Jazz Composer Orchestrates Special Selections of German Wines

Bruce Sanderson
Posted: January 21, 1999

Jazz composer and bandleader Maria Schneider has taken her interest in wine to a higher level. Now, the Grammy-
nominated musician also has two special selections of German Riesling to her name.

Back in October 1997, Schneider's band performed at New York's Visiones jazz club while Nicole Rebehn, export director of Germany's Reichsrat von Buhl estate, was in the audience. Schneider was about to leave for a tour in Germany and ended up visiting von Buhl in the Pfalz region, where she picked grapes.

At the suggestion of Rebehn, Schneider agreed to do two special bottlings of 1997 Riesling: Riesling Kabinett Trocken Deidesheimer Kieselberg (86, $17) and Riesling QbA Halbtrocken Pfalz Deidesheimer (not yet rated, $13). The labels of both feature musical themes. The two wines will be available in select retail stores, restaurants such as Emeril's in New Orleans, and jazz clubs in New Orleans and New York.

"I've always liked wine," said Schneider, "especially white wine, because these days I'm cooking a lot of light foods." A protege of the late composer Gil Evans, she has put out two CDs, "Evanescence" and "Coming About," both of which were nominated for Grammy Awards.

Schneider and von Buhl plan to collaborate on the 1998 vintage also. She added, "I was more involved on the selection process in 1998."

To learn more about German Rieslings:

November 30, 1997
Rheingau Rebounds

Look for Bruce Sanderson's report on German Rieslings in the upcoming February issue of Wine Spectator.