An Evening of Riesling

Published August 2008


Germany's historical wine industry has long been synonymous with one particular variety. Quite simply, the Riesling. Known throughout the world for their superior whites while neighbouring countries sit pretty on their old world red wine laurels, the German Riesling is a wine that truly shines. 

Nicknamed "the Rhine wine" for it's origins in the Rhine region, the Riesling is a grape variety that flourishes in a colder climate and is usually enjoyed while young, although that is not always the rule of thumb. A good Riesling will have a highly fragrant bouquet and a clean, crisp flavour with varying levels of apples, apricots, and other fruits. In short, a pleasant aroma balanced with a honeyed, fruity flavour.

One such German Riesling producer is the Gunderloch estate. Widely acknowledged as Germany's best, Gunderloch wines have clearly set the standard in terms of outstanding German wines. Celebrated award winning winemaker Fritz Hasselbach was in Kota Kinabalu recently to introduce and to guide wine enthusiasts through the Gunderloch range of Riesling. 

Held at Shangri-La's Tanjung Aru Resort & Spa's Peppino Restaurant, guests were feted to a repertoire of some of Gunderloch's best. Touted as the people responsible for the high calibre of Gunderloch wines, Hasselbach and his wife Agnes Hasselbach-Usinger currently manage the Gunderloch estate, Agnes being the direct descendant of Carl Gunderloch, the founder of Gunderloch wines. Carl Gunderloch was a banker who formed the Gunderloch estate in 1890. Today, Fritz and Agnes man the helm with the help of their children Friedrich, Kathrin, Johannes and Stefanie.

Said Hasselbach, "Our wines have a worldwide reputation. They are easy to drink, light on alcohol and go wonderfully with different types of food. Our grapes are produced in cool climates but we also have a little hot weather so that provides the soil with a nice balance. The family estate produces 10,000 cases of wines that are shipped to 38 countries around the world. Riesling goes well in this tropic climate and our wines range from 8.5% to 10% in alcohol. In Germany there is no strict classification of standard based on vineyard or chateau. It is based on the sweetness level of grapes. So the sweeter the grapes, the higher the standard of wine."

Also deserving of mention was the venue for this Winemaker's dinner. Peppino Restaurant has undergone a refreshing facelift. An update of soft peppermint greens paired with light olive tones and classic black lines. Luxurious leather chairs are balanced off with comfortable white linens. The overall theme is one of understated elegance and this is accentuated with the floor to ceiling glass wine storage facility which gives a new meaning to the term 'wine rack'. In summation, a perfect setting for bon vivant epicureans and those who are simply in search of some great food.

The menu and accompanying wines :

- Pan-fried goose liver with warm goat cheese croutons on diced red apples
NACKENHEIM ROTHENBERH RIESLING AUSLESE GOLDSAPSEL

- Strawberry sorbet


- Pappardelle with sea scallops and prawn ragout scented with lemongrass
GUNDERLOCH ESTATE QbA TROCKEN


- Seared red snapper fillet on diced braised beetroot
GUNDERLOCH RIESLING KANINETT JEAN BAPTISTE


- Angus beef fillet topped with wild mushrooms and Taleggio
NACKENHEIM ROTHENBERG SPATLESE


- Cheesecake flavoured with passion fruit
NACKENHEIM ROTHENBERG AUSLESE