August 28th: Dry Rieslings Unveiled: Austria and Germany
At Vinonueva | 5145 NE 2nd Ave, Miami, FL, 33137 | 7:00 pm-8:30 pm
Click HERE to get tickets
In partnership with Domaine & Estates and Skurnik Wines
If you’ve ever thought Riesling is 'too sweet,' this tasting is for you. Riesling is one of the world’s great noble grapes, capable of a remarkable spectrum—from bone-dry and mineral-driven to sweet. For our first-ever Riesling tasting at Vinonueva, we’re excited to show you the side of Riesling that often surprises wine lovers: structured, elegant, and profoundly expressive.
We’ll explore dry Rieslings from three producers in Germany and Austria, regions that showcase how terroir and soils shape this grape in distinct ways. Expect freshness and vibrant acidity from these cool-climate wines, which make them not only sophisticated and layered, but also some of the most versatile food-pairing wines.
Riesling often resonates with Burgundy drinkers—if you love the tension, minerality, and precision of white Burgundy, you’ll feel right at home here. Join us as we taste through these wines together and uncover why Riesling is considered one of the most compelling and age-worthy white grapes in the world.
BACKGROUND
Alzinger | Austria
Located in Unterloiben, just across from Knoll, Alzinger is known for pure, elegant wines that highlight site over power. The domaine works two of the Wachau’s great vineyards: Loibenberg, a steep, sun-exposed hillside, and Steinertal, a smaller, cooler site with stony soils. Riesling is planted high on the rocky terraces, while Grüner Veltliner grows on the loess-rich lower slopes.
Since taking over the domaine in 2002, Leo Jr. has built on formative experiences in New Zealand, the Pfalz, and under Hans Günter Schwarz to shape his refined style. His focus is on elegance and pristine fruit, crafting wines defined by subtlety and finesse. Rather than overwhelming with power, Alzinger’s wines convey quiet confidence—calm, pure, and transparently expressive of their origin.
Schloss Lieser | Germany
Schloss Lieser, a historic 19th-century castle on the Mosel, has become one of the region’s benchmark estates under Thomas and Ute Haag. When they took over in the 1990s, the domaine was in decline with just 6 hectares. Today, through steady reinvestment, they farm 25 hectares across eight of the Mosel’s greatest vineyards, including Lieser Niederberg Helden, Brauneberger Juffer Sonnenuhr, and the famed Bernkasteler Doktor.
Thomas Haag, from the renowned Fritz Haag family, has built Schloss Lieser’s reputation on precision and purity. All fruit is hand-harvested in multiple passes, fermentations are spontaneous, and stainless steel dominates in the cellar to preserve clarity. The wines are defined by elegance, structure, and the ability to age, capturing the essence of Mosel Riesling with remarkable finesse.
Muller-Catoir | Germany
Family-owned since 1774, Müller-Catoir is today led by 9th-generation owner Philipp David Catoir with winemaker Martin Franzen, who took over in 2002 from the legendary Hans-Günther Schwarz. Franzen has carried forward the estate’s reputation for precision and purity, while also steering it into certified organic viticulture since 2015.
Riesling remains the focus, producing both outstanding dry wines and prädikatswein, but Müller-Catoir is equally acclaimed for aromatic varieties like Scheurebe, Muskateller, and the rare Rieslaner. Pinot Noir has also become an exciting new project in recent years.
The wines have a striking minerality, freshness, and complexity, firmly placing Müller-Catoir among Germany’s elite estates.
Check out the lineup for this tasting:
- Alzinger Riesling Smaragd Loibenberg Loiben 2022
- Alzinger Riesling Federspiel Durnstein 2022
- Schloss Lieser Riesling Trocken Gg Lieser Niederberg Helden 2022
- Schloss Lieser Riesling Trocken Mosel 2023
- Muller Catoir Riesling Trocken IM Breumel GG Haardter Burgergarten 2021
- Muller Catoir Riesling Trocken Mc Pfalz 2023
Photo Credits: Skurnik Wines