schiller-wine

Picture: Tour, Tasting and Wine Lunch at Château Pichon-Longueville-Baron, Pauillac, 2ième Grand Cru Classé

Château Pichon-Longueville-Baron in Pauillac is one of the most stunning estates in Bordeaux. It is currently owned by the insurance company AXA Millésimes. We had a gorgeous wine lunch at Château Pichon-Longueville-Baron. This was preceeded by a vineyard and winery tour and a tasting.

Pictures: Arriving at Château Pichon-Longueville-Baron, Pauillac

During the tour, we were welcomed by Jean-Rene Matignon, Technical Director. Since 1987, Jean-Rene Matignon has worked at Pichon Baron as Technical Director.

Pictures: In the Vineyards of Château Pichon-Longueville-Baron, Pauillac

Château Pichon Longueville Baron

Château Pichon Longueville Baron (often referred to as Pichon Baron) in Pauillac is one of 15 Deuxièmes Crus in the Classification of 1855. It was once part of a larger estate, owned by Pierre de Rauzan, along with Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande. In 1850 the estate was divided into the two current Pichon estates facing each other as one enters Pauillac along the D2 highway.

Château Pichon-Baron stayed in the de Pichon-Longueville family until 1933 when the last surviving family member sold it to Jean Bouteiller, member of a family well-known in the Bordeaux wine scene. His heirs did not manage to keep the quality of the wines and in 1987 the estate was bought by AXA Millésimes. With the new owner, reconstruction of the fermenting room and cellars, and renovation of the château itself, began in 1988.

Pictures: In the Cellar of Château Pichon-Longueville-Baron, Pauillac, with Jean-Rene Matignon, Technical Director

Excellent terroir across from the 1st growth Latour property, stretching south bordering the Léoville estates in Saint-Julien gives the wines elegance, balance, and finesse. Château Pichon Baron's 73 hectares are planted with Cabernet Sauvignon (60%), Merlot (35%), Cabernet Franc (4%) and Petit Verdot (1%). The average age of the vines is 30 years.

Grapes are harvested and sorted by hand, and then macerated for 20-30 days, and fermented at 28-32 °C in temperature controlled stainless steel vats of varying sizes. The wine is transferred into oak barrels for aging after finishing its malolactic fermentation.

The estate also produces a second wine, Les Tourelles de Longueville.

The property is currently managed by Christian Seely.

The AXA Wine Portfolio

Château Pichon Baron, 2nd Cru Classé Pauillac, France
Château Suduiraut, 1er Cru Classé Sauternes, France
Château Petit-Village, Pomerol, France
Château Pibran, Pauillac, France
Domaine de l’Arlot, Nuits-Saint-Georges, France
Domaine Disznókö, Tokaj, Hongrie
Quinta do Noval, Douro, Portugal
AXA also owns one of the larger Bordeaux wine negociant companies, Compagnie Medocaine.

Tasting

Pictures: Tasting at Château Pichon-Longueville-Baron, Pauillac

2010 Les Tourelles de Longueville
2010 Château Pichon Longueville-Baron
2005 Château Pichon Longueville-Baron

Picture: Walking over for Lunch

Champagne Reception

We started off with a Champagne reception in the private rooms ofChâteau Pichon-Longueville-Baron.

Picture: Reception

Lunch

We than proceed for lunch to the dining room.Thibaut Servas was our Chef who prepared for us a wonderful lunch.

Pictures: Lunch

The Wines that were Poured

NV Billecart-Salmon Brut Rose, Champagne
2002 Château Pichon Longueville-Baron
2004 Château Pichon Longueville-Baron
2013 Château Suduiraut, Premier Cru Classé in 1855, Sauternes
NV Quinta do Noval Douro Tawny Port 20 Years Old

Bye-bye

Thanks to all involved, including Jean-Rene Matignon for everything. It was wonderful.

Pictures: With Jean-Rene Matignon, Technical Director, at Château Pichon-Longueville-Baron, Pauillac, during the Tour and half a Year later at Restaurant Ripple in Washington DC

Picture: The 2016 Winner (from left to right): Victoria Lergenmüller, Ernst Loosen, Nina Mann, Theresa Breuer and Peter Jakob Kühn (Photo: Falstaff)

For the sixth time, the Falstaff Trophies Deutschland were awarded. The wine/food/travel journal Falstaff has been around for a number of years, issued in Vienna, Austria, and reporting about wine, food and travel from an Austrian perspective, for Austria-based readers. Six years ago, Falstaff expanded into the German wine and food scene and started to issue a German version of Falstaff in addition to the well established Austrian version. As part of its expansion, Falstaff has created the annual Falstaff Deutschland Wine Trophies, to be awarded to German wine personalities.

Picture: Winnerand Runners-up (from left to right): Philipp Bossert, Peter Jakob Kühn, Benedikt Baltes, Theresa Breuer, Alexander Stodden, Nina Mann, Sindy Kretschmar, Leon Gold, Johanna Bossert, Ernie Loosen, Robert Zeller und Victoria Lergenmüller (Photo: Falstaff)

For previous years, see:
Best German Winemakers - Falstaff Deutschland Wine Trophies 2015
Best German Winemakers - Falstaff Deutschland Wine Trophies 2014
Best German Winemakers - Falstaff Deutschland Wine Trophies 2013
Best German Wines and Winemakers - Falstaff Deutschland Wine Trophies 2012
Falstaff Deutschland Wine Trophies 2011

Theresa Breuer, Weingut Bernhard Breuer, Rheingau, is Winemaker of the Year

Picture: Theresa Breuer, Weingut Bernhard Breuer, Rheingau, is Winemaker of the Year (Photo: Falstaff)

Falstaff (my translation): At just 20 years Theresa Breuer has assumed responsibility in Weingut Georg Breuer. 10 years later she was now honored by the Falstaff for her outstanding performance.

Notwithstanding various challenges, new requirements and changes, she has managed to make the wines of the family business still at the first-class level. Since the sudden death of her father in 2004, the area under cultivation has increased from 28 to 34 hectares and the entire vineyard is now cultivated in accordance with ecological standards.

The Runners-up were Benedikt Baltes, Weingut der Stadt Klingenberg, Franken, and Alexander Stodden, Rotweingut Jean Stodden, Ahr

Victoria Lergenmüller, Weingut Sankt Annagut, Pfalz, is Newcomer of the Year

Picture: Victoria Lergenmüller, Weingut Sankt Annagut, Pfalz, is Newcomer of the Year (Photo: Falstaff)

Falstaff (My translation): Weingut Sankt Annagut is one of the largest privately-owned estates in Germany. At 335 meters, their Burrweiler Schäwer Vineyard is one of highest vineyards in the Pfalz. Daughter Victoria Lergenmüller, after studying in Geisenheim and internships in South Africa and France, she is one years away from a Master Degree in Wine Marketing and Managing (MBS) in Bordeaux. With the 2012 vintage, she has assumed responsibility for the wines of the Weingut Santa Annagut and people have started to talk about her distinctive Rieslings.

The runners-up were Johanna und Philipp Bossert, Rheinhessen, and Leon Gold, Württemberg

Nina Mann, Victor's Fine Dining, Perl-Nennig, is Sommelière of the Year

Picture: Nina Mann, Victor's Fine Dining, Perl-Nennig, is Sommelière of the Year (Photo: Falstaff)

Falstaff (my translation): Nina Mann is the first Sommelière, who was awarded a Falstaff Deutschland Wine Trophy. The spontaneous decision in 2010, to get a training as sommelier, was a good one. From then on, things went well; her determination was a key factor: After working at "Kronenschlösschen" and at “Monkey's West" in Düsseldorf, her tour at the "Nagaya" awakened her interest for Sake and she became a "Certified Sake Sommelishe left a very positive impression. Effective March 1, 2016, she took over the helm in the three-star Michelin Rrestaurant "Victor's Fine Dining" by Christian Bau in Perl-Nennig, following in the footsteps of the previous Chief Sommelier Daniel Kiowski (who joined Weingut Markus Molitor).

Runners-up were Sindy Kretschmar and Robert Zeller

Lifetime Achievement: Peter Jakob Kühn (Lebenswerk)

Picture: Lifetime Achievement - Peter Jakob Kühn, with Angela Kühn and Alois Lageder (Photo: Falstaff)

Falstaff (my translation): Weingut Kühn already scored points with the best wine collection in the Falstaff Deutschland WeinGuide 2016. Now, he got the Lifetime Achievement Award. When in 1991, Peter Jakob Kühn took the decision to move to bio-dynamic winemaking and thus no longer us herbicides and synthetic fertilizers, many in the wine scene were skeptical. But he pulled it through. His closeness to his vines and his deep and sincere conviction of his wines deserve deserve to receive the Falstaff Deutschland Lifetime Achievement Award – even if Jakob Peter Kühn is not yet at the end of his fascinating journey.

Pictures: With Angela and Peter Jakob Kühn at Weingut Peter Jakob Kühn during the 2013 ombiasy WineTour, see: A Tasting at Weingut Peter Jakob Kühn, Rheingau, with Angela and Peter Jakob Kühn, Germany

Picture: Christian Schiller and Peter Jakob Kühn in Kiedrich, Rheingau, see: Extraordinary Views of the Rheingau Vineyards - A Spectecular Helicopter Flight over the Rheingau with Rheingau Winemakers, Germany

Wine Ambassador of the Year: Ernie Loosen, Bernkastel

Picture: Wine Ambassador of the Year: Ernie Loosen, Bernkastel, with Willi Kinger (Photo: Falstaff)

Falstaff (my translation): The first award of the Falstaff Deutschland Wine Trophies “Wine Ambassador of the Year" award goes to Ernst Loosen from Weingut Dr. Loosen. And rightly so: it was Ernie Loosen, who was the first to show German Riesling abroad, thus laying the foundation for today's successful Riesling exports. Ernst Loosen has almost single-handedly explained to the interested wine lovers in the world how the German Prädikat System works. Meanwhile, the pop star among the German winemakers sells also wines from the US through his subsidiary Loosen Bros. - because his name stands for quality.

Pictures: Ernst Loosen, Annette Schiller and Christian Schiller Tasting at Weingut Dr. Loosen, see:
Wine Tasting at Weingut Dr. Loosen in Bernkastel-Kues, Mosel – Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Pictures: Tête-à-tête dinner at Rasika with Ernst Loosen, Washington Post Wine Columnist Dave McIntyre, Annette Schiller and Christian Schiller.See: Riesling, Pinot Noir and Indian Cuisine: A tête-à-tête Dinner with Winemaker Ernst Loosen, Weingut Dr. Loosen, at Rasika in Washington DC, USA

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Picture: At Sektkellerei Bardong in the Rheingau, Germany, with Norbert Bardong

With this visit on the last day of the tour we honored the German’s affinity with the bubbly stuff. Did you know that the Germans are world champions in sparkling wine consumption? And that “Rotkäppchen” in Freyburg, in the Saale-Unstrut region is the world’s second largest sparkling wine producer after Freixenet? And that there are many top rated Sekt producers in Germany?

Our visit took us to one of the small, top notch Sekt (the German word for sparkling wine) producers. Norbert Bardong studied beverage technology at the Geisenheim Oenological University when he fell in love with Champagne and decided to make his own Sekt in the méthode traditionnelle to have a sparkler on par with the quality of the Champagne region. His philosophy: no mass production, top quality, “small but beautiful”, first class base wines, at least 36 months on the lease. We will learn on the ground what it entails to produce a first class Sekt.

Norbert and Renate Bardong were our host. They showed us around in the cellar and explained how they make their sparklers, followed by a sit-down tasting in the cellar of Sektkellerei Bardong.

Pictures: Welcome at Sektkellerei Bardong in the Rheingau

Sekt in Germany

Germany is one of the largest sparkling wine markets in the world. One out of four bottles of sparkling wine is consumed in Germany. Sparkling wine produced in Germany is called Sekt.

