No one can be called a more passionate and ardent advocate for the great tradional estates of Germany than Rudi Wiest.  At a recent trade tasting called "Rudipalooza",  Riesling was on full display, especially the remarkably powerful sun kissed 2010 vintage.  Rudi began importing from Germany in 1979 and his tireless work to build the image and approachability of  the finest estates has earned him the Pin of Honor from the prestigious VDP, or Prädikatsweingüter.  His contributions to the success of German wine is unmistakeable, but his contributions to the American wine market are not to be missed!

On October 19th, Molly Sweeney will be respresenting Rudi Wiest hosting a truly special tasting of some of the most exciting wines in his portfolio.  And with 2009 and 2010 being some of the most remarkable vintages in recent memory the wines are sure to make some true believers of Riesling.

From Franken, Paul Fürst, Germany's winemaker of the year in 2003, crafts a crafts a crystalline Müller-Thurgau, a grape more known for its rougher edges.  The wine is packed with minerality and rounded with melon and grapefruit.  The Fürst family has been making wine for almost 400 years and all harvesting is done by hand along the eyepopping vineyards around Bürgstadt.

The Künstler family also planted their first grapes in the Rheingau about 400 years ago when the Thirty Years War raged about them.  Gunter makes lip searing wine that has sommeliers across the country begging for his trocken, or dry, Riesling.  With truly depressed yields, he sources from some of the best sites in the Rheingau, pulling vigorous minerality and zippy fruit from gravelly and sandy soils.  

Few people know that Germany is the world's third largest producer of Pinot Noir.  Dr. Heger produces wine from sun soaked south facing Baden hillsides.  Baden has most of Germay's Pinot Noir, or Spätburgunder plantings and Jaochim takes advantage of the warmth offering a balance of intensely perfumed bright cherry fruit and softer lengthening tannins, making German Pinot Noir some of the best and most versitile food wine.

When the VDP began naming Grosses Gewächs, or Grand Cru, wine, they must have had Pfeffingen's Unsteiner Herrenberg in mind.  Mature and elegant, aromatic and juicy, dry with with incredible depth and finish, the Riesling still makes an impression months after tasting it.  

Developing a menu to match will be a treat.  Already stuffed Amish quail, slow roasted Red Wattle pork, heirloom squashes and potatoes, and pflaumenkuchen seem a perfect fit for the minerally driven wines.  It is a wine dinner not to be missed.  

The cost is  $70/person before tax and tip and reservations can be made here or by calling 402-916-9274.