The winegrowers' association "Riesling-Weingüter im Bernkasteler Ring e.V." was founded in 1899 as an association of vineyard owners from the Middle Moselle with the following objective: Our vision is to further promote the appreciation of our wines through a consistent striving for quality, to preserve our unique WeinKulturLandschaft as the basis of our existence and to support the young generation of Moselle winegrowers on their way to the top of German wine producers. The office for the 40 member wineries is located in Bernkastel-Kues.
The Bernkasteler Ring is the oldest wine auction society in Germany. Following the guidelines of the founding generation, they manage an above-average proportion of Riesling vineyards, quite a few even 100%. According to the statutes of the Ring, the near-natural cultivation of the vineyards in the landscape-defining steep slopes is an essential contribution to the preservation of the over 2000-year-old cultural landscape along the three rivers Mosel, Saar and Ruwer. Despite the highest production costs and limited harvest quantities for reasons of quality enhancement, the Bernkasteler Ring wineries see the preservation of the often extremely steep slopes as the decisive basis for maintaining the highest quality and distinctiveness of the Riesling wines of the Mosel growing region.
In June, the member wineries jointly present the new vintage at the Great Riesling Presentation. Traditionally, the great Riesling auction has been held in September since 1901, at which the best wines of the growing region are auctioned off. Especially the noble sweet top growths such as Beerenauslesen, Trockenbeerenauslesen and Eisweine achieve top prices at these auctions. All wines that come to presentations or auctions or are put on the market must have passed a sensory pre-test at least twice.
Since the 2005 vintage, wines with the designation "Großes Gewächs Bernkasteler Ring" have been vinified in the Bernkasteler Ring from steep vineyards classified within the ring according to the following criteria: limited yield of 50 hl/ha, at least 93 °Oechsle, hand harvest, wines with a dry taste, as well as several preliminary tastings by the Bernkasteler Ring tasting commission. The feature on the bottle is a plaque with the signet "GG Bernkasteler Ring". However, this designation has no reference or connection to the Grosses Gewächs of the VDP (Association of German Prädikat Wine Estates).
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Thomas Götz
Weinberater, Weinblogger und Journalist; Schwendi