Sekt is made in all German wine regions, both in the méthode traditionnelle and charmat method. There are three groups of Sekt makers: (i) large and (ii) smaller Sekt Houses that only make Sekt and (iii) wine makers, who make predominantly wine, but complement their wine selection by a few Sekts. The Sekts produced by large Sekt Houses tend to be in the demy-sweet and sweet range, while the Sekts of smaller estates and the wine makers are mostly in the brut and extra brut range. The Bardong Sekts are mostly brut, with some being extra brut.

There is a dozen or so large Sekt Houses in Germany, most of them established in the 1800s at the same time as the French Champagne Houses. At that time, there was only one method known to produce Sekt, the méthode traditionnelle. But in contrast to the Champagne Houses, the large German Sekt Houses all moved to the charmat method (in a tank) as main method of the second fermentation after World War II. Like the Champagne Houses, Sekt Houses do not own vineyards, but purchase the base wine from wine makers. More than three quarters of the base wine used to make Sekt is imported from other EU countries, essentially Italy, France and Spain. Sekt can only be labeled as Deutscher Sekt if it is made exclusively from German grapes, which is rare in the case of the large and the smaller Sekt Houses. Most of the Sekt Houses have beautiful chateau-type facilities with old underground cellars for the second fermentation and storage. Overall, these Sekts are reasonably priced, are of good quality, but with the introduction of the charmat method are no longer in the same class as their counterparts in the champagne region.

Pictures: Cellar Tour at Sektkellerei Bardong in the Rheingau, Germany, with Norbert Bardong

Like the large Sekt Houses, the smaller Sekt Houses – and Sektkellerei Bardong belongs to this group - do not own vineyards, but also buy the base wine from wine makers. They also tend to have a long history and often links to the champagne region, beautiful facilities and old cellars for the second fermentation and storage. The big difference is that they typically have not gone the route of tank fermentation but continue to ferment in the méthode traditionnelle.

Finally, there is a number of top quality winemakers, who, in addition, to their still wines, have started to include Sekts in their portfolio. These Sekts are typically vintage Sekts, from a specified vineyard, made of specific grapes, often Riesling, in the méthode champenoise and with little dosage (brut or extra but). While the first fermentation typically takes place at the winery, the second fermentation is often not in the cellar of the wine maker but in the cellar of a Sekt House that bottle-ferments for other wineries. Norbert Bardong started his Sekt House that way and still makes Sekt for winemakers, but has over time established his own portfolio of Sekts. Currently, about half of his production is accounted for by Sekt made for winemakers and half for the Bardong portfolio.

Sektkellerei Bardong

Norbert Bardong: We do not produce any cuvées, we only make lieu-dit and vintage sparkling wines. The base wines are high-quality Kabinett wines whose fine aromas are to be found in Bardong sparkling wines.

Sektkellerei Bardong was founded by Norbert Bardong in the vaults of the former sparkling wine cellars of Schloss Rheinberg and Schloss Waldeck in Geisenheim in 1984. Norbert Bardong discovered his love of sparkling wine after studying Beverage Technology at the renowned wine university in Geisenheim and completing various internships, including one in the Champagne Region. It did not take him long to reach the decision to refine the wines of his Rheingau home district by himself to produce sparkling wines using the traditional method of classic bottle fermentation.

Pictures: Sekt Tasting at Sektkellerei Bardong in the Rheingau, Germany, with Norbert Bardong

All of the sparkling wines of Sektkellerei Bardong are produced by hand using this method in order to guarantee their high quality. The base wines for these sparkling wines are Kabinett wines. There are no cuvees at Bardong, only sparkling wines made from one grape variety, from one single vineyard and from one vintage.

For the second fermentation, Norbert Bardong explained that he adds 26 gr of sugar. This produces a pressure of 6 bar (compared with 2 bar in a car tire).

All his sparkling wines mature on the yeast for at least 36 months – just like vintage champagne – and some for even up to 20 years, which helps them to develop their very special fine bubbles, delicious lightness and wonderful mellowness. The legal minimum requirement is 9 months.

Annual production is 100.000 bottles. Riesling grapes account for 75 % and Pinot Noir grapes for 15 %.

The Sekts Norbert and Renate Bardong Poured

2010 Sektkellerei Bardong Erbacher Honigberg brut Rheingau Riesling

2008 Sektkellerei Bardong Weissburgunder brut Rheingau

2006 Sektkellerei Bardong Chardonnay brut Rheingau

2010 Sektkellerei Bardong Blanc de Noir brut Spätburgunder Assmannshausen

Was almost 10 years on the lees.

2005 Sektkellerei Bardong Assmannshäuser Frankenthal extra brut Spätburgunder Rheingau

2008 Sektkellerei Bardong Hölder brut Saale Unstrut

1998 Sektkellerei Bardong Bardong Riesling Reserve brut Rheingau

Bye-bye

Thanks for a wonderful experience, Norbert.

Pictures: Bye-bye

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Picture: At Weingut von Winning in Deidesheim, Pfalz

The tour and tasting at Weingut von Winning in Deidesheim was “walking” tasting, i.e. we did a tour of the winery and tasted during the tour.

In the US, Weingut von Winning is represented by Terry Theise/Michael Skurnik.

Jessica Schönberg was our host.

Before the tour and tasting, we had a light lunch at Restaurant Leopold, which belongs to Weingut von Winning.

Picture: Arrivinh at Weingut von Winning in Deidesheim, Pfalz

History

Deidesheim's heydays came at the beginning of the 19th century when estate owner Andreas Jordan was the first to produce high quality wines according to strict selection rules, and the first to introduce the Spätlese in Palatinate. Jordan is also the first to use the vintage, the grape variety and the vineyard site to characterize his wines, thereby setting the trend which will make Deidesheim world famous. When Jordan died in 1848, his enormous estate was split into three, a procedure which has become famous under the name "the Jordan Division." By it, the estates of Geheimer Rat Dr. von Bassermann-Jordan, Reichsrat von Buhl and Dr. Deinhard were formed, all of which became famous on their own.

Pictures: Lunch at Restaurant Leopold (Weingut von Winning)

In 1848, the winery bore the owner's name, Dr. Deinhard. When the owner died, the winery was taken over by his daughter and her husband, Captain Leopold von Winning, with the resulting change in name. The early 20th century was a golden age for von Winning, which also became one of the founders of VDP (Association of German Prädikat Wine Estates). Later, with the owners changing once more, the winery became known as Dr. Deinhard again. Since 2007, the winery belongs to the group of the late Achim Niederberger and since 2009 carries again the name von Winning.

Pictures: Tour and Tasting at Weingut von Winning in Deidesheim, Pfalz - Sekt in the Courtyard

The Achim Niederberger Group (run after the untimely death of Achim Niederberger by his wife) owns not only von Winning, but also Bassermann-Jordan and Reichsrat von Buhl. The 3 estates, which had been divided for many years after the “Jordan Division” are united again. In the villages of Deidesheim, Ruppertsberg and Forst, the Achim Niederberger Group now owns about 150 hectares of the best sites.

Weingut von Winning was Terry Theise’s Winery of the Vintage 2013

Terry Theise: I hate giving this to the same estate twice in a row, but truth is truth, and VON WINNING is showing that their glorious collection in 2012 was no fluke, but instead the arrival at a lofty place they shall continue to set up house in. Believe me, I wondered. Because those astonishing ‘12s might have been lavished with pixie-dust from the weightless weight of the creamy vintage style. Would the ‘13s be arch and angular again? Not a bit of it. These guys are here to stay. It is conceivable that Von Winning ‘13s will be a little tiny bit less grand than their ‘12s, but it’s definite that their ‘13s are dramatically better than almost everything around them.

Pictures: Tour and Tasting at Weingut von Winning in Deidesheim, Pfalz

Weingut von Winning

Terry Theise: The fact that this estate is crafting some of the very best dry wines in Germany is no fluke, rather a result of nearly obsessive winemaker Stefan Attman’s commitment to both dedicated cultivation of Deidesheim and Forst’s best sites and meticulous work in the cellar. Under the same ownership and winemaking team, the Dr. Deinhard label is designated for fruity styles vinified in stainless steel while the Von Winning label is reserved for the Grosses Gewächs sites vinified dry and in wood. Von Winning maintains some of the oldest parcels in Grosses Gewächs vineyards smattered across Forst, Deidesheim, and Ruppertsberg. Attman’s every decision is informed by great enthusiasm and experiences at estates in the Cote d’Or and abroad. For example, Attman’s newer vines are planted at a very high vine density- 9500 vines per hectare, as opposed to the more typical less than 5000. This creates competition amongst the vines, forcing the roots to grow deep, naturally reducing yields. Attman has adopted the single cane trellising system, prevalent in Burgundy, and Grosses Gewächs wines ferment in 500mL French barrels. Von Winning practices organic and sustainable viticulture.

Pictures: Tour and Tasting at Weingut von Winning in Deidesheim, Pfalz

Attmann describes his winemaking as “not doing the wrong thing at the wrong time.” The estate’s premium wines are treated with a minimalist approach and with the highest respect in the cellar. Gentle clarification, a natural and spontaneous fermentation and the abandonment of fining agents create wines with a distinctive indigenous and very elegant style. Pumping the juice or wine is never necessary in the gravity flow winery, allowing for minimal, and gentle vinification.

Pictures: Tour and Tasting at Weingut von Winning in Deidesheim, Pfalz

•Vineyard area: 40 hectares

•Annual production: 23,000 cases

•Vineyard holdings: Deidesheim – Mäushöhle, Herrgottsacker, Paradiesgarten, Leinhöhle (all löss, loam, red sandstone) Grainhübel, Langenmorgen and Kieselberg (loam, red sandstone, limestone) Kalkofen (limestone, marl, loam); Forst – Ungeheuer (löss, loam, sandstone, basalt) Kirchenstück (sandy loam, red sandstone, basalt); Ruppertsberg – Reiterpfad (sandy loam, red sandstone, limestone)

Farming Practice: Practicing Organic

The Wines we Tasted

2014 Weingut Dr. Deinhard Weisser Burgunder Hummelbusch trocken VDP.Gutswein
2014 Weingut Dr. Deinhard Deidesheimer Herrgottsacker Riesling K trocken VDP.Erste Lage

2014 Weingut von Winning WIN WIN Riesling trocken VDP.Gutswein

2014 Weingut von Winning Deidesheimer Herrgottsacker Riesling trocken VDP.Erste Lage

2014 Weingut von Winning Ruppertsberger Reiterpfad Riesling trocken VDP.Erste Lage
2014 Weingut von Winning Ungeheuer Riesling trocken GG VDP.Grosse Lage
2014 Weingut von Winning Grainhübel Riesling trocken GG VDP.Grosse Lage

2012 Weingut von Winning Pinot Noir I trocken VDP.Gutswein

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Tour and Tasting at Weingut von Winning (VDP) in Deidesheim, Pfalz

Tour and Tsting at Weingut Josef Biffar in Deidesheim, with Owner and Winemaker Fumiko Tokuoka

Wine Pairing Dinner at Restaurant FUMI at Weingut Josef Biffar in Deidesheim, with Owner and Winemaker Fumiko Tokuoka

Tour and Tasting at Weingut Markus Schneider in Ellerstadt, Pfalz, with Markus Schneider

Tour and Tasting at Weingut Koehler Ruprecht in Kallstadt, Pfalz, with Franzi Schmitt – Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Tasting at Weingut Dreissigacker in Bechtheim, Rheinhessen, with Ute Dreissigacker

Tour and Wine Pairing Lunch at Weingut Eva Vollmer in Mainz-Ebersheim, Rheinhessen, with Eva Vollmer

Announcement: 5 Exciting ombiasy WineTours in 2016 - BURGUNDY BORDEAUX GERMANY

Coming-up: 2016 Spring Tours by ombiasy WineTours to Germany and the Bourgogne, Germany/ France

Pictures: Sophie Schÿler of Château Kirwan, Annette Schiller of ombiasy PR and WineTours and Chef/ Owner Driss Zahidi of Evo Bistro in McLean, Virginia, at Evo Bistro

Sophie Schÿler Thierry of Château Kirwan (owned by the Schÿler family) was in Washington DC to present Château Kirwan at the 2016 Heart’s Delight events.

