True miracles of wine lists are created when important ingredients come together: passion, taste, talent and family are some of them. At Jörg Müller’s restaurant in Westerland you can see the result – Riesling lover’s heaven.
The story is short to tell: A highly talented cook – one of the best German chef’s of the 80s and 90s and still a cuisine star – has a passion for wine. He starts to buy the best Bordeaux wines and to build up a wine cellar. That was back in 1977. He broadens his horizons every year and starts to add the best wines from around the world into his wine cellar. He opens his own restaurant to sell these beauties. And the next generation of his family is ready to continue the great tradition.
That is the short version. Of course, there are many more details to it. Fact is, what Jörg Müller created and what is managed today by his son in law, Benjamin Birkholz, is simply outstanding. It is awarded one on the best wine lists of the world for 30 years straight by Wine Spectator. Of course, there are many more awards.
Luckily, Jörg Müller and Ben are Riesling fans by heart. But, they are better than many. Also other restaurants offer a range of “Grosses Gewächs” Rieslings – the Grand Crus of German winemakers. But usually, many of these wines are way too young to enjoy. A Grosses Gewächs will not show up on the wine list of Jörg Müller before it is not at least five years old – usually they are between eight and ten years old. And they offer them all – all regions, all top winemakers and even some secret talents. Hundreds of top notch Rieslings at the high point of their development.
The most impressive thing is: Many wineries that the wine world talks about today are on that wine list with vintages from years ago. Somebody at Jörg Müller’s has a talent to find tomorrows wine stars. And you can also drink some of the best Rieslings from Austria, France and other countries as well. Not to mention the best sweet wines that have ever been made from Riesling grapes – including the rarest Auslesen, Beerenauslesen and Trockenbeerenauslesen from Moselle and Rhine and many auction wines.
Of course, Riesling is not the only thing on the amazing wine list at Jörg Müller’s restaurant. Burgundy, Bordeaux, Champagne: You name it, they have it. Building a wine list like that takes a long-term investment, patience and passion. But most of all it needs a seventh sense for wineries with great potential. If you manage to have all of these things together you can create something extraordinary.
Our three days in heaven
When you arrive at the hotel and restaurant Jörg Müller life is good. You are on the beautiful island of Sylt at the very north of Germany. A special place that can be described by a mixture of well-situated tourists that come here every year – often more than once – and therefor create a holiday-family-feeling. Jörg Müller’s hotel is a part of this world. But a very special one. This is true family. They are true professionals in dealing with guests with high expectations. And they do it with charm and a sense of humor.
Want to hear an example: You are served one of the rarest wines in the world, for sure from one of the best vintages. The sommelier opens the wine and takes a test sip. Immediately, his face expression turns to disgusted. He offers you a glass with another tasting sip. Carefully, you put your nose into the glass. Seems fine, very pleasant actually. You take a sip and start to smile. You look up to the sommelier and want to say something. But you already see a face with a big grin. After that you know: Life is too short to take it too seriously.
They know what they can offer. Fantastic food, a good feeling and a wine experience that is rare around the world. This is why also the guests treat this team with respect. A special relationship. Guests of Jörg Müller’s appreciate the great mix of comfortable and solid in combination with exceptional and high-level.
What we had? Here comes the summary and the links to our tasting notes:
Markus Molitor Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Auction Riesling Spätlese Golden Capsula 1998 | Read tasting notes
Markus Molitor Graacher Domprobst Riesling Kabinett dry White Capsula 1999 | Read tasting notes
Maximin Grünhaus Abtsberg Riesling Auslese 1975 | Read tasting notes
Fritz Haag Brauneberger Juffer-Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese Golden Capsula 1998 | Read tasting notes
Emrich-Schönleber Frühlingsplätzchen Riesling Grosses Gewächs 2008 | Read tasting notes
Künstler Hölle Riesling Grosses Gewächs 2008 | Read tasting notes
Knoll Kellerberg Riesling Smaragd 2007
Schloss Vollrads Rheingau Riesling Spätlese rosasilber dry 1989
Dönnhoff Dellchen Riesling Grosses Gewächs 2008 | Read tasting notes
There is no other place like this…
That is our “Riesling Places” series: You cannot tell the story of Riesling without mentioning a few places where the story gets magic. For us, these places are not just Restaurants or Hotels. They are cornerstones of the Riesling history – its past and its current hype. One of these places is the hotel and restaurant “Jörg Müller” in Westerland/Sylt.
Hotel & Restaurant Jörg Müller
Süderstrasse 8
25980 Sylt / OT Westerland
Germany
Website