Michigan Wine Growers Trip. Germany September 2015

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Georgiana Hunt
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1 Michigan Wine Growers Trip Germany September 2015

2 Geilweilerhof in Siebeldingen with Dr. Eibach

3 Grape Test Nursery 4000 Varietals Grown Different grape variety every three plants

4 Greenhouse hybrids Looking for mildew resistance and cluster compactness

5 Micro batch pressing and fermenting equipment. Makes 3 bottles to 10 cases

6 Micro Vinification

7 Example of row numbering Different trellis style

8 Hybrid grape lineage

Hybrid Tasting Reberger: Cross of Lemberger and Regent. Tends to have some issues with botrytis.

Somewhat of a hybrid quality to the wine with flavors of dark cherry, black currants and black liquorish.

Yield twice that of Remberger. Not something that we will plant ourselves. Calandro: Best of the three reds tasted.

9 Hybrid Tasting Reberger: Cross of Lemberger and Regent. Tends to have some issues with botrytis. Downy and Powdery mildew resistant. Wine had a fruit forward nose. Somewhat of a hybrid quality to the wine with flavors of dark cherry, black currants and black liquorish. Fermented on skins for 3 days. Color somewhat light. Regent: Already available in the USA. Medicinal flavors. Yield twice that of Remberger. Not something that we will plant ourselves. Calandro: Best of the three reds tasted. Higher in tannin, good color. Earth tones and decent notes of fruit but the wine had a hybrid like quality. I would prefer a Chambourcin or Chancellor. Tight cluster so not a great variety against botrytis.

Hybrid Tasting Villaris (White): Sirus and Villard Blanc cross. Early ripening. Strange nose that I didn t prefer. Reminded me of a Seyval Blanc. 6 tons per acre on average.

This didn t taste as synthetic as Valvin Muscat. Had notes of rose pedal honey suckle. Ripens at the same time as Pinot Blanc. GF.

10 Hybrid Tasting Villaris (White): Sirus and Villard Blanc cross. Early ripening. Strange nose that I didn t prefer. Reminded me of a Seyval Blanc. 6 tons per acre on average. Maybe something for blending but, we have similar hybrids in the US. GF (White): Smelled of a Valvin Muscat. The flavor was slightly muted compared to Valvin Muscat. This didn t taste as synthetic as Valvin Muscat. Had notes of rose pedal honey suckle. Ripens at the same time as Pinot Blanc. GF. GA-4742 (White): Had the Valvin Muscat or extremely fruity nose almost fake or synthetic. Cross is Seyval Blanc and Muller Thurgau. Loose cluster so botrytis resistant. Small berries. Tends to have a small fruit set and good secondary s. This was the best of the bunch from Geilweilerhof.

11 Freytag Nursery

12 Hybrid testing nursery Pendelbogen trellis style

Cabernet Blanc (White): Grapes are a very loose cluster so great against botrytis. Good tolerance against downy/powdery. Tends to have a light fruit set.

Lots of tannin for a white wine which makes sense as it is a Cab cross. Had an elderberry nose. Pinotin (Red): Cross between Cabernet Blanc and Cabernet Noir.

Good tannin and didn t taste like a hybrid. I found it similar to a Willamette Pinot Noir. Cal-604 (California): This is a cross between Cabernet and Riesling.

13 Cabernet Blanc (White): Grapes are a very loose cluster so great against botrytis. Good tolerance against downy/powdery. Tends to have a light fruit set. Bell pepper flavors in fruit. Good wood hardiness. The wine smelled of pyroxenes (bell pepper). Lots of tannin for a white wine which makes sense as it is a Cab cross. Had an elderberry nose. Pinotin (Red): Cross between Cabernet Blanc and Cabernet Noir. Has a late bud break. Wine had a nice pinot color but was slightly darker than a MI Pinot Noir. Burgundy nose with black cherry, tobacco, cedar and black currant. Good tannin and didn t taste like a hybrid. I found it similar to a Willamette Pinot Noir. Cal-604 (California): This is a cross between Cabernet and Riesling. Good resistance to downy/powdery. Big loose cluster so this variety has good resistance to botrytis. Looks similar to a big Gewurtz. cluster. Taste similar to a Gewurtz. with notes of grapefruit and citrus. This also didn t taste of a hybrid.

Had no other notes on this wine as they hadn t had a harvest yet. Cabertin: Red wine with bell pepper!

14 Experimental Tasting Room for non-growers Cabernet Noir (Red): Early Ripening. Grown in Denmark as well so should be cold tolerant. Had no other notes on this wine as they hadn t had a harvest yet. Cabertin: Red wine with bell pepper! Tends to get stem necrosis. When we tasted the Gundersheim (9/13/15) version it was similar to a MI Cab Sauv. Smokey with lots of tannin, dark cherry, dark chocolate, coffee and fig. This was one of the best versions of this wine.