Heart’s Delight is an annual four-day celebration, bringing together winemakers, celebrity chefs, gourmands, and wine enthusiasts to raise money for the American Heart Association. The events are not cheap, but high-class and tax deductible (partly). Over the past 14 years, the events have raised over $12 million for the American Heart Association, helping to support research into the number one cause of death in the United States.

This year, Heart’s Delight took place from Wednesday, March 9 to Saturday March 12, 2016. As every year, there were exciting dinners with celebrity chefs and winemakers at embassies, private homes and top restaurants, tastings, receptions, after-dinner-parties as well as auctions. See: Auction Item #514: Seven-Day Wine Tour through Germany’s Riesling Country - Heart’s Delight Wine Tasting and Auction (2016), Washington DC, USA

At a side event, Annette and Christian Schiller hosted Sophie Schÿler at Evo Bistro in McLean, Virginia, for a luncheon with 20 Bordeaux lovers.

Pictures: Welcome at Evo Bistro

We had developed the idea a couple of weeks earlier, at a private dinner after the UGC tasting in Washington DC on January 31, 2016. See: Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux (UGC) on the 2016 North America Tour - Schiller’s Favorites

Invitation

Hello wine friends in the Washington DC area,

I would like to let you know about a fabulous opportunity to share a luncheon with the owner of one of the iconic 1855 classified Bordeaux Châteaux.

Join Sophie Schÿler of Château Kirwan, 3ième Grand Cru Classé, Appelation Margaux when she talks about her wines on Saturday, March 12 at 12.00 PM at EVO BISTRO, 1313 Old Chain Bridge Rd, McLean, VA 22101.

We are very excited to also have wines from RdV, Virginia’s premier wine estate for Bordeaux blends. This is a unique opportunity to taste Top Bordeaux and Top Virginia next to each other.

Driss Zahidi, renowned chef in the metropolitan Washington area, prepared the following menu to match the wines:

MENU

FIRST

Duo of Quail & Fresh Fois Gras, leeks étouffée, chestnut, balsamic reduction, sea salt air
2012 Charme de Kirwan, Château Kirwan, Margaux
2009 Rendezvous, RdV, Virginia

SECOND

Petit Filet Mignon Médaillion, pomme robouchon, brussel sprouts, truffles sauce
2013 Château Kirwan, Margaux
2012 Lost Mountain, RdV, Virgina

THIRD

Fresh Berries Tiramisu
2010 Marienburg, Falkenlay, Clemens Busch, Mosel

The luncheon is strictly limited to 20 people. Reserve your seats for this event at $ 65 plus tax and gratuity now by sending an email to: aschiller@ombiasypr.com First come, first serve. Payment will be directly with the restaurant when you arrive for the luncheon.

À la votre!

Annette

See: Invitation: Meet the Owner of Château Kirwan, 3ième Grand Cru Classé, Margaux, for a Wine Pairing Luncheon at Evo Bistro in McLean, Virginia

Pictures: Wine Pairing Dinner with Sophie Schÿler at Evo Bistro

Château Kirwan

Château Kirwan is a 3ème Cru Classé property in Margaux. It is owned by the Schÿler family.

The history of Château Kirwan begins with the English merchant Sir John Collingwood, one of the first négociants in history. For nearly a century he reigned over the noble "de Lasalle" land, acquired in 1751 and adjoining the Ganet property.

Château Kirwan takes its name from the Irishman Mark Kirwan, who became part of the estate's history by marrying one of the daughters of Sir John Collingwood. In 1760 he inherited the estate. He united the "de Lasalle" and Ganet lands. Rather unfortunately, he was guillotined in 1792.

Pictures: The Charming Sophie Schÿler at Evo Bistro

Thomas Jefferson, then Ambassador of the United States in France, visited the Bordeaux vineyards in May 1787. He was not only the future president of the United States, but the greatest emissary of Bordeaux wines. In his travel diary and his book "Jefferson on Wine", he elevated Kirwan wine - then spelled "Quirouen" - to second classified growth, making it much more recognizable on the far shores of the Atlantic.

The heirs of the Kirwan family sold the estate in 1827, in the midst of a severe economic crisis after the upheavals of the Revolution and the First Empire. After a period of instability, the owner of Château Kirwan and mayor of Bordeaux Camille Godard left the estate to the city, which used it for a time as a hotel and reception venue.

In 1925, it became the property of the Schÿler family, whose family trading house had already been distributing the wine for several years.

The property is located in the commune of Cantenac and consists of a beautiful 18th century château and 35 hectares of vineyards. The wine is typically a blend of 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 10% Petit Verdot. The grapes are hand-harvested and then fermented in temperature-controlled, stainless-steel tanks. The wine is then matured in oak barriques (30-50% new) for 18 months. It is bottled after a light fining and filtration. Its second wine is called Les Charmes de Kirwan. Château Kirwan produces on average 16,000 cases per year.

Pictures: Sophie Schyler Pouring at the 2016 UGC Tasting in Washington DC and at a Private Dinner with Annette and Christian Schiller and Marlene and Charles Bullfighter Reddoor following the Tasting

RdV

RDV is a rather new, small winery about an hour west of Washington DC, founded, owned and run by Rutger de Vink. RDV produces some 2,000 cases of ultra-premium wines: the Cabernet Sauvignon driven Lost Mountain and the Merlot driven Rendezvous, which both costs close to US$ 100 ex-winery. Jim Law of Linden Vineyards, who many consider as the father of the Virginia wine boom, has described his close friend Rutger de Vink as “the next generation of Virginia wine.”

With 6.5 hectares under vine, the vineyard is divided into eleven parcels and planted to Cabernet Sauvignon (40%), Merlot (40%), Petit Verdot (12%) and Cabernet Franc (8%).

When he started RdV, Rutger de Vink also hired Eric Boissenot, a Bordeaux consultant, to blend his wines. Still today, samples of RdV are overnighted from Dulles International Airport to Paris, and from there to Bordeaux, so Eric Boissenot can taste and analyze them and electronically transmit recommendations back to RdV. He also visits RdV on a regular basis. Interestingly, Eric Boissenot also is a consultant at Château Kirwan.

Pictures: Christian Schiller, Annette Schiller, Anne Cuvelier from Chateau Leoville Poyferre in Bordeaux and Rutger de Vink from RdV in Virginia at RdV. See: Bordeaux Meets Virginia: Visiting Rutger de Vink and his RdV Vineyards with Anne Cuvelier from Chateau Leoville Poyferre in St. Julien, Bordeaux

Weingut Clemens Busch

Weingut Clemens Busch is one of the top producers in Germany. And not only that. In a region where the humidity and extremely steep vineyards make most wine makers to rely on some level of pesticide, Clemens Busch is 100% organic/biodynamic. And: In a region where noticeable residual sugar in the finished wine and low alcohol is the calling card, Clemens Busch’s focus is on dry premium Rieslings that can compete with the best dry whites in the world. But Clemens Busch also produces off-dry wines as well as powerfully complex, nobly sweet wines.

Vineyard area: 10 hectares
Annual production: 55,000 bottles
The winery is since 2007 member of the VDP (Association of German VDP)

Interestingly, Clemens Busch was in town (Washington DC) just a few weeks ago and we enjoyed a lovely wine pairing dinner with him and Gernot Kollmann (Weingut Immich Batterieberg) and Dominik Sona with Franzi Schmidt (Weingut Koehler-Ruprecht) at BToo on 14th Street NW. See: Post-Rieslingfeier and Pre-Big Glou Dinner with 3 Top Winemakers from Germany at BToo in Washington DC: Clemens Busch, Immich-Batterieberg and Koehler-Ruprecht, USA

Picture: At Weingut Clemens Busch with Clemens and Rita Busch. See: Vineyard Tour and Wine Tasting at Weingut Clemens Busch– Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2014)

The Luncheon

Picture: The Wines

FIRST

Duo of Quail & Fresh Fois Gras, leeks étouffée, chestnut, balsamic reduction, sea salt air

2012 Charme de Kirwan, Château Kirwan, Margaux

27 % Cabernet Sauvignon - 53% Merlot - 10 % Cabernet Franc - 10 % Petit Verdot

Notes: It displays a brilliant ruby red color. Its nose offers elegant notes of black and red fruits such as cherry and red and black currant. Delicate woody notes round out the palette of aromas. A fresh and lively quality immediately enchants the taste buds, while quickly giving way to sweeter sensations with a pleasant roundness. Creamy notes add a touch of extra roundness to the wine and the tasting finishes with lovely spice scents. This wine is bountiful, gourmand, and will be delicious as of 2015. (Château Kirwan)

Wine-Searcher average price: US$ 27

2009 Rendezvous, RdV, Virginia

Notes: Rendezvous has a brilliant core of deep ruby color with a delicate nose hinting at sweet notes of pastry. On the palate, the wine reveals a ripe tannin structure that is both harmonious and flattering, leading to a supple approachability. It finishes with an energized backbone that sings of minerality from the hillsides’ granitic soils. (Eric Boissenot)

US$75 ex-winery at release.

SECOND

Petit Filet Mignon Médaillion, pomme robouchon, brussel sprouts, truffles sauce

2013 Château Kirwan, Margaux

Notes: Sweet, vanilla nose, quite different from the rest. Cherry flavors, vanilla, creme anglaise, this is charming but overly sweet, really an early drinker, will find its target but not one to be laid down for years. But wouldn't be surprised at all if this is a food early drinker that gives lots of pleasure. 85-86. Recommended. Drink 2019-2031. (Jane Anson)

US$ 38.50 Sherry-Lehmann (New York City)

2012 Lost Mountain, RdV, Virgina

Notes: Brooding and masculine on the nose, the 2012 Lost Mountain embodies depth, complexity and richness. A cloak of velvety Cabernet tannins support an abundance of black fruits and minerality concentrated in a dense mid-palate. Generosity and energy define this noble wine that has tremendous ageing potential. (RdV)

Cabernet Sauvignon 46%, Cabernet Franc 40%, Merlot 14%

US$ 95 ex-winery

THIRD

Fresh Berries Tiramisu

2010 Marienburg, Falkenlay, Riesling, Clemens Busch, Mosel, Germany

Notes: It's not classified as a GG since there's probably 11-12 grams RS; this puts it in "feinherb" territory, with creamy richness and flavors of tangerine and apricot. Superior length, breadth, ornate detail and a clear, vivid finish make this a most stunning wine. This is a textbook example of the Busch style and everything they do so well. (Chambers Street Wines in New York)

Around US$ 55 retail in the US

Annette Schiller and ombiasy PR and WineTours

Pictures: Annette Schiller, ombiasy PR and WineTours, and Christian G.E. Schiller with Jancis Robinson in Montreux at Lake Geneva

The event was organized by Annette Schiller from ombiasy PR and WineTours. For 2015, Annette Schiller has scheduled 5 boutique wine tours to Germany-South, Germany-East, Germany-North, Bourgogne and Bordeaux. The tours to Bourgogne and Bordeaux, which will include a visit at Château Kirwan, are full.

