Treveri Cellars Winemaker/Owner Juergen Grieb
Name: Juergen Grieb
Location: Yakima, WA
Winery: Treveri Sparkling Wine Cellars
1. Who or what inspired you to become a winemaker?
My Father worked for the Bayer (yes the aspirin company) in Germany and was an agricultural engineer for their chemical division on the Mosel River helping out vineyards and orchards along the area. He was the top salesman for many years there, and they even asked him to cover another area in Germany but he refused because he loved the Mosel . He used to show the farmers how to prune wine grapes and orchard trees, and apply sprays and applications to assist in harvesting the best fruit possible. I used to go with my father on trips and help out. I’ve climbed the steep hills along the Mosel river harvesting grapes, met many winemakers and orchard owners along that route, and took a liking to the winemaking craft. My father encouraged me to go to Wine School and become a winemaker. He had the best personal wine cellar I’ve ever seen in my life, with German wines dating back to 1921.
2. If you weren’t working with wine what would you be doing?
I really wanted to be a Police Officer after my mandatory service in the German Air Force.
The Sparkle, Treveri's Tasting Room in Yakima
3. What current wine trend do you particularly like (or dislike)?
Uptick in Sparkling Wine Sales and fruitier less oaked still wines available on the market
4. What are your go-to wines – other than Washington, of course!
Kartheuserhof Rieslings, Ruwer Germany – Gruenheuser white wines – Germany, Tomaresca, red blend wines, Puglia Italy
5. What advice can you offer to a first time wine drinker?
Don’t get influenced by other people’s opinions about wines…drink what you like. Your palate will develop as you continue to explore. Everyone’s tastes are different. That’s part of the fun of wine tasting and wine appreciation…is the journey you take. It really never ends, it just continues to develop over the years.
6. If you could make wine with ANY winemaker in the world, who would it be?
I made Rieslings with Herr Ludwig Breiling at Kartheuserhof in Germany. I feel so privileged to have worked with him as a master of his craft. He made many beautiful vintages that won many awards. He’s a good man, and continues to be my friend to this day.
7. What do you like to do when you are not making wine?
Fixing up my 1973 BMW Bavaria. Watching every Bundesliga Soccer match I can find on German TV on Dish Network (I have four German channels). Keeping up with my hometown soccer team Eintracht Trier 05. Spending time with my family and my friends.
8. What charitable organization pulls at your heartstrings?
One organization both my wife and I love to give to as much as possible is Camp Prime Time! This organization provides a weekend of camping in the mountains at Clear Lake on White Pass to families with extremely ill, chronically ill and terminally ill children free of charge. It’s a place where families can go for a short time and forget about the challenges they face on a daily basis. They just get to be together and enjoy themselves in a mountain setting. They’ve completed several awesome projects, including a wheelchair accessible tree house, a pontoon boat that is wheelchair accessible, and are working now on a recent update to their Lodge. They have a campfire where the campers and families can roast marshmallows and sing songs. Its really an awesome project! They are on Facebook!
