International Riesling Foundation Created FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2007-Some of the world's leading Riesling producers have announced the formation of an international organization to promote and support Riesling production throughout the world. The new group hopes to improve communications among worldwide Riesling producers and has a main goal of consumer education, including determining how consumers view Riesling wines and possibly establishing global standards for clarifying how consumers view the sugar levels in the wine. The International Riesling Foundation was officially incorporated on Nov. 15 in the State of Washington. The first formation meeting was held in San Francisco on Nov. 30 at the west coast offices of Constellation Wines US. A second meeting that will be open to a wider group of supporters will be held in conjunction with the Unified Symposium in Sacramento, California in late January. A larger, more global meeting is being planned in conjunction with the "Riesling Renaissance" conference in Seattle organized by Chateau Ste. Michelle in late July. Attendees to the Nov. 30 meeting included representatives from California, Michigan, New York , Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, Germany and New Zealand . Participants in the formation meeting included such industry luminaries as Chateau Ste. Michelle and Pacific Rim Winemakers from Washington, Clos du Bois, Constellation Brands (with several Riesling producers worldwide), Fetzer Vineyards (Brown-Forman), Kendall-Jackson Wine Estates, Trefethen Vineyards in the Napa Valley, Esterlina Vineyards in Mendocino County, Smith-Madrone, Michigan's Chateau Grand Traverse, the New York Wine & Grape Foundation and Anthony Road Winery from New York's Finger Lakes region, Oregon wineries Chehalem and Willamette Valley Vineyards, Sumac Ridge from British Columbia, a representative from Dr. Loosen in Germany, and a representative of New Zealand winegrowers, along with Washington wine consultant and attorney Coke Roth, and wine journalist Dan Berger. Australian Riesling superstar Jeffrey Grosset could not attend but has expressed strong support for the initiative. The main goal of the group is to increase awareness, understanding and appreciation of Riesling wines and to create widespread industry agreement on the definitions of Riesling flavor profiles. It also aims to promote a broad education of Riesling and its many styles and applications, to create Riesling sections in major wine stores, and to encourage more restaurant use of Riesling with main dishes. The participants in the Foundation recommended establishing an Endowment Fund for research into Riesling production. Participants agreed to the need for a state-of-the-art communications system for trade and consumer education, and to actively stage events that promote the greatness of this variety that may well be the finest white wine varietal of them all. The Foundation came about as a result of efforts to establish greater public awareness of the greatness of the grape variety that was begun earlier in 2007 at the first Riesling Renaissance conference at Chateau Ste. Michelle in June. It was there that several parties who had been advocating such an organization came together and began discussions. That led to the creation of a corporate structure supported by a number of industry leaders. Further information about the Foundation and its planned activities will be available at a future date. Initially, information requests are being handled through Jim Trezise of the New York Wine and Grape Foundation (
jimtrezise@nywgf.org; 585-394-3620, ext. 203)