See: Announcement: 5 Exciting ombiasy WineTours in 2016 - BURGUNDY BORDEAUX GERMANY

Bye-bye

Thanks you very much Chef Driss for an outstanding meal. For earlier wine maker dinners with Chef Driss Zaidi, organized by Annette Schiller, see:

Winemaker Dinner with Friedrich Jülg, Weingut Jülg, Pfalz, Germany, at Evo Bistro in McLean, Washington DC, USA
Riesling and Couscous at Chef Driss Zahidi’s Le Mediterranean Bistro in Fairfax, Virginia USA
A German Riesling Pairing Event at Evo Bistro in McLean, Virginia - A Royal Wine Visit from Princess Sabine Wagner, US

schiller-wine - Related Postings

Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), France

Announcement: 5 Exciting ombiasy WineTours in 2016 - BURGUNDY BORDEAUX GERMANY

Auction Item #514: Seven-Day Wine Tour through Germany’s Riesling Country - Heart’s Delight Wine Tasting and Auction (2016), Washington DC, USA

Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux (UGC) on the 2016 North America Tour - Schiller’s Favorites

Invitation: Meet the Owner of Château Kirwan, 3ième Grand Cru Classé, Margaux, for a Wine Pairing Luncheon at Evo Bistro in McLean, Virginia

Bordeaux Meets Virginia: Visiting Rutger de Vink and his RdV Vineyards with Anne Cuvelier from Chateau Leoville Poyferre in St. Julien, Bordeaux

Vineyard Tour and Wine Tasting at Weingut Clemens Busch– Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2014)

Post-Rieslingfeier and Pre-Big Glou Dinner with 3 Top Winemakers from Germany at BToo in Washington DC: Clemens Busch, Immich-Batterieberg and Koehler-Ruprecht, USA

Winemaker Dinner with Friedrich Jülg, Weingut Jülg, Pfalz, Germany, at Evo Bistro in McLean, Washington DC, USA

Riesling and Couscous at Chef Driss Zahidi’s Le Mediterranean Bistro in Fairfax, Virginia USA

A German Riesling Pairing Event at Evo Bistro in McLean, Virginia - A Royal Wine Visit from Princess Sabine Wagner, US

Picture: The Table of Hannsjörg Rebholz, Weingut Ökonomierat Rebholz, Pfalz, with Annette Schiller, David Schildknecht and Hannsjörg Rebholz

Rieslingfeier is an annual event in New York City that celebrates German Riesling. The cornerstone event is the Rieslingfeier Gala Dinner. Inspired by Daniel Johnnes’ famous Burgundy fête “La Paulée,” it is very likely the greatest German wine "BYOB" dinner in the world, with both winemakers and guests bringing special bottles from their cellars to share. Rieslingfeier is orchestrated by Stephen Bitterolf of the vom Boden wine importing company.

Pictures: Arriving at the Rieslingfeier in New York City

This year, Rieslingfeier took place on Saturday, February 20. 12 top German wine producers were in attendance, including world stars like Katharina Prüm, Weingut JJ Prüm, Hansjörg Rebholz, Weingut Ökonomierat Rebholz, Christian Witte, Weingut Schloss Johannisberg, Caroline Diel, Schlossgut Diel, Carl von Schubert, Weingut Maximin Grünhaus and Johannes Leitz, Weingut Leitz.

This posting is part of a series covering the 2016 Rieslingfeier; it provides an overview. Here is a list of all postings:

Coming up: Rieslingfeier in New York in February and Germany-East, -South and -North by ombiasy WineTours in May and August 2016
A German Riesling Feast in New York City: Rieslingfeier 2016, USA
Rieslingfeier 2016 in New York – Gränd Tasting: The Winemakers of the Rieslingfeier 2016, USA
Rieslingfeier 2016 in New York – Gala Dinner, USA

Allmost all of the photos are mine. I used a few photos from other participants, which they put on facebook.

Joining

Annette Schiller, who organizes wines tours (ombiasyPR and WineTours), and Christian Schiller, who blogs on schiller-wine, joined the 2016 celebration of German Riesling. We were happy to meet the participating German elite winemakers. Many of them we know personally. Some of them we call our friends.

See: Announcement: 5 Exciting ombiasy WineTours in 2016 - BURGUNDY BORDEAUX GERMANY

Rieslingfeier Gala Dinner 2016

“Dear Rieslingfeier guest,

The 4th annual Rieslingfeier Gala Dinner will take place THIS Saturday, February 20th at Reynard in the Wythe Hotel. Located at 80 Wythe Avenue, just north of North 11th Street in Williamsburg Brooklyn, the hotel/restaurant is easily accessible by taxi or subway (L train to Bedford stop). The dinner is sold out and we cannot wait to welcome you!

The evening will begin at 7pm with a Sekt reception; dinner will start at 8:00pm sharp. We have an incredible team of sommeliers from around the country working this event so your wine will be quickly checked in and chilled to the perfect temperature. The five-course meal is being designed to pair with both dry and sweet Riesling, so plan on having both at your table.

The attire is whatever think you compliments some of the greatest white wines on earth.

We look forward to seeing you Saturday!”

Pictures: Rieslingfeier at the Reynard in the Wythe Hotel in Brooklyn

The arguably most spectacular Riesling Party of North America took place at the trendy Reynard in the Wythe Hotel in Brooklyn, on Saturday, February 20. About 100 wine freaks made the pilgrimage from across the country to NYC to be with 12 top German producers, leading wine and food journalists, importers, and sommeliers to enjoy a casual dinner and Riesling rarities.

The five course meal was customized by Reynard’s Chef Sean Rembold to pair with dry and off-dry Riesling. The wine service was presided over by Rieslingfeier Chef Sommelier Raj Vaidya along with a group of the country's top sommeliers.

Sekt Reception

The evening started with a Sekt reception

Picture: Carl von Schubert, David Schildknecht, Wilhelm Steifensandt, Valckenberg

Picture: Aldo Sohm, Le Bernadin and Aldo Sohm Wine Bar

Picture: Jochen Beurer, Weingut Beurer

Picture: Evan Springan, David Bowler, and Katharina Prüm, Weingut JJ Prüm

Picture: Gernot Kollmann, Weingut Immich-Batterieberg, and Annette Schiller

Picture: Konstantin Weiser and Alexandra Künstler of Weingut Weiser-Künstler in Traben-Trarbach on the Mosel

Picture: German Wine Expert and Importer Justin Christoph and Danielle King

The Gala Dinner

Picture: Stephen Bitterolf Asking Guests to take their Seats

Picture: Gala Dinner Starts

There were 13 tables with 1 winemaker and 10 guests at each table (Egon Müller was represented by his Export Manager. In addition, Ernst Loosen from Weingut Dr. Loosen and Wilhelm Weil from Weingut Wilhelm Weil were represented by Ian Dick and Nicolas Pfaff, respectively; they did not have their own table.)

At each table, about 20 wines were served. All the wines were outstanding, but some of them were out of this world. You could walk to other tables and taste the wines poured there. Guests and winemakers also walked around and shared the wines with other people.

Riesling Guru Stuart Pigott issued a nice write-up on his block ahead of 2016 Rieslingfeier, including short descriptions of the attending winemakers, which I am copying here.

The Menu

Madai Crudo
Citrus, Black Olive

Beef Tartare
Bulgur, Labneh, Grilled Bread

Monkfish Cheeks
Clams, Butter Beans, Bacon, Parsely

Quail
Celery Root, Chicory, Kumquat Mostarda

Stompetoren Grand Cru (Cow, NL)
Pear Butter

Hannsjörg Rebholz, Weingut Ökonomierat Rebholz

Stuart Pigott: Hansjörg Rebholz of Weingut Ökonomierat Rebholz in Siebeldingen in the Pfalz producers some of the best and most original dry wines on Planet Riesling; character and elegance rather than raw power are their hallmarks.

My wife Annette Schiller and I were sitting with Hannsjörg Rebholz, Weingut Ökonomierat Rebholz, Pfalz.

Picture: Rieslingfeier Gala Dinner - Im Sonnenschein: The Table of Hannsjörg Rebholz, Weingut Ökonomierat Rebholz

Picture: The Sommeliers of the "Im Sonnenschein" Table - Francsca Maniace, Commonwealth (San Francisco) and Caleb Ganzer, Compagnie (New York)

Pictures: Annette Schiller, David Schildknecht and Hannsjörg Rebholz

Pictures: Evan Springarn, David Bowler, with Hannsjörg Rebholz and Annette Schiller

Picture: Caleb Ganzer, Hannsjörg Rebholz, Annette Schiller

Picture: Bourgogne Rouge being Poured at the Rieslingfeier

Pictures: Tasting

Picture: Last Course - Cheese

Johannes Leitz, Weingut Leitz

Stuart Pigott: Johannes Leitz of Josef Leitz in the Rheingau, who since the turn of the century firmly put Rüdesheim back on the map for top quality dry and west wines, and transformed this producer from being a name known only to insiders into a global Riesling brand.

Picture: The Table of Weingut Leitz with Josi Leitz

Gernot Kollmann, Winemaker, Weingut Immich Batterieberg

Stuart Pigott: Gernot Kollmann took over the direction and winemaking at Immich Batterieberg in Enkirch on the Mosel in 2009, and within very few years he has turned it into one of the region’s leading producers of dry Riesling.

Picture: The Table of Weingut Immich Batterieberg with Gernot Kollmann

Stefan Steinmetz, Weingut Günther Steinmetz

Stuart Pigott: Stefan Steinmetz of Weingut Günther Steinmetz in Brauneberg on the Mosel is one of the rising stars of this region.

Picture: The Table of Weingut Günther Steinmetz with Stefan Steinmetz

Carl von Schubert, Weingut Miximin Grünhaus

Stuart Pigott: Dr. Carl Ferdinand von Schubert has directed Weingut Maximin Grünhaus in Mertesdorf in the Ruwer since the early 1980s and today this famous estate is once again right at the top of its game, making uniquely aromatic and strikingly racy wines.

Picture: The Table of Maximin Grünhaus with Carl von Schubert

Christian Witte, Domaine Director, Weingut Schloss Johannisberg

Stuart Pigott: Christian Witte has taken world-famous Schloss Johannisberg in the Rheingau out of a period of erratic performance back to the very top since he took over there in 2005; great dry and sweet Rieslings!

Picture: The Table of Schloss Johannisberg with Christian Witte

Dominik Sona, Managing Director, and Franzi Schmitt, Winemaker, Weingut Koehler-Ruprecht

Stuart Pigott: Dominik Sona does things the traditional way at Weingut Koehler-Ruprecht in Kallstadt in the Pfalz, just as his predecessor Bernd Phillipi did, and that makes for deep and complex dry Rieslings.

Picture: The Table of Weingut Koehler-Ruprecht with Dominik Sona and Franzi Schmitt

Jochen Beurer, Weingut Beurer

Stuart Pigott: Jochen Beurer makes some remarkable dry wines in this rising star among Germany’s wine regions.

Picture: The Table of Weingut Beurer with Jochen Beurer

Johannes Weber, Hofgut Falkenstein

Stuart Pigott: Johannes Weber of Hofgut Falkenstein on the Saar, has made a major commitment to traditional winemaking techniques is also one of the stars of his region.

Picture: The Table of Hofgut Falkenstein with Johannes Weber

Katharina Prüm, Weingut JJ Prüm

Stuart Pigott: Katharina Prüm of J. J. Prüm in Wehlen on the Mosel has already been introduced. This producer is synonymous with Mosel elegance and finesse!

Picture: The Table of Weingut JJ Prüm with Katharina Prüm and Nancy Peach, Stuart Pigott

Caroline and Sylvain Diel, Schlossgut Diel

Stuart Pigott: Caoline Diel makes brilliant dry and sweet wines that have made her one of the region’s top winemakers.

Pictures: The Table Schlossgut Diel with Caroline and Sylvain Diel

Florian Lauer, Weingut Peter Lauer

Stuart Pigott: Florian Lauer of Weingut Peter Lauer in Ayl on the Saar, who since 2005 has taken this small estate from anonymity to international star status with complex wines ranging from bone dry to aromatically sweet.

Picture: The Table of Weingut Peter Lauer with Florian Lauer

Konstantin Weiser and Alexandra Künstler of Weingut Weiser-Künstler

Stuart Pigott: Konstantin Weiser and Alexandra Künstler jumped into deep water in 2005 when they purchased their first steep vineyards with slate soils and launched Weiser-Künstler in Traben-Trarbach on the Mosel.

Mingling

Picture: Stewart Pigott, Suzie Kukaj, Mionetto USA, and Christian Witte

Picture: Josi Leitz and Florian Lauer

Picture: Aldo Sohm, Le Bernadin and Aldo Sohm Wine Bar

Picture: Carl von Schubert, Maximin Grünhaus, and Katharina Prüm, Weingut JJ Prüm

The End

Pictures: It's Over

Picture: Double-Magnums from Weingut Leitz, Schlossgut Diel and Weingut Dönnhoff

Rooftop Bar

Some of us went up to the Rooftop Bar of thw Wythe Hotel, where you had a wonderful view of Manhattan.