15 Gravity crusher and press PiWi

16 Bag pollination process

17 Freimann-Freiburg

Muscaris: White that is similar to the Muscat/Valvin Muscat variety with some characteristic of Gewurtz.

Sauvignier Gris (White): Cross between Cabernet Sauvignon and Bronner. Soft and fruity similar to a Sauv. Blanc with subtle notes of grapefruit. Not overly complex.

Very good resistance to downy, powdery and botrytis. Notes of petrol and flower blossoms.

18 Muscaris: White that is similar to the Muscat/Valvin Muscat variety with some characteristic of Gewurtz.. We tasted several sparkling versions that were nice but I feel that this could make a nice still wine as well. Has a loose cluster too. Sauvignier Gris (White): Cross between Cabernet Sauvignon and Bronner. Soft and fruity similar to a Sauv. Blanc with subtle notes of grapefruit. Not overly complex. Potential for a blending wine. Loose cluster that is a late to ripen with a thick skin. Solaris (White): Mersling cross. Doesn t age well but is does ripen early. Very good resistance to downy, powdery and botrytis. Notes of petrol and flower blossoms. Prior (Red): Was light in color as the winemaker claimed that the vineyard was over cropped. This is a Pinot cross but didn t get the other varieties name. Loose cluster with burgundy nose and flavors of a Cab Franc on second wine. Was an interesting wine when made properly. The Gundersheim version had notes of red currant, red raspberry, tart cherry with a soft finish. Note that it does ripen after Riesling

Cabernet Cortis (Red): Vegetal nose with a strong hybrid flavor. Monarch: Cross between Muscat and Dornfelder.

Tasted another wine that did have a nice overall mouthfeel. Could be just the winemaking or crop level.

Once it hits 20 brix it tends to stop sugar production Johanniter (White): Harvest is earlier than Riesling.

19 Cabernet Cortis (Red): Vegetal nose with a strong hybrid flavor. Monarch: Cross between Muscat and Dornfelder. Dark color, hybrid like nose with notes of tobacco, clove, and jam. Decent tannins but ended with a thin finish. Tasted another wine that did have a nice overall mouthfeel. Could be just the winemaking or crop level. Note that the canes tend to grow down so would probably want to grow on a high wire cordon. Once it hits 20 brix it tends to stop sugar production Johanniter (White): Harvest is earlier than Riesling. The clusters were compact so might as well grow Riesling. Had Riesling aroma and flavors with no notes of hybrid flavors or nose. Cabernet Carbon (Red): Had a neutral nose with very bland flavors as well. Were not available yet.

20 Loose cluster Pinot Noir

21 The Bergstrasser Co-op Winery Largest winery in Germany Produces 1 million liters a day 80% sold in Germany

22 Frieburg Co-op

23 Best of Freiburg PiWi tasting

24 Bronner (White): Pinot Blanc like nose and flavors. Mineral driven with notes of wet stone and a soft fruit essence. Was a good breeding parent. Helios (White): Big producing variety with loose clusters. Pretty nose with notes of rose pedal. Had some interesting flavors similar to a light Gewurtz, some Riesling and Sauv. Blanc. I think that this variety has some potential for us.

25 Geisenheim University

Hibernal (White): Spicy nose with good acidity. Smelled of a Gewurtz but tasted like a Riesling without the petrol.

Nice mouthfeel with notes of green apple and sweet tart toward an artificial flavor.

GM 8107-3 (White): Nice mouthfeel and balance with good acidity. Reminded me of a nice Pinot Blanc.

26 Hibernal (White): Spicy nose with good acidity. Smelled of a Gewurtz but tasted like a Riesling without the petrol. This could have some potential in MI. Saphira (White): Pinot Gris/Blanc nose. Nice mouthfeel with notes of green apple and sweet tart toward an artificial flavor. Was interesting and does ripen early, high yield and sugar/acid. GM (White): Nice mouthfeel and balance with good acidity. Reminded me of a nice Pinot Blanc. Wet stone and a little petrol with a nice long finish. I believe that this could have some good potential but don t believe that the vines are available to anyone yet. Rondo (Red): Deep ruby color with a cough syrup nose and flavor. Strong hybrid flavor too. It is available in USA already.

27 Winery Wohlgemuth-Schnuerr in Gundersheim and Heppenheim

28 Steep terrain

30 Tasting in the vineyard

31 Last day in Germany at a wine festival in Bensheim Cheers to a great trip!

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