I have noticed the term "Auction" used a lot when shopping for German wines. I
had at first thought that the retailer just meant that they had purchased the
wines at auction rather than their normal distribution chain but have come to
second guess that notion.
For example the 2003 JJ Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Spatlese Auction, sells for
nearly twice as much as the 2003 JJ Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Spatlese (non
auction).
What does this term mean in this application?

"Jaybert41" skrev i melding
...
I have noticed the term "Auction" used a lot when shopping for German
wines. I
had at first thought that the retailer just meant that they had purchased
the
wines at auction rather than their normal distribution chain but have come
to
second guess that notion.
For example the 2003 JJ Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Spatlese Auction, sells
for
nearly twice as much as the 2003 JJ Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Spatlese (non
auction).
What does this term mean in this application?
There's an auction every year (in Trier for the Mosel area I believe) where
vintners use to submit their specially made and reserved batches of their
best wines.
So, you'll at times find 2 identically named wines in a vintners price list
with the designation of "Versteigerungswein" (auction wine) being the one
difference (apart from the public control number).
These wines usually are from riper grapes, meaning higher levels of sugar
and extracts. The prices for these are often determinated at the auction
and may be very high - I'm talking 100 to 500USD a bottle... - certainly
higher than for the 'normal' bottlings.
hth
Anders

Ahh... That makes some sense.
So in addition to the one, two, and three star notations often used, the term
"Versteigerungswein" can be found on these auction bottles?
I have never seen a bottle in person, rather only seen them offered on
internet reatialers stock lists.
Is there "Versteigerungswein" used on the label to distinguish between the
two different wines?
Thanks!

"Jaybert41" skrev i melding
...
Ahh... That makes some sense.
So in addition to the one, two, and three star notations often used, the
term
"Versteigerungswein" can be found on these auction bottles?
I have never seen a bottle in person, rather only seen them offered on
internet reatialers stock lists.
Is there "Versteigerungswein" used on the label to distinguish between
the
two different wines?
Thanks!
No, never on the labels, That would not be legal.
A golden or long capsule or a three star notation might be indicative - but
you'll have to know the particular batch of wine to know that it was offered
at the auctions.
Your vendor would likely inform about that, however, to justify the often
higher price or to promote the wine.

Another point, the vintner has to be a member of, for instance, the
"Bernkasteler Ring" to submit any wine for the auction, by itself a quality
mark. Look for the term or for the letters VDP on the label.

Auction prices are exorbitant at times, btw. The last one of VDP this year
saw the following record breakers:

Fritz Haag, Brauneberger-Juffer Sonnenuhr Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese
2001 - 2603,04 euros per bottle.
J.J.Prüm, Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese 2000 - 2662,20
per euros bottle.

Add 30% to get the USD price...

Anders

"Jaybert41" skrev i melding
...
Ahh... That makes some sense.
So in addition to the one, two, and three star notations often used, the
term
"Versteigerungswein" can be found on these auction bottles?
I have never seen a bottle in person, rather only seen them offered on
internet reatialers stock lists.
Is there "Versteigerungswein" used on the label to distinguish between
the
two different wines?
Thanks!
No, never on the labels, That would not be legal.
A golden or long capsule or a three star notation might be indicative - but
you'll have to know the particular batch of wine to know that it was offered
at the auctions.
Your vendor would likely inform about that, however, to justify the often
higher price or to promote the wine.

Another point, the vintner has to be a member of, for instance, the
"Bernkasteler Ring" to submit any wine for the auction, by itself a quality
mark. Look for the term or for the letters VDP on the label.

Auction prices are exorbitant at times, btw. The last one of VDP this year
saw the following record breakers:

Fritz Haag, Brauneberger-Juffer Sonnenuhr Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese
2001 - 2603,04 euros per bottle.
J.J.Prüm, Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese 2000 - 2662,20
per euros bottle.

Add 30% to get the USD price...

Anders