Picture: Manhattan

Stephen Bitterolf

Picture: Annette Schiller, ombiasy WineTours, Stephen Bitterolf, vom Boden, Christian Schiller at the Rieslingfeier 2016

Rieslingfeier was founded in 2012 by Stephen Bitterolf, a passionate advocate for Germany's culture of winemaking. He was the Wine Director at Crush Wine & Spirits in New York where he helped develop one of the largest German wine programs in the country before founding his own import company, vom Boden.

schiller-wine: Related Postings

Announcement: 5 Exciting ombiasy WineTours in 2016 - BURGUNDY BORDEAUX GERMANY

Germany-East Wine and Art Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Bourgogne Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), France

Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), France

A German Riesling Feast in New York City: Rieslingfeier 2015, USA

The 11 Winemakers: Rieslingfeier 2015 in New York City, USA

Riesling Crawl in New York City– Or, Where to Buy German Wine in Manhattan: Schiller's Favorite Wine Stores, USA

The Gala Dinner of the Rieslingfeier 2015 in New York City, USA

Tasting with Sylvain Taurisson Diel at Schlossgut Diel, Nahe – Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2014)

New Vintage Tasting at Schlossgut Diel, with Armin and Caroline Diel, Germany, 2014

Post-Rieslingfeier and Pre-Big Glou Dinner with 3 Top Winemakers from Germany at BToo in Washington DC: Clemens Busch, Immich-Batterieberg and Koehler-Ruprecht, USA

Germany’s Best Winemakers and Wines – Gault Millau WeinGuide Deutschland 2016 Awards: The Awards Ceremony in Mainz, Germany

Wine Tasting at Weingut Dr. Loosen in Bernkastel-Kues, Mosel – Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

JJ Pruem Goes Supermarket: Meeting Katharina Pruem and Tasting the Incredible JJ Pruem Wines at Wegmans

Carl von Schubert from the Maximin Gruenhaus Estate Returned a Favor: With his Wines in Washington DC (and in Seattle), USA

Tasting at Weingut Ökonomierat Rebholz in Siebeldingen, Pfalz – Germany-South by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Picture: Château du Clos de Vougeot

Our last event in the Bourgogne of the Bourgogne Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015) was a visit of Château du Clos de Vougeot.

While the Château du Clos de Vougeot no longer produces wine these days, it remains the symbol of almost a thousand years of Burgundy history.

In the 12th century, the monks of the Cistercian Abbey, the owners of Clos-Vougeot thanks to donations from wealthy Burgundy nobles and purchases made by the abbey, grew vines here. They build a wall around the precious land of the Clos de Vougeot, which still defines this prestigious appellation today.

Pictures: Arriving at Château du Clos de Vougeot

Transformed into a Renaissance château, this historic place has become a Mecca for wine and Burgundy conviviality.

Since 1934, Château du Clos Vougeot has been the seat of the "Confrérie des Chevaliers du Tastevin" (Brotherhood of the Knights of the Tastevin (tasting cup)), which found the place to be a worthy setting for its work to promote Burgundy wines worldwide.

Seventeen times a year, the Chevaliers du Tastevin receive guests at a high-level evening event called “Chapitres”. New chevaliers are inducted and a dinner in the great Burgundy tradition of conviviality brings together 600 people in the château’s winery. The 12 000 Chevaliers du Tastevin are organised into many “commanderies” around the world, from New York to Hong Kong, via Rio de Janeiro.

While the château is not strictly speaking open, you can visit a number of its working buildings built by the Cistercian monks in the 12th century: the winery that houses four huge presses; the cellar, a building dating from the 12th century and built to accommodate 2000 wine casks, or the dormitory of the lay brothers whose magnificent woodwork dates from the 14th century.

Pictures: Tour of Château du Clos de Vougeot

Clos de Vougeot (Clive Coates)

Burgundy is light on images. While in Bordeaux most of the château facades are known to wine-lovers all over the world, for the images are depicted on the labels on the bottles, Burgundy has only two immediately recognizable to outsiders: the interior courtyard of the Hospices in Beaune, and the Château of the Clos de Vougeot.

Like much of Burgundy, the origins of the Clos de Vougeot are ecclesiastical. In 1098, Robert, Abbot of the Clunaic Benedictine abbey of Molesmes, near Langres, north of Dijon, decided to form a new order. He felt strongly that the original virtues of poverty, chastity and obedience, laid down by the founding saint, had become too relaxed. The top ecclesiastics slept in comfortable beds, wore sumptuous clothes, and eat and drank like gluttons. Nor, it seems, were they very enthusiastic about celibacy. Robert only managed to persuade some 20 of his order to join him, but they duly left Molesmes and settled in marshy land some 15 kilometres east of Nuis-Saint-Georges. From the Latin name of the reeds (cistus) which surrounded their new monastery came the name of this new order: the Cistercians. Not having suitable land in the vicinity for the vine, the monks followed a little river, the Vouge, upstream until they reached the Côte. There amongst the mixed farming prevalent at the time, they saw vines. They bought a parcel of land, enclosed it within a wall, and set about constructing a winery and living quarters for those who would be responsible on the spot for tending the vines and making the wine. This edifice, much modified since, is today's Château du Clos de Vougeot.

The vineyard remained in church ownership, if not in ecclesiastical management, for parcels had been rented off to local laymen, until the French Revolution. Like most of the land owned by the church the Clos was sequestered by the state, and on January 17th., 1791 it was auctioned off to a Jean Foquard, a Parisian banker. He failed to settle the bill, and the authorities were forced to ask the old cellar master to continue to run the estate while they sought an owner with more reliable finances. Eventually the Clos passed to Jules Ouvrard, local deputé in the post-Restoration parliament, and also owner of the Domaine de la Romanée-Conti. This wine was made at the Clos.

Ouvrard died in 1860, and the Clos was divided into six parts to enable it to be sold. Six soon became fifteen, and inexorably the Clos became more and more morcellated. Today there are over 80 proprietors and some 120 different parcels. The Château belongs to the local wine promotional organisation, the Chevaliers du Tastevin.

The Clos de Vougeot is notorious for being a grand cru whose land stretches all the way down to the main Nuits-Dijon highway. Surely, we argue, the land at the bottom cannot produce grand cru wine? On either side we have mere village Vougeot or Vosne-Romanée. Of course this is an anomaly. But today it is set in stone and there is little we can do about it. And as Jean Grivot, who has vines which stretch up from the main road about two-fifths of the way up, will point out: 'When the weather is hot you need fruit from the more humid, water-retaining lower slopes. When the weather is against you you need the better drained upslope wines.' Back in the middle ages, as today at Maximin Grunhaus in the Moselle, we are told that there were three cuvées of Clos de Vougeot: that from the upper part, reserved for the Abbot and favoured guests, that from the middle, for the monks, and that from the lower slopes, sold off in bulk.

The largest owner of land within the Clos today is the Château de la Tour, with almost five and a half hectares out of just over 50. Theirs is the only wine matured and bottled within the Clos, in a nasty 19th. century building of no architectural merit whatsoever situated half way up the slope on the northern side. The wine used to be good, fell off a bit, but is now improving. This is the only proprietor to offer a vieilles vignes as well as a normal cuvée. Others with more than one hectare whose wines can be recommended include Méo-Camuzet, Louis Jadot, Leroy, Grivot, Gros Frère et Soeur, the Domaine de la Vougeraie, the Domaine Eugenie (Engel as was), Lamarche, Faiveley and Drouhin-Laroze.

Those with less than one hectare that I would look out for include: Hudelot-Noëllat, Arnoux, Bertagna, Bouchard Père et Fils, Confuron-Coteditot, J.J. Confuron, Drouhin, Clos Frantin (Albert Bichot), Anne Gros, Michel Gros, Denis Mortet, Mugneret-Gibourg and Thibaut Liger-Belair.

Clos de Vougeot is rarely a really great wine. I can only remember two such bottles: a 1937 Camuzet (predecessor of today's Méo-Camuzet, and Jean Gros' (father of Michel) 1985, the last vintage from vines planted in 1902. I still have a couple of bottles of this. No, Clos de Vougeot is a second division grand cru. But it is ample and generous, succulent and slightly spicy, and should be thoroughly enjoyable.

Postings on the Bourgogne Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), France (Posted and Forthcoming)

Preview: Bourgogne Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015 and 2016)

Bourgogne Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), France

Champagne Jean Josselin in Gyé-sur-Seine: Tour and Tasting with Jean Pierre Josselin - Bourgogne Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

The Wines of Tonnerre, France – Bourgogne Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Domaine Séguinot-Bordet in Maligny, Chablis: Tour and Tasting with Owner and Winemaker Jean-François Bordet – Bourgogne Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Domaine Brocard in Chablis: Lunch, Cellar Tour and Wine Tasting with Odile Van Der Moere, Responsable de Cave – Bourgogne Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Dinner at Hostellerie Chateau de la Barge in Creches-sur-Saone - Bourgogne Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Domaine Ferret in Fuissé, Poully-Fuissé, Mâconnais: Vineyard Walk, Cellar Tour and Wine Tasting with Cyril Laumain, Chef de Cave – Bourgogne Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Visit of the Abbey of Cluny and Lunch at Hostellerie d'Heloise in Cluny– Bourgogne Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Domaine Theulot Juillot in Mercurey, Côte Chalonnaise: Cellar Tour and Wine Tasting with Nathalie and Jean-Claude Theulot – Bourgogne Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), France

Olivier Leflaive: Vineyard Walk and Cellar Tour, with Patrick Leflaive– Bourgogne Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), France

Lunch and Winetasting at La Table de Olivier in Pouligny Montrachet– Bourgogne Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), France

Wine Tasting at Domaine Mestre Père & Fils in Santenay with Jonathan Mestre - Bourgogne Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), France

Visit: Domaine Bouchard Père & Fils in Beaune - Bourgogne Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015, France

Schiller's Favorite Wine Bars in Beaune, Bourgogne, France

Visit: Hospices de Beaune with Karoline Knoth– Bourgogne Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Domaine A.-F. Gros in Beaune: Cellar Tour and Wine Tasting with Owner and Winemaker Mathias Parent – Bourgogne Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), France

Visit and Tasting: Maison Joseph Drouhin in Beaune– Bourgogne Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), France

Domaine Faiveley in Nuits-Saint-George: Cellar Tour and Wine Tasting with Mathilde Nicolas (Brand Ambassador) – Bourgogne Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), France

"Open Air" Tasting at Domaine du Château de Prémeaux, Nuits Saint Georges – Bourgogne Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), France

Domaine Armelle et Bernard Rion in Vosne-Romanée: Wine Tasting in the Cellar with Bernard Rion and Alice Rion – Bourgogne Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), France

Tasting at Domaine Jean Michel Guillon in Gevrey-Chambertin with Jean Michel Guillon – Bourgogne Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), France

Visit: Château du Clos de Vougeot – Bourgogne Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), France

Announcement: 5 Exciting ombiasy WineTours in 2016 - BURGUNDY BORDEAUX GERMANY

Picture: Annette Schiller at Château Mouton-Rothschild, Pauillac, Tasting the 2014 Grand Vin from Barrel

To get into Château Mouton-Rothschild is not easy. Annette succeeded this time and the Bordeaux-Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015) included a tour and tasting Château Mouton-Rothschild, Bordeaux, Appellation Pauillac, 1ière Grand Cru Classé.

Gerome Schwartz was our host. We toured the winery and tasted the 2014.

Picture: Arriving at Château Mouton-Rothschild, Pauillac

Château Mouton-Rothschild - as we know it today- came into existence in 1853, when Baron Nathaniel de Rothschild - from the English line of the Rothschild family - purchased the estate - which was then called Château Brane-Mouton - and renamed it using his name. It was when his great-grandson Philippe de Rothschild took control over the estate in the 1920s that winemaking and wine selling changed drastically. In 1924 he was the first one in Bordeaux to bottle all his wines at the Château. The custom of having an artist design the labels started with this first bottled vintage. Since then each vintage features an original piece of art commissioned from the Rothschild’s circle of friends. Baron Philippe also introduced the idea of a “second label” which is now the “Mouton Cadet”.

