No matter how confident we are of the kinds of wines our customers like to buy, it’s always reassuring to see what your peers in the trade also think. Particularly for a country like Germany where are there are so many different styles and regions where we can all still learn so much about what is really happening in this exciting wine country. Which is what Wines of Germany’s Top of the Crops competition is all about. Asking experts buyers to taste, assess and pick out the wines they think will shine in different sectors of the trade.
If you are looking to brighten up your German wine range then look no further than the winners in the Wines of Germany’s Top of the Crops competition.
The biggest challenge for any wine country, even one of the most prestigious and established as Germany, is to get the right wines in front of the right trade buyers so that they can find their way into the best retailers, wine merchants and restaurants in the country.
It is after all one thing having some of the best winemakers and wines that the market wants, but you still need to cut through the crowd, to get those wines in front of the key decision makers.
Wines of Germany’s Top of the Crops competition is an opportunity to bring the best producers and most influential trade buyers across the independent wine merchant, on-trade and multiple retail sectors.
The chance to shine the spotlight on and highlight the wine styles and regions that are really making waves and catching the attention of both trade buyers and their customers. It is also an opportunity to provide an invaluable insight into the German wine industry as a whole and hopefully inspire a new generation of drinkers to discover new and exciting wines.
Crucially this is not just a one off competition. The final selection of wines then becomes an important part of the overall Wines of Germany UK campaign and are used to showcase the best of what Germany can offer at various trade and consumer events for the rest of the year.
Starting with the big reveal at The Big G tasting on May 2, followed by the London Wine Fair and so on.
How it Works
The competition for Top of the Crops opened in January when both UK importers and German producers were invited to enter up to two wines, providing one was a Sekt, each into the respective categories: on-trade; independent merchants, multiple retailers; and unrepresented wines. In all there were 160 wines entered, from which the challenge was to bring that list down to the final selection of 40 wines and it is the winning on-trade and independent merchant wines we are highlighting today.
The Judging
So we have the wines. Now we need the judges. The Top of the Crops competition looks to bring together some of the most influential voices in the industry. This year’s panel certainly achieved that as it included:
Best On Trade Wines
Jan Konetzski – Ten Trinity Square
Charlotte Prescot – Elystan Street
Gustavo Medina – Tate Britain
Best Independent Merchant Wines
Desiree Russo – Humble Grape
Joan Torrents – Pantry & Co
Dawn Mannis – The Sampler
The judges came together on February 29 at Humble Grape on Fleet Street, London to taste blind and pick out the final selection of 40 wines.
Then, for the first time this year, creative experts picked out what they thought were the‘Coolest Wines’ from that top 40 based on their labels and the stories behind the wines.
Joan Torrents, founder of Pantry & Co who helped assess the independent wine merchant wines said: “The tasting brought some new angles to German wine in some ways unknown just a few years ago. For the Best Independent Merchant Wines category, there was a wide selection already available in the market with significant great examples of what Germany can best deliver: elegant and refined wines that entice the palate when enjoyed on its own and complement a good range of cuisines.”
He said that that on top of some “stonking delicious Rieslings” there were also “impressive Pinot Blancs, Silvaners and Pinot Noirs”. “We were able to find great wines at various price points, which is very important as it then gives us the opportunity of having fabulous wines to recommend to customers depending on the occasion and budget.”
Highlights from Wines of Germany’s Top Of The Crops
Best Independent Merchant Wines
2018 Pinot Blanc, Cosmic Beetle, Sander, Rheinhessen
Importer: Vinceremos Organic Wines
Stockist(s): Vinceremos Organic Wines
RRP: £10.99-£12.99
2017 Sauvignon Blanc Fumé, Oliver Zeter, Pfalz
Importer: Delibo Wine Agencies
Stockist(s): Butler’s Wine Cellar, Caviste, Connolly’s, Starmore Boss, Field & Fawcett, Novel Wines, Old Butcher’s Wine Cellar, Roberts & Henry Fine Wines, Sip Manchester, The Oxford Wine Company, The Solent Cellar, The Wright Wine Company, Vinoteca, Wadebridge Wines
RRP: £21.00
2018 Silvaner, Escherndorfer Lump, Horst Sauer, Franken
Importer: Boutinot
Stockist(s): Noel Young Wines, Woodwinters Wines & Whiskies
RRP: £21.00
2017 Riesling, Estate, Braunewell, Rheinhessen
Importer: Lea & Sandeman
Stockist(s): Lea & Sandeman
RRP: £12.95
2017 Riesling, Red Slate, Dr Loosen, Mosel
Importer: Awin Barratt Siegel Wine Agencies
Stockist(s): Awin Barratt Siegel Wine Agencies
RRP: £13.50
2015 Riesling, Bibo Runge, Rheingau
Importer: Delibo Wine Agencies
Stockist(s): Camber Wines, Chamberlain Wines, Church Bridge Stores Bruton, Corkage, Grapesmith, Luvians, Novel Wines, Old Butcher’s Wine Cellar, Flourish & Prosper, Sip Manchester, Vineyard Wines Ramsbottom, Hitchin Wine Co
RRP: £18.00
2017 Riesling, ‘Grauschiefer, Friedrich Altenkirch, Rheingau
Importer: Genesis Wines
Stockist(s): Genesis Wines
RRP: £14.70
2017 Riesling, in der Sangerei, AJ Adam, Mosel
Importer: Boutinot
Stockist(s): Taylors of Tickhill
RRP: £27.00
2017 Riesling Spätlese, Guntrum Oppenheim, Louis Guntrum, Rheinhessen
Importer: Awin Barratt Siegel Wine Agencies
Stockist(s): Awin Barratt Siegel Wine Agencies
RRP: £18.85
2018 Riesling Kabinett, Victoriaberg, Flick, Rheingau
Importer: The Winery
Stockist(s): The Winery
RRP: £21.99
2008 Riesling Kabinett, Wehlener Sonnenuhr, S A Prüm, Mosel
Importer: Delibo Wine Agencies
Stockist(s): Last Drop Wines, Starmore Boss, Carrthers & Kent, Weavers of Nottingham, Wine Importers Edinburgh
RRP: £24.00
2014 Riesling Spätlese, Berncasteler Doctor, Dr. H. Thanisch Erben Müller-Burggraef, Mosel
Importer: New Generation
Stockist(s): Dulwich Vintners; Hedonism Wines
RRP: £45.50-£48.50
2017 Pinot Noir, Villa Wolf, Pfalz
Importer: Awin Barratt Siegel Wine Agencies
Stockist(s): Awin Barratt Siegel Wine Agencies
RRP: £12.90
2016 Pinot Noir, Kloster Eberbach, Rheingau
Importer: Boutinot
Stockist(s): Wild & Lees
RRP: £24.00
Best On-Trade Wines
2016 Riesling, Queen of Whites Riesling, Tesch, Nahe
Importer: Enotria & Coe
Stockist(s): Enotria & Coe
Trade price: £11.50
2017 Riesling, Haus Klosterberg, Markus Molitor, Mosel
Importer: Bibendum
Trade price: £12.53
2016 Pinot Noir, Petri, Pfalz
Importer: Lea & Sandeman
Stockist(s): Lea & Sandeman
Trade price: £11.95
- To taste the full Top of the Crops range visit the Wines of Germany stand (B50) at London Wine Far at London Olympia, May 20-22.
- You can also register for the Big G tasting organised by Wines of Germany featuring some 200 wines all aimed at the UK market that is taking place at The Navy Board Rooms and Portico Rooms, Somerset House, Strand, London WC2R 1LA, between 11am-5pm. Click here to register.
