On Saturday afternoon, 3 August, come meet our dear friend Winemaker Erni Loosen and learn about why his "GGRs" are so special. Tina will be hosting a casual walk-around tasting in our shop with a focus on Erni’s dry Rieslings and more specifically his "GGRs". Several of you joined Tina at her Fine Wine Friday session in our lounge where she shared her passion for these wines. Now you’ll have an opportunity to learn all about them from the charismatic Erni Loosen himself.

The designation “GG” = ‘Grosses Gewächs’ and refers to a grand cru wine in a dry style. Then, the designation “GGR” = ‘Grosses Gewächs Reserve’ and refers to a grand cru wine in a dry style that is aged for 24 months on its lees.

Back in August 2016, Linden hosted a masterclass with Erni Loosen and wrote a recap of the class in which Erni described how the “GGRs” came about. In Linden’s description of the insights from the class, he noted that Erni explained that since the beginning of his time at the estate, which began in the mid-1980s, they have been making a small amount of dry Riesling. But, Erni explained that they weren’t quite doing it right. Then, one day an older customer who had been a client of his grandfather’s came in with a bottle of dry Riesling from 1949, and the bottle was excellent. Erni learned that what his grandfather had been doing to achieve this was prolonged ageing in fuder (neutral 1,000 litre wooden cask), no racking, and late bottling. Linden went on to explain that, ‘These single vineyard “GG” Rieslings are fermented in fuder, receive no racking until a full 12 months in cask.’ Then, Linden continued to describe that another fuder of the exact same wine is kept for another 24 months, unracked before bottling, and this is called the “GGR”. To read Linden’s complete description of the masterclass from 2016 click here.

In addition to tasting these incredible “GGRs” with Erni, we will also taste 2012, 2013 and 2017 Ürziger Würzgarten Spätlese Goldkapsel Auktion Rieslings too, so you can experience Loosen’s 'fruity' style wines. The ‘auction goldkapsel’ version of the Ürziger Würzgarten Spätlese is made from a special parcel of over-100-years-old ungrafted vines that produce only tiny millerand (shot) berries. This cuvée is only available at the annual wine auction in Trier, Mosel each September, where we go to buy it. It is also truly special.

Wines to be served:
2013 Weingut Dr. Loosen - Wehlener Sonnenhur Trocken Grosses Gewächs Reserve
2013 Weingut Dr. Loosen - Ürziger Würzgarten Trocken Grosses Gewächs Reserve
2013 Weingut Dr. Loosen - Prälat Trocken Grosses Gewächs Reserve
2012 Weingut Dr. Loosen - Ürziger Würzgarten Spätlese Goldkapsel Auktion
2013 Weingut Dr. Loosen - Ürziger Würzgarten Spätlese Goldkapsel Auktion
2017 Weingut Dr. Loosen - Ürziger Würzgarten Spätlese Goldkapsel Auktion

Linden and Tina were just with Erni in the Mosel, and here is a short clip of what’s in store for you in early August. We hope you will join us!