Château Mouton Rothschild in Pauillac

The Château Mouton-Rothschild vineyard totals 84 hectares. In terms of red grapes, 80% is Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc, 8% Merlot and 2% Petit Verdot. There is also Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and Muscadelle, for the estate's white wine. The wine is fermented in oak vats (they are one of the last châteaux in the Médoc to use them) and then aged in new barrique barrels.

Pictures: Tour at Château Mouton-Rothschild, Pauillac,

Baron Philippe de Rothschild

The birth of Château Mouton-Rothschild took place in 1853, when Baron Nathaniel de Rothschild - from the English line of the Rothschild family - purchased the estate - which was called Château Brane-Mouton - and renamed it using his name. The estate was in English hands in the 15th century but returned to French hands after the 100 Years War.

It was under Baron Philippe de Rothschild - who was only 20 years old, when he gained control of the property - that winemaking and wine selling at Château Mouton-Rothschild – and in general in Bordeaux – changed drastically.

The Baron was the first Bordeaux winemaker to insist on bottling all his wine at the estate. This new practice created a need for more storage at the property. In 1926, the Baron constructed the famous Grand Chai, the majestic 100-meter first year cellar, which has become a major attraction for visitors to Mouton.

The now famous series of labels designed by artists started in 1945.

In the 1930s, long before the idea of second wines had become standard practice, the Baron created a second wine for Mouton, Cadet de Mouton. It quickly became Mouton Cadet, first a blended wine, then a branded wine (again the first of its kind in Bordeaux) and is today the largest selling French branded wine in the world.

Finally, in 1973, Mouton was elevated to premier grand cru en 1855. The Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of 1855 was largely based market prices. It was established by the negociants of Bordeaux. Despite the market prices for their wines equaling that of Château Lafite Rothschild, Château Mouton Rothschild was excluded from premier grand cru status, possibly because the estate was not in French ownership.

Baroness Philippine de Rothschild and her 3 Children

Baron Philippe de Rothschild had one child, Baroness Philippine Mathilde Camille de Rothschild, who was the head of the Mouton Rothschild portfolio until her death in August 2014.

Baroness Philippine had 3 children: Camille Sereys de Rothschild (born 1961), Philippe Sereys de Rothschild (born 1963) (with Jacques Noël Sereys, a French theatre director and actor, with whom she was married from 1961 to 1999), and Julien de Beaumarchais de Rothschild (born 1971) (Jean-Pierre de Beaumarchais, a biographer and scholar, with whom she was married when she passed away).

Baroness Philippine de Rothschild’s youngest son, Julien de Beaumarchais, took over from his mother in choosing the artists for Mouton Rothschild’s famous labels as of the 2014 vintage (the label for the 2013 vintage was still chosen by Baroness Philippine de Rothschild). De Beaumarchais, who studied art history, said he would make his decision ‘in consultation with the family’. The move comes despite the Baroness' other son, Philippe Sereys de Rothschild, was named as President of the Supervisory Board of Baron Philippe de Rothschild SA, following on from his mother.

Picture: From left to right, Philippe Sereys de Rothschild, Camille Sereys de Rothschild, Julien de Beaumarchais.(Photo: Deepix Courtesy Château Mouton Rothschild)

The Mouton-Rothschild Portfolio

Like Lafite Rothschild, Mouton Rothschild is now a mix of privately-owned chateaux, international joint ventures and commercial branded wines:

Château Mouton-Rothschild (grand vin)

Pictures: Tasting at Château Mouton-Rothschild, Pauillac

Petit Mouton (second wine): 6,000 cases

Château d’Armailhac: In 1933, the Baron purchased a neighboring vineyard, Château Mouton d’Armailhacq. The property was renamed Château d’Armailhac in 1989 by his wife, the Baroness Philippine. Part of the reason for the purchase was, the estate came with a Bordeaux negociant firm which eventually became known as Baron Philippe de Rothschild S.A. 17,000 cases.

Château Clerc Milon: 13,000 cases

Mouton Cadet: Bordeaux’s oldest and largest branded wine, with 15 million bottles sold each year across 150 countries.

Opus One: In 1980, the Baron entered into a joint venture with Robert Mondavi to create Opus One Winery in Oakville, California, now co-owned with Constellation Brands. 25,000 cases.

Almaviva: In 1997, Château Mouton Rothschild teamed up with Concha y Toro of Chile to produce a quality Cabernet Sauvignon-based red wine in a new winery built in Chile's Maipo Valley. 10,000 cases.

Château Mouton-Rothschild in Pauillac and Mayor Amschel Rothschild in Frankfurt am Main

The roots of Chateau Mouton-Rothschild, Chateau Lafite-Rothschild – and the Rothschild empire in general – are in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Towards the end of the 18th century Mayer Amschel Rothschild, a money changer from Frankfurt am Main, born in 1744, had five sons and decided to install them in the five major European centers of the time.

* Amschel Mayer Rothschild (1773–1855): Frankfurt - died childless, passed to sons of Salomon and Calmann
* Salomon Mayer Rothschild (1774–1855): Vienna
* Nathan Mayer Rothschild (1777–1836): London
* Calmann Mayer Rothschild (1788–1855): Naples
* Jakob (James) Mayer Rothschild (1792–1868): Paris

Picture: The House of the Rothschilds in Frankfurt am Main

The Rothschild brothers became one of the major forces in the far reaching changes that swept through Europe, while their father had not been allowed to purchase land outside of the Frankfurt am Main ghetto. During the 19th century, they were the bankers to monarchs and governments, bankers to Napoleon’s Europe and then in the industrial area the builders of the modern economy through their investment in railways. Baron Philippe, who died in 1988, belongs to the London branch of the large Rothschild family.

Postings on the Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), France (Posted and Forthcoming)

4 Wine Tours by ombiasy coming up in 2015: Germany-East, Germany-South. Germany-Nord and Bordeaux

Germany-East Wine and Art Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Bourgogne Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), France

Bordeaux Wine Tour 2013 by ombiasy

Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), France

Bordeaux Wines and their Classifications: The Basics

Bordeaux - En Primeur, Negociants, Courtiers, the Quai de Chartons and the Place de Bordeaux– A Short Introduction

How Does the Negociant System in Bordeaux Work? Tour and Tasting at Millésima - Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), France

Tour and Wine Dinner at Domaine de Chevalier with Director Adjoint Rémi Edange and Owner/Director Olivier Bernard – Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), France

Schiller's Favorite Wine Bars in Bordeaux City, France

Schiller's Favorite Seafood Places in Bordeaux City, France

Saint Emilion Wines and their Classification, Bordeaux, France

Schiller’s Favorite Wine Bars in St. Emilion, France

Tour and Tasting at Château Angélus– Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), France

Tour, Tasting and Wine Lunch at a Petit Château and Organic Producer: Château Beauséjour – Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), France

Visit of an Ultra-premium Non-mainstream Bordeaux Producer: Tertre Rôteboeuf, with Owner and Winemaker François Mitjavile, France – Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Tour and Tasting at Château Figeac, Premier Grand Cru Classé B, in Saint-Émilion– Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), France

Tour and Wine Lunch at Château Le Bon Pasteur, Pomerol, with Dany Rolland– Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours(2015), France

The Wine Empire of the von Neipperg Family in France, Bulgaria and Germany

Tour and Dinner at Château Canon La Gaffelière, Appellation Saint-Emilion, Premier Grand Cru Classé – Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), France

Tour and Tasting at Château de Fargues, Appellation Sauternes, with Prince Eudes d’Orléans– Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), France

Wine Lunch at Restaurant Château de la Tour in Cadillac with Catherine Boyer, Château Du Cros, Loupiac– Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), France

Visit and Tasting: Château Smith-Haut-Lafitte, Pessac-Léognan, Grand Cru Classé – Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), France

Wine Lunch at Château Smith-Haut-Lafitte’s Restaurant La Grand’ Vigne (2 Stars Michelin, Chef: Nicolas Masse) – Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), France

Oysters in Bordeaux: Visiting the Oyster Farmer Raphael Doerfler and his Earl Ostrea Chanca Oyster Farm - Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), France

What is a Bordeaux Cru Bourgeois? France

Wine Dinner with Stefan and Heike Paeffgen, Château Le Reysse and Château Clos du Moulin, Vignobles Paeffgen, Appellation Médoc – Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), France

Château Léoville-Poyferré, Chateau Le Crock, Didier Cuvelier in Bordeaux and the Cuvelier Los Andes Wines in Argentina

Tour and Tasting at Château Léoville Poyferré, Appellation Saint-Julien, 2ième Grand Cru Classé, with Owner Didier Cuvelier – Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Tour, Tasting and Wine Lunch at Château Pichon-Longueville-Baron, Pauillac, 2ième Grand Cru Classé – Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

The 5 Premiers Grands Crus Chateaux en 1855 of Bordeaux, France

Tour and Tasting at Château Mouton-Rothschild, Pauillac, 1ière Grand Cru Classé.

How a Barrel is Made: Visit of the Cooperage Berger & Fils in Vertheuil

Lunch at Restaurant Le Peyrat in Saint-Estèphe with the Grape Pickers of Château Sociando Mallet

Tour and Tasting at Château Lafon-Rochet, Saint-Estèphe, 4ième Grand Cru Classé, with Owner Basile Tesseron

Tour and Tasting at Château Rauzan-Ségla, Margaux, 2ième Grand Cru Classé

Tourt and tasting at Château Palmer, Margaux, 3ième Grand Cru Classé

Tour and Wine Dinner at Château Haut-Bailly, Graves, Appellation Pessac-Léognan, Grand Cru Classé, with Diana Paulin

Announcement: 5 Exciting ombiasy WineTours in 2016 - BURGUNDY BORDEAUX GERMANY

Picture: Ernst Loosen and Annette Schiller at Weingut Dr. Loosen (Mosel)

Dear friends of good wine, good food, culture, the arts, history in the Washington DC area: Fantastic days for German wines ahead. Today I have 2 announcements:

1) Three amazing wine tours to Germany coming up in 2016:

SPRING TOURS 2016

The first GERMAN Wine Tour goes to Germany’s classic, and well-known wine region: Rheingau, Mittelrhein, Ahr, Mosel, Nahe (May 5 - May 11).

Picture: Manfred Prüm, Weingut JJ Prüm, and Annette Schiller (Mosel)

We will understand how the ‘late harvest’ was invented, what it means to work in the steepest vineyards on the planet, how finicky, wonderful, elegant, and versatile the Riesling grape is, why Pinot Noir can thrive in such a northern area 50 1/2 º of latitude, and we will meet world-renowned winemakers such as J.J.Prüm, Hanno Zilliken, Markus Molitor, Johannes Leitz, August Kesseler, Tim Fröhlich, and many more. To do a cruise on the romantic Rhine river with its castle and vine-ribboned banks, to drive along the many bends of the Mosel river, and to taste gorgeous Rieslings - sweet and dry - is a wine lifestyle experience not to be missed.

To get an idea about this tour, please read and look at the pictures: http://schiller-wine.blogspot.com/2015/10/germany-north-tour-by-ombiasy-winetours.html This article is a summary of last year’s tour.

For all details on the 2016 tour, please go to: https://ombiasypr.com/index.php/tours-2016/germany-north-2016/germany-north-itinerary-2016 There also is a pricing and registration page on the website.

The second GERMAN Wine Tour in 2016 goes to Germany’s wine regions east of the Rhine river, also the cradle of German intellect and culture: Saale-Unstrut, Saxony, Franken, Württemberg (May 12 - May 20).

Picture: Dinner with Georg Prinz zur Lippe at the Lippe'sche Gutshaus (Saxony)

We will visit 16 top-rated wineries and get to know other grape varietals besides the iconic Riesling, delve deep European history when meeting the descendants of the former Kings of Württemberg and the Prince zur Lippe, hear eye-witness accounts of winemakers having lived the transition from communist, state-controlled GDR to the unified Germany, will see spectacular historic sites, such as the Green Vault in Dresden, and the Rococo Residence in Würzburg, experience world-class Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris in Saale-Unstrut and Saxony, wonderful Silvaner in Franken, and stunning Reds in Württemberg. The "Swabian red wine revolution" has been talked about recently in the US in papers such as the SF Chronicles, NY Times, and Wall Street Journal. We will attend world-class performances at the Gewandhaus in Leipzig and at the Semper Opera in Dresden.

