the richest expressions of the varietal hail from Wachau.

Kremstal vineyards produce some of the finest Grüner Veltliners, exhibiting exotic fruits, soft texture, and distinctive pepper notes.

Petra Unger’s range of wines include Classic and Reserve bottlings. The Classic wines have a maximum alcohol content of 12.5%, are delightfully fresh and clean with a fruit-forward, elegant style. The Reserve wines are ripened longer and typically exceed 12.5% alcohol. These dry wines are full bodied, rich and rewarding delivering long flavors that express a sense of place.

We are quite pleased to be the exclusive, national importer of these great wines!

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Rainer Wess

Winery: Rainer Wess
Region: Austria
Sub-region: Wachau

Gruner Veltliner
Riesling

Rainer Wess founded his own winery in 2003 after many years of diverse experience in the wine trade in both his native Austria and internationally. For example, he was the European sales manager for Mondavi and later the wine maker at a large Wachau winery. From the beginning, Wess’s goal was to produce Grüner Veltliner and Riesling wines that would not only be among the best of the Wachau Valley, but also express his very personal style and philosophy. Rainer Wess’ deep knowledge of the Wachu region and its wine growers enabled him to identify the finest grapes from choicest sites available for purchase at harvest in 2003 and resulted in the immediate success of his project. More sites and grape-sources were added in 2004. Rainer Wess aims to produce the purest, freshest and most elegant wines possible, with

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Schloss Vollrads

Winery: Schloss Vollrads
Region: Germany
Sub-region: Rheingau

Riesling Rheingau

One of the greatest locations for the production of Riesling is the miracle mile from Schloss Vollrads to Schloss Johannisberg. On this land the first Riesling vineyards were planted and the first eiswein was made. The fabled racy elegance of Schloss Vollrads traces its wine making tradition to the tenth century. The large private estate has been under the able direction of Dr. Hepp since 1997, and this wine from Schloss Vollrads and purchased grapes is as good as anything he produces in the dryer style. The appelation is Rheingau as it comes from more than one district. The grapes are grown primarily in gravel, sand and slate, rich in minerals with fertile layers of loess. 1,500 cases were made under this label.

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Vale da Mina

Winery: Vale da Mina
Region: Portugal
Sub-region: Vinho Verde

Vinho Verde

Vinho Verde is the celebratory wine of Portugal. The Vale da Mina has very intense aromas of fresh citric fruits, a pale straw color and is very fresh with fine acidity. The persistent flavor is typical of all white wines in this region.

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