Riding riesling long distance 19 February 2008

Inter-continental blend for local charity

 

Riesling is getting an unusual high ride in aid of charity and the result is a most interesting ‘two-continent’ wine which is making international waves. (As first reported in a sneak preview on Cathy van Zyl’s blog some months back.) Two winemakers, thousands of kilometres apart, working across vintage differences, have produced what is coyly labelled the Long-Distance Blend.

The reason for the lack of information is wine regulations in the two countries involved: Germany and South Africa. The ‘blend’ in this instance is 1 500 litres of Rhine Valley riesling that has been added to an equal amount of riesling from Stellenbosch in the Cape.

German winemaker Christoph Hammel of the Emil Hammel & Cie winery in Kirschheim worked with Morné van Rooyen, winemaker at Stellenbosch’s The Company of Wine People to produce a unique blended riesling. All proceeds will be donated to South Africa’s national mentally-handicapped soccer team.

The label, which bears both winemakers’ names, is an elegant and playful reflection of this cheerful enterprise. From the markings, one can assume that the blend is from the 2006 and 2007 vintages, south and north.

Hammel has worked extensively in South Africa over the years, often plying both harvests. He has co-produced wine with a Mallorca winemaker and makes the Victoria Bay branded wine in conjunction with The Company of Wine People.

The Rhine wine was fermented in 100-year-old German oak vats, and van Rooyen's was fermented with a special yeast strain for riesling, supplied by Hammel. The process occurred while the two winemakers were on opposite sides of the world: they sent samples to each other, and fine-tuned the blend over the phone or via email.

Long Distance sells for R50, and all the proceeds will be donated to the soccer team for necessities such as kits or physiotherapy. No money will be deducted from the profits to cover production costs. Van Rooyen and Hammel aim to raise R600 000.

• The Grape New releases team will shortly be sampling and reporting on the wine