St. Julian Continues Collecting Accolades for Riesling

National Trends Focus Attention on this Versatile Wine

(www.GrapeVineTrail.com) - All eyes, ears and lips have been on Riesling in recent weeks, following a major conference in Washington state called the “Riesling Rendezvous.” Winemakers at St. Julian Winery in Paw Paw, Michigan – the state’s oldest and largest winery – say such national and international interest reinforces what they’ve been successfully producing for years.
This year alone, the ST.J Riesling 2005 ($9.99) received Gold Medals at both the Long Beach Grand Cru and Great Lakes Great Wines competitions, as well as taking four silver and eight bronze medals at various other competitions around the country. It received a rank of 90 and was also placed on the Exceptional Best Buy list at the BTI World Wine Competition in April. A list of St. Julian’s 2007 awards is attached.

“Michigan Rieslings are in demand, not only in their home state, but around North America,” according to a recent review on AppellationAmerica.com by Eleanor & Ray Heald, esteemed wine critics from Michigan.

Rieslings sales on a national level are up dramatically, according to Seattle Times wine writer Paul Gregutt, who attended and reported on the “Riesling Rendezvous” in his column in early July. He comments that as tastes changes and today’s younger consumers are interested in elegant, aromatic white wines. “Riesling, when made as an unblended varietal, has an innate ability to reflect the place it is grown,” Gregutt writes. “Many believe it is unrivaled by any other white wine grape in the world.”

Wine critics, Gregutt included, agree that winemakers all over the country are making better Rieslings than ever before, showing off the versatility of the grape from dry to off-dry to seductively sweet.

“Our ‘lake effect’ weather in Southwest Michigan makes it the ideal location for growing Riesling grapes and producing excellent, sought-after wines,” says St. Julian President David Braganini. Riesling is our #1 selling varietal and is also the fastest growing. We continue to plant and produce just shie of 6,000 cases of 2006 vintage.”

The close proximity to Lake Michigan provides a ‘cool climate’ pattern that protects the vines with snow in the winter, retards bud break in the spring helping to avoid frost damage and extends the growing season by up to four weeks. Riesling grapes tend to thrive in such conditions, which are similar to regions of Germany where the variety originated. Riesling continues to be Germany’s leading grape variety; it’s also the most widely planted white wine grape in Michigan, according to the Michigan Grape & Wine Industry Council.

“Savvy connoisseurs are snapping up terrific terroir-driven Rieslings from cool climates like Michigan,” says wine critic and editor Dan Berger in his November 2006 column on AppellationAmerica.com. “Of the thousands of grape varieties around the world that are used to make table wines, only a dozen or more are considered classics. Some believe Riesling to be the greatest grape of all.”

Braganini won’t argue with that – the Riesling has treated him well. Last year, the ST.J Riesling 2004 received Best of Class – Gold at the Jerry Mead’s New World International Wine Competition, as well as three gold, three silver and five bronze. The 2005 vintage brought in a gold and three silver. In 2005, high honors for the ST.J 2003 included a Best White Vinifera Wine in the East from Best of the East and a Certificate of American Merit from the Jefferson Cup, as well as three gold, eight silver and a bronze. That year, the 2004 vintage received four silver and a bronze.

The award-winning ST. J Riesling features a tinge of green laced with a slight golden hue. Absolutely pure in flavor, harmonious and well-proportioned in its architecture, this Riesling seems crisp and light, yet packs intensive flavors of apricot, lemon and mineral. Its vivid acidity jammed with fruit leaves a wonderful sensation on the palate creating a luscious, food-friendly style. Literally like liquid fruit.

“With lively acidity, the [ST.J] wine comes across crisp and light, but not sweet. In fact, quite dry with complex peach, tangerine, lemon and mineral qualities,” write the Healds. “These fruit-laden characteristics make it an excellent aperitif pour when served with a variety of skewered fresh fruit and soft cheese. Grill pineapple as a side dish with roast chicken and experience this Riesling come to life on the palate with intriguing lushness – a blessing from a patron saint, perhaps!”

The family-owned St. Julian winery, founded by Mariano Meconi in 1921, is nestled in the picturesque fruit-growing region along the southern shore of Lake Michigan. Today, grandson, David Braganini, has adopted the family tradition of winemaking while turning St. Julian into Michigan’s most renowned winery.

As one of 11 wineries to make up the Lake Michigan Shore Appellation – a designated American Viticultural Area (AVA), St. Julian has been instrumental in the creation and advancement of the Southwest Michigan Wine Trail, the marketing vehicle for this group of wineries.

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Promote Michigan is an independent marketing consulting company specializing in media relations for the travel/tourism/hospitality industry in Michigan. This includes hotels, restaurants, wineries, casinos, resorts, golf courses, attractions, campgrounds and everything in between. Michigan's $17.5 billion tourism industry is one of the top three in the state.

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