Who is the greatest Riesling producer in the world?

Who is the greatest (or your favorite) Riesling producer in the world?

Use any criteria that you desire (Historical significance, versatility in range, recent performance, ageability and development, whatever…) This is not a Top 100 list and I’ve tried to include regional possibilities that may not be familiar to everyone, but I think that I’ve included most (if not everyone’s) favorites regardless of style preference. If I’ve missed yours, write it in (and explain yourself). Mostly though, I’m interested in why you voted the way you did.

The following are far too many options for a Poll.

Thanks!
Bill


Adam, A.J
Aldinger
Alzinger, Leo
Bassermann-Jordan
Breuer, Georg
Bründlmayer
Bürgerspital
Bürklin-Wolf
Busch, Clemens
Christmann
Christoffel, Joh. Jos.
Deiss, Marcel
Diel
Dönnhoff
Eberbach
Emerich-Schönleber
Flick, Joachim
Frank, Dr. Konstantin
Fürst, Rudolf
Gobelsburg
Grosset
Gunderloch
Haag, Fritz
Haart, Reinhold
Heyl zu Herrensheim
Heymann-Löwenstein
Hirsch, Johannes
Hirtzberger, Franz
Hugel & Fils
Jamek, Josef
Johannisberg
JosMeyer
Juliusspital
Karthäuserhof
Keller
Kesseler, August
Kesselstatt, Reichsgraf von
Knipser
Knoll, Emmerich
Koehler-Ruprecht
Kreidenweiss, Marc
Kuentz-Bas
Kühn, Peter Jacob
Künstler
Langwerth von Simmern
Lauer, Peter
Leitz, Josef
Lieser
Loimer, Fred
loosen
Löwenstein
Mann, Albert
Maximin Grünhaus
Molitor, Markus
Mosbacher
Müller, Egon
Müller-Catoir
Nigl, Martin
Nikolaihof
Ostertag
Pawis
Pichler, F.X.
Pichler, Rudi
Prager
Proschwitz
Prüm, Joh. Jos.
Rebholz
Reinhartshausen
Sauer, Horst
Schaefer, Willi
Schaetzel, Martin
Schäfer-Fröhlich
Schlumberger
Schnaitmann
Schönborn -Rhiengu u. Franken
Selbach-Oster
Simon-Bürkle
Spreitzer
Stein, Weingut am (Knoll)
Strub, J u. H
Thanisch-Erben Thanisch, Wwe Dr. H
Trimbach
Van Volxem
Villa Sachsen
Vollenweider
Vollrads
Von Buhl
Von Winning
Wagner-Stempel
Wehrheim
Weil, Robert
Weinbach, Clos des Capucins
Weingart, Florian
Wiemer, Hermann J.
Wieninger
Wirsching
Wittmann
Zilliken
Zind-Humbrecht

You expect me to pick just one? That' so... jejune!

Having a quiet day over there Bill!!

Agree Emerich-Schönleber, Leitz and Christoffel but then I am a Bueker disciple!!

The guys in NY might be up in arms though, no producer from Finger lakes, grin wink.
I have to add that I think Cave Springs from Ontario might be worthy of a mention but not really quite up there with these big names.

Trimbach.
Explanation: Clos St. Hune.
Best, Jim

...The guys in NY might be up in arms though, no producer from Finger lakes, grin wink.
I have to add that I think Cave Springs from Ontario might be worthy of a mention but not really quite up there with these big names.

"Frank, Dr. Konstantin" is on the list. I agree about Cave Spring being an excellent producer, but the best Rieslings I've had are Donnhoff.

Trimbach.
Explanation: Clos St. Hune.
Best, Jim

If that's your explanation then it seems to point more towards greatest wine/terroir than producer?

Wiemer, Hermann J. is also on the list from NY.


I will vote Donnhoff

The one I drink the most from is not on the list, nor did I expect him to be.

Haven't had every single one of them yet.

You expect me to pick just one? That' so... jejune!

+1

I'd need, at a minimum , to pick one per Pradikät, and then throw in more for style. For dry Riesling, Trimbach would get my vote (but I haven't had Steiner Hund or Vinothek so Nikolaihof can't be dismissed), for QbA it would be Dönnhoff (but I haven't tried some other worthy contenders), for TBA it would be Prüm for me, but only with serious age on it (and again I haven't had a lot of the worthy competition) and for Kabinett it would be Willi Schäfer. I'd have to think long and hard (and drink more) to decide on Spätlese and Auslese producers (and I don't really drink Eiswein or GG, so I'll pass on those categories) as well as Feinherb.

Mark Lipton

Wiemer for no other reason than the impromptu barrel tasting when we visit him and he learned it was our honeymoon and we shared a common friend. I have to wonder if the Finger Lakes would have evolved the way it has if he hadn't proven that it was possible to make consistently good Riesling there.

I vote for any Reisling John Tremblay pours for me.

Mount Olympus had a population of more than one. So I will chose a handful of godlike figures with no Zeus.

Müller
Prüm
Dönnhoff
Keller
Trimbach

NB My experience of Austrian Riesling is limited.

Trimbach.
Explanation: Clos St. Hune.
Best, Jim

If that's your explanation then it seems to point more towards greatest wine/terroir than producer?

The Freddie ain't bad either.
Best, Jim

Bill -

The producers whose Rieslings I find the most exciting and meaningful, would be, in no particular order, Dönnhoff, Keller, Bürklin-Wolf, Zilliken, Knebel, Emrich-Schönleber, and F.X. Pichler. Peter Lauer could soon be added to my favorites, but I haven't had as many of their wines yet as these others. Certainly, there are many others out there making impressive wines; I didn't see Steinmetz on your list, and they deserve to be included in my opinion.

Granted, I'm not much of an Alsace Riesling drinker. (My favorite Alsatian producer is Deiss, and their best wines are their field blends.)

I find I can't name just one.