To get an idea about this tour, please read and look at the pictures: http://schiller-wine.blogspot.com/2015/07/germany-east-wine-and-art-tour-by.html This article is a summary of last year’s tour.

For all details on the 2016 tour, please go to: https://ombiasypr.com/index.php/tours-2016/germany-east-2016/germany-east-2016-itinerary There also is a pricing and registration page on the website.

FALL TOUR 2016

The third GERMAN Wine Tour goes to Germany’s wine regions straddling more or less along the Rhine river south of Mainz and to ALSACE in neighboring France: Baden, Alsace, Pfalz, Rheinhessen (Aug 28 - Sept 03).

Picture: At Weingut Müller-Catoir in Neustadt-Haardt (Pfalz)

We will experience the warm, sunny, southernmost, German wine regions and Germany’s Pinot Noir country. Did you know that Germany is the world’s 3rd largest Pinot Noir producer? We will visit Germany’s unconventional, but exceptionally gifted winemakers and taste gorgeous Pinot Noir - on par with the best of Burgundy, only less strenuous on your wallet -, and of course also taste beautiful whites, Rieslings, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris and other white varietals. We learn about and taste the differences of the German and Alsatian wines, grown just on opposite sides of the Rhine river, when we spend 1 1/2 days and also a night in beautiful, incredible picturesque Alsace with its quaint half-timbered houses. We dine at Michelin starred restaurants reflecting southern Germany’s affinity with Haut Cuisine, and proximity to France.

To get an idea about this tour, please read and look at the pictures: http://schiller-wine.blogspot.com/2015/10/germany-south-tour-by-ombiasy-winetours.html This article is a summary of last year’s tour.

For all details on the 2016 tour, please go to: https://ombiasypr.com/index.php/tours-2016/germany-south-2016/germany-south-2016-itinerary There also is a pricing and registration page on the website.

Feel free to contact me by email (aschiller@ombiasypr.com) or by phone: {US: (703) 459 7513}; {Europe: 0049 177 337 0281} at any time for further questions. Please note that I only take 10 people on these tours so that the experience remains very personal and for you to have access to famous wineries / domaines, and to meet the owners / winemakers.

2) Winemaker Dinner and Tastings with Ernie Loosen, Weingut Dr. Loosen, in Washington DC on April 8 to 11

Picture: Annette Schiller, Ernst Loosen and Christian G.E. Schiller at the 2013 Rheingau Riesling Gala at Kloster Eberbach, Rheingau, Germany

Ernie Loosen, one of Germany’s most iconic winemakers and owner of Dr. Loosen winery in Bernkastel in the Mosel wine region and owner of J. Christopher winery in Oregon, is coming to town.

Please welcome Ernie when he presents his wines at a dinner on April 11, at 7 pm at Range. Chef Bryan Voltaggio, one of the best chefs of the region, created a menu perfectly matching Ernie’s wines. The dinner is 130 $ plus tax and gratuity. For details on the menu, and the wines, and how to sign up, please see here.

Before the dinner, Ernie will drop by MacArthur's for a wine tasting. See MacArthur’s website www.bassins.com for updates.

At 11 am on April 11, Ernie will host a trade seminar at Cork Market on 14th Street. The seminar is by inviation only. At the seminar, Ernie will pour his new ultra-premium dry wines. See: A New Dr. Loosen Project Setting the Standard for Dry German Rieslings

Finally, on April 8, 9 and 12, Ernie will host a series of tastings at different Wegmans locations in the Washington DC area. 7 wines will be poured with light food pairings. 30 $. See here for more information.

I am so excited to experience Bryan Voltaggio’s food and Ernie’s wines. Looking forward to sharing this evening with many of you and to also traveling with some of you on the 2016 tours to show you what kind of gorgeous wines Germany and Alsace have to offer.

CHEERS

Annette

schiller-wine: Related Postings

Germany-East Wine and Art Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Bourgogne Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), France

Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), France

Announcement: 5 Exciting ombiasy WineTours in 2016 - BURGUNDY BORDEAUX GERMANY

Coming-up: 2016 Spring Tours by ombiasy WineTours to Germany and the Bourgogne, Germany/ France

Seven Day Wine Tour to German Wine Country: Heart’s Delight Wine Tasting and Auction (2015), Washington DC, USA

A New Dr. Loosen Project Setting the Standard for Dry German Rieslings

Picture: The Germany-North Wine Tour by ombiasy 2014 Group at the Roter Hang in Nierstein

Picture: The Germany-South Wine Tour by ombiasy 2014 Group at Weingut A. Christmann in the Pfalz, with Owner (and VDP President) Steffen Christmann

This posting provides a listings of all postings that I issued concerning the 2 ombiasy WineTours that took place in 2014, both lead by Annette Schiller: The Germany-North Wine Tour by ombiasy (2014) and the Germany-South Wine Tour by ombiasy (2014)

Germany-North Wine Tour by ombiasy (2014)

The Germany-North Wine Tour by ombiasy (September 4 – 13, 2014) was the first of two German wine tours in 2014, both organized by Annette Schiller. On the Germany-North Wine Tour by ombiasy in 2014, we visited a total of 18 wineries (14 members of the VDP, the German association of elite wine makers) in 6 different wine regions where predominantly white grapes are planted: Saale-Unstrut, which is the most northern German wine region and former GDR territory; Franken and its signature grape Silvaner; Rheingau with its perfect, elegant, racy Rieslings; Northern Rheinhessen where a variety of white grapes and also Pinot Noir grow; Mosel with its dizzying steep vineyards and famous Rieslings; Nahe and its serene, peaceful valley where perfect harmonious wines reflect their roots.

Germany-North Wine Tour by ombiasy, 2014

Weingut Pawis (Saale Unstrut): Estate Tour and Wine Tasting with Kerstin Pawis– Germany-North Wine Tour by ombiasy (2014)

Weingut Kloster Pforta: Vineyard Tour, Cellar Tour and Tasting with Managing Director Christian Kloss – Germany-North Wine Tour by ombiasy (2014)

Winzerhof Gussek in the Saale Unstrut Region: Cellar Tour, Vineyard Tour and Tasting with Owner and Winemaker André Gussek – Germany-North Wine Tour by ombiasy (2014)

Tour and Tasting at the Historic Weingut Juliusspital in Würzburg, Franken– Germany-North Wine Tour by ombiasy (2014)

Weingut Bickel-Stumpf in Franken: Vineyard Walk and Wine Tasting with Reimund Stumpf, Matthias Stumpf and Melanie Stumpf-Kröger - Germany-North Wine Tour by ombiasy (2014)

Kiedrich: Visit of the Basilica of Saint Valentine and of Weingut Robert Weil - Germany-North Wine Tour by ombiasy (2014)

Kloster Eberbach in the Rheingau: Tour and Wine Tasting - Germany-North Wine Tour by ombiasy (2014)

Wining in the Steinberg Vineyard– Germany-North Wine Tour by ombiasy (2014)

Visit: Winzerhof Thörle in Saulheim, Rheinhessen – Germany-North Wine Tour by ombiasy (2014)

Wine Tasting at Weingut Kühling-Gillot in Bodenheim: Kühling-Gillot and Battenfeld-Spanier Wines– Germany-North Wine Tour by ombiasy (2014)

Vineyard Walk, Cellar Tour and Wine Tasting at Weingut Künstler– Germany-North Wine Tour by ombiasy (2014)

One of the Bio-dynamic Stars in Germany: Weingut Peter Jakob Kühn in Östrich, Winkel– Germany-North Wine Tour by ombiasy (2014)

In the Mittelrhein Valley, an UNESCO World Heritage Region – Germany-North Wine Tour by ombiasy (2014)

Vineyard Tour and Wine Tasting at Weingut Clemens Busch– Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2014)

Cellar Tour and Wine Tasting at Weingut Selbach-Oster in Zeltingen, Mosel, with Johannes Selbach – Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2014)

Cellar Tour and Wine Tasting at Weingut Von Hövel in Konz, Saar Valley, Mosel, with Owner and Winemaker Max von Kunow - Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2014)

Lunch and Wine Tasting at Weingut Reichsgraf von Kesselstatt in Morscheid, Mosel with Owner Annegret Reh-Gartner – Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2014)

Wine Tasting and Cellar Tour at Weingut Dönnhoff with Christina Dönnhoff– Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2014)

Lunch and Wine Tasting with Georg Rumpf, Weingut Kruger-Rumpf, Nahe Valley – Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2014)

Tasting with Sylvain Taurisson Diel at Schlossgut Diel, Nahe– Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2014)

Blind Tasting of Top Wines from Rheinhessen with Roland Ladendorf at Weinhaus Bluhm in Mainz– Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2014)

Tour, Tasting, and Lunch at Weingut Schätzel in Nierstein, Rheinhessen– Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2014)

Germany-South Wine Tour by ombiasy (2014)

The Germany-South Wine Tour by ombiasy (September 14 – 20, 2014) was the second of two wine tours in Germany in 2014, both organized by Annette Schiller.

We visited a total of 17 wineries (12 members of the VDP, the German association of elite wine makers; 1 in Alsace) in 3 different wine regions where predominantly grapes other than Riesling are planted: Baden, the most southern German wine region and Germany’s answer to Burgundy; Pfalz with its almost Mediterranean climate and voluptuous whites and reds; Southern Rheinhessen where a variety of white grapes and also Pinot-Noir grow.

4 Wine Tours by ombiasy coming up in 2015: Germany-East, Germany-South. Germany-Nord and Bordeaux

Bourgogne Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), France

Germany-East Wine and Art Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Germany-North Wine Tour by ombiasy, 2014

Germany-South Wine Tour by ombiasy, 2014

German Wine and Culture Tour by ombiasy, 2013

In the Vineyard and the Wine Cellar (and Lunch) with Robert Schätzle, Owner and Winemaker, Weingut Schloss Neuweier in Baden – Germany-South Wine Tour by ombiasy (2014)

Wine Tasting Luncheon at 1 Star Michelin Röttele's Restaurant im Schloss Neuweier in Baden, with Winemaker Robert Schätzle and his Weingut Schloss Neuweier Wines – Germany-South Wine Tour by ombiasy (2014)

Weingut Zähringer in Baden: Cellar Tour and Tasting with Winemaker Paulin Köpfer– Germany-South Wine Tour by ombasy (2014)

Weingut Freiherr von Gleichenstein in Baden: Tour and Tasting with Baron Johannes von Gleichenstein– Germany-South Wine Tour by ombiasy (2014), Germany

Weingut Franz Keller in Oberbergen, Kaiserstuhl, Baden: Cellar Tour and Tasting with Fritz Keller– Germany-South Wine Tour by ombiasy (2014)

Lunch at Restaurant Schwarzer Adler in Oberbergen, with Weingut Franz Keller Wines – Germany-South Wine Tour by ombiasy (2014)

Wine Tasting at Weingut Bernhard Huber– Germany-South Wine Tour by ombiasy (2014)

Visit: Weingut Dr. Heger in Baden – Germany-South Wine Tour by ombiasy (2014)

Weingut Karl-Heinz Johner in Baden: Cellar Tour and Tasting with Karl-Heinz and Patrick Johner – Germany-South Wine Tour by ombiasy (2014)

At Maison Trimbach in Alsace with Hubert Trimbach – Germany-South Wine Tour by ombiasy (2014)

Wine Tasting at Weingut Friedrich Becker – Germany-South Wine Tour by ombiasy (2014)

Lunch, Wine Tasting and Winery Tour at Weingut Jülg in Schweigen, Pfalz with the Jülg Family – Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2014)

Wine Tasting at Weingut Ökonomierat Rebholz in Siebeldingen, Pfalz – Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2014)

Cellar Tour and Wine Tasting at Weingut Geheimer Rat Dr. von Bassermann-Jordan in Deidesheim with General Manager Gunther Hauck – Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2014)

Winery Tour and Wine Tasting at Weingut A. Christmann, with Steffen Christmann– Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2014)

Wine Tasting at Weingut Weegmüller with Stephanie and Gabriele Weegmüller – Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2014)

Tasting the Wines, President Obama was Served: Visit of Weingut Markus Schneider, Pfalz – Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2014)

Cellar Tour and Wine Tasting with Philipp Wittmann and Eva Clüsserath-Wittmann at Weingut Wittmann in Westhofen – Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2014)

Winetasting with Katharina Wechser, Weingut K. Wechsler, Westhofen, Rheinhessen – Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2014)

Wine Tasting at Weingut Gunderloch in Nackenheim, with Owners and Winemaker Fritz Hasselbach and Agnes Hasselbach-Usinger – Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2014)

Picture: Christian Schiller, Phil Bernstein and Annette Schiller

The annual “New German Vintage” tasting of the German Wine Society (Washington DC Chapter) around February/March/April, led by Phil Bernstein, is always a highlight for the German wine aficionados in the Washington DC area. Phil Bernstein is very entertaining and knowledgeable about German wine. He knows more about German wine than many of my wine friends in Germany. He is in charge of German wines at MacArthur Beverages, one of the best German wine retailers in the country.

