Riesling Birthday Recap: Instagram Impressions 800% Up

03/30/2022

A brief recap on social and digital results from another successful year of Riesling Birthday shows: winelovers around the globe enjoy celebrating Germany's no.1 grape variety. In total, the engagement around the online festivities rose by 800% since 2020 when The German Wine Institute introduced this common communication activity.

Germany's most important grape variety celebrates its birthday every March 13th. In 2022 it was the 587th jubilée. On this day, the grape variety was first mentioned in a written document in 1435. Under the hashtag #rieslingbirthday or #rieslingday actions took place worldwide from Amsterdam (NL) to Toronto (CA).

All 15 ‘Wines of Germany’ information agencies had celebrated Riesling birthday - with events, but above all with social media activities in various languages. Wines of Germany USA noted an 103% increase in Instagram impressions compared to the previous year and 800% since the year 2020. This year (2022) there were 288 Instagram feed posts using #RieslingBirthday or #RieslingDay.

Determining the global image of 'Wines of Germany'

Riesling grapes grow on almost a quarter of the vineyards in Germany. Like no other grape variety, Riesling determines the global image of the 13 German wine growing regions. Germany is considered to be the home of Riesling, because around 23,800 hectares are around 45 percent of all Rieslings in the world.

The early spread of Riesling with initial evidence for the 15th century, the growth, the size of the grape berries, the long maturation period and frost resistance show the relationship with wild grapes. Winegrowers in the Rheingau and on the Mosel have the longest Riesling tradition. There are historical documents from there dating back to the years 1435 or 1465.

Documented mention of Riesling in 1435 A.C.

There are numerous "first” mentions of the grape, yet the earliest documented mention of Riesling is an invoice dated 13 March 1435, from Klaus Kleinfisch to his lord, Count Johann IV of Katzenelnbogen, for the purchase of Riesling vines to be planted next to the fort he was building in Rüsselsheim, just east of Hochheim/Rheingau.

References to the distribution in today's Rheinhessen and the Pfalz region come from the late 15th and first half of the 16th century.

Press 2022

German Riesling: The World’s Most Versatile, Food-Friendly White Wine Grape by Natalie MacClean at NatalieMacClean.com on March 14, 2022
March Food And Lifestyle News For Los Angeles by Shaena Engle at JustLuxe.com in Los Angeles, CA on March 11, 2022
Grapelive: Wine Of The Day March 14, 2022, by Kerry Winslow at GrapeLive.com on March 14, 2022

Archive 2021

Canada: Riesling Birthday Events und Contest // see View the Vibe release
China: Riesling Event in Shanghai
Japan: Influencer-Campaign
UK celebrates #HappyBirthdayRiesling on Facebook and Instagram
US: Facebook and Instagram
Scandinavia: Online-Competition (Finland), Instagram (Sweden und Denmark), Norway: Birthday Celebration in Oslo

Topical Page: Riesling and other white grape varieties in Germany

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The German Wine Institute (DWI) integrates #RieslingBirthday (March 13th) in its annual communication and marketing work through its 14 'Wines of Germany' agencies.