This year again, we were at full capacity with 60 German wine lovers attending. Thank you very much Phil for a great event.

Pictures: German Wine Society (Washington DC Chapter) President Carl Willner Opening the Event, with Phil Bernstein and David Wendler, Event Organizer

Grosses Gewächs (GG), Kabinett, Spätlese and Auslese

The MacArthur German wine portfolio represents very well the traditional, classic German wine selection in the US market: Heavy on wines from the Mosel region, heavy on Riesling and heavy on wines with residual sweetness. Accordingly, all the wines we tasted were Rieslings, 4 of the 11 wines were from the Mosel region and Kabinett, Spätlese and Auslese flights, with increasing residual sweetness, were at the center of the tasting. As a novelty this year, Phil Bernstein also featured prominently a Grosses Gewächs (GG) flight. GGs are the new category of ultra-premium dry German wines that are increasingly gaining popularity around the world. We started the tasting with 3 entry-level wines.

Pictures: The Tasting

As in previous years, Phil Bernstein did not present any red wines. Indeed, the MacArthur portfolio includes only a negligible number of red wines. Yet, about 1/3 of the Germany’s wine output is red wine. Germany has become one of the leading Pinot Noir producers in the world. At a recent Decanter (the British wine journal) tasting of Pinot Noirs around the world excluding Burgundy, a German Pinot Noir from the Ahr region (Weingut Jean Stodden) was selected has the best wine. But the US market is very slow in discovering what Germany now has to offer in terms of premium and ultra-premium red wines. German red wines are difficult to find in the US. Hopefully, this will change.

As in previous years, Phil Bernstein showed only Rieslings. Yet, Riesling accounts for only 1/3 of the German white wine production. 2/3 is accounted for by other grape varieties. Among the non-Riesling grape varieties, Grauburgunder (Pinot Gris) and Weissburgunder (Pinot Blanc) are increasingly being planted. Why bother with these other grape varieties, many German wine lovers in the US say. But Germany has become the #1 Pinot Blanc producer in the world and the #2 Pinot Gris producer in the world (as well as the #3 Pinot Noir producer in the world).

Unlike in previous years, a Grosses Gewächs (GG) flight figured prominently in Phil Bernstein’s tasting this year. GGs is the new category of ultra-premium wines dry wines of VDP producers, the association of about 200 elite wine producers in Germany.

Pictures: Phil Bernstein

What is a GG? In a nutshell, the VDP is moving to a classification system that resembles very much the classification system in the Bourgogne. The classification of the VDP puts the terroir principle at the center of its classification approach. With the latest modifications of 2012, the absolutely finest vineyards are called Grosse Lage and dry wines from these super top vineyards are called Grosses Gewächs. Grosses Gewächs wines are the finest dry wines from Germany’s finest vineyards.

To qualify for the Grosses Gewächs label, a number of criteria need to be respected. (i) The fruit has to come from a Grosse Lage vineyard. (ii) At harvest, the grapes need to be at least at Spätlese level in terms of the sugar content. (iii) Only certain – typical - grape varieties are allowed, including Riesling and Spätburgunder. (iv) Further restrictions apply: there are yield restrictions; only hand picking of grapes is permitted and harvest must be late in the autumn.

Tasting

The 2014 Vintage in Germany

John Gilman calls the 2014, "A roller coaster of a year which turned out very, very well at the top estates and there are some absolutely superb wines in the pipeline that are going to delight lovers of classic German wines. The wines tend to be elegant and pure rather than powerful."

Terry Theise: “This is the vintage where you finally learn what the “H” stands for in Jesus H. Christ, because that’s what you’ll be saying over and over again.”

Starter

Picture: Annette Schiller Pouirng the 2014 Dragonstone Riesling Weingut Leitz

2014 Dragonstone Riesling Weingut Leitz (US$ 15.99)

Schatzi Wines: While Johannes’ dry wines solidified his reputation in Germany and throughout Europe, no other wine made him as popular in the US as did Dragonstone. Coming from the Rüdesheimer Drachenstein, the pure quartzite soil, being a silicate, lends a saltiness to the orange citrus-flavored wine which buffers the acidity and counterbalances the palpable sugar. When it was first produced, the residual sugar of this wine was near 80 grams/liter (2002 vintage); the wine now hovers around 40 grams/liter—the perfect balance for this style of wine. Hands down, Dragonstone is Josi’s most successful wine in the United States because it delivers a quality level well above its price point.

We have scheduled a visit of Weingut Johannes Leitz during the forthcoming Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2016): Announcement: 5 Exciting ombiasy WineTours in 2016 - BURGUNDY BORDEAUX GERMANY

Picture: Christian Schiller, Annette Schiller, Johannes Leitz and his Wife at Kloster Eberbach, Germany

Flight 1

2014 Graacher Riesling Weingut Willi Schäfer Feinherb (US19.99)

2014 Pur Mineral Riesling Weingut Fürst Trocken (US$26.99)

Picture: Tasting with Paul Fürst at Weingut Fürst. See: Tasting and Tour with the Pinot Noir Legend Paul Fürst, Weingut Rudolf Fürst in Bürgstadt, Franken– Germany-East Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Flight 2

2014 Hermannshöhle Riesling Weingut Dönnhoff Grosses Gewächs (US72.99)

Weingut Dönnhoff is in a transition period with Cornelius Dönnhoff taking over from his father Helmut and this is creating a bit of a discussion in German wine circles. While the leading German wine guide, Gault Millau Deutschland WeinGuide, demoted Weingut Dönnhoff and took away its 5th grape, New York and Berlin based Riesling expert Stuart Pigott made Cornelius Dönnhoff his Winemaker of the Year, see: Cornelius Dönnhoff, Weingut Dönnhoff: Stuart Pigott’s Winemaker of the Year, Germany

John Gilman: “Aromatic mélange of grapefruit, tart orange, slate, wild yeast, citrus peel. Really superb.”

Picture: Christian Schiller with Helmut Dönnhoff at Weingut Dönnhoff, see: Wine Tasting and Cellar Tour at Weingut Dönnhoff with Christina Dönnhoff– Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2014)

2014 Felseneck Riesling Weingut Schäfer Fröhlich Grosses Gewächs (US$69.99)

John Gilman: “Complex and very precise nose of grapefruit, lemon, smoke, slate, wild yeasts, citrus peel and topnote of lemongrass. Great, great juice.”

Flight 3

2014 Drohner Hofberg Weingut AJ Adam Riesling Kabinett (US$31.99)

Terry Theise: It's all steel; light and spicy, old-school Kab, really salty, high-pitched. There's even an agreeable tartness -and super length.

2014 Oberhauser Leistenberg Riesling Weingut Dönnhoff Kabinett (US24.99)

Terry Theise: What a fragrance! Palate is racy, mineral, charming and complex, begging drink-me! stunning finish.

Flight 4

2014 Felseneck Riesling Weingut Schäfer Fröhlich Spätlese (US39.99)

John Gilman: “Complex blend of white cherries, apple, wild yeasts, a profound base of slate, bee pollen and just a whisper of petrol. Great Spätlese in the making.”

2014 Felseneck Riesling Weingut Schäfer Fröhlich Spätlese Goldkapsel (US49.99)

John Gilman: “Electric bouquet of apple, pear, very complex slate tones, spring flowers, ornage zest. A brilliant wine.”

We have scheduled a visit of Weingut Schäfer-Fröhlich during the forthcoming Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2016): Announcement: 5 Exciting ombiasy WineTours in 2016 - BURGUNDY BORDEAUX GERMANY

Picture: Christian Schiller with Tim Froehlich, Weingut Schaefer-Froehlich, in Wiesbaden

Flight 5

2014 Rausch Riesling Weingut Zilliken Auslese (US79.99)

Weingut Zilliken is one of the few German wine producers that almost exclusively makes sweet-style wines and exports about 90% of its wines. It will be interesting to see, if this approach continues with Dorothea Zilliken taking over from her father Hanno Zilliken, see: Dorothee Zilliken, Weingut Forstmeister Geltz-Zilliken Presents her Noble Rieslings at Frankfurt/Wein in Frankfurt, Germany

John Gilman: “Lovely bouquet of pineapple, lemon, honeycomb, salty soil tones, white flowers and a dollop of slate minerality in the upper register. Beautiful.”

We have scheduled a visit of Weingut Zilliken during the forthcoming Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2016): Announcement: 5 Exciting ombiasy WineTours in 2016 - BURGUNDY BORDEAUX GERMANY

Picture: Christian Schiller and Dorothee Zillike, Weingut Forstmeister Geltz-Zilliken, at Frankfurt/Wein in Frankfurt, Germany. See: Dorothee Zilliken, Weingut Forstmeister Geltz-Zilliken Presents her Noble Rieslings at Frankfurt/Wein in Frankfurt, Germany

2014 Niederberg Helden Riesling Weingut Schloss Lieser Thomas Haag Auslese Goldkapsel (US73.99)

John Gilman: “Botrytis influenced. Complex and beautiful glazed nose of peach, tangerine, flowers, slate, honeycomb and citrus zest. Fine juice.”

We have scheduled a visit of Weingut Schloss Lieser during the forthcoming Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2016): Announcement: 5 Exciting ombiasy WineTours in 2016 - BURGUNDY BORDEAUX GERMANY

Picture: Thomas Haag, Weingut Schloss Lieser, and Christian G.E. Schillerin Mainz. See: Thomas Haag, Weingut Schloss Lieser, Germany’s Winemaker of the Year, Gault Millau WeinGuide Deutschland 2015

Previous Years'“New German Vintage” Tastings of the German Wine Society (Washington DC Chapter)

For previous years, see:

German Riesling - What the American Market Wants: Vintage 2013 Tasting with German Wine Expert Phil Bernstein, MacArthur Beverages, Washington DC

The Annual “New German Vintage” Tasting of the German Wine Society (Washington DC Chapter) led by Phil Bernstein - 2012 Vintage, Germany/USA

German Wine: Tasting with Phil Bernstein of MacArthur Beverages the 2011 Vintage in Washington DC, USA

The 2010 Vintage Tasting of the German Wine Society (Aaron Nix-Gomez)

Phil Bernstein’s Third Annual German Riesling Tasting with the German Wine Society, Washington DC Chapter - Rieslings With a Touch of Sweetness

Pictures: President Carl Willner Closing the 2016 Event

schiller-wine: Related Postings

Germany-East Wine and Art Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Announcement: 5 Exciting ombiasy WineTours in 2016 - BURGUNDY BORDEAUX GERMANY

Tasting and Tour with the Pinot Noir Legend Paul Fürst, Weingut Rudolf Fürst in Bürgstadt, Franken– Germany-East Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Dorothee Zilliken, Weingut Forstmeister Geltz-Zilliken Presents her Noble Rieslings at Frankfurt/Wein in Frankfurt, Germany

Thomas Haag, Weingut Schloss Lieser, Germany’s Winemaker of the Year, Gault Millau WeinGuide Deutschland 2015

Picture: Chris Comfort and Justin Bryan, both Traubenhaus, with Dinner Guests

Annette Schiller and I had the pleasure to join Justin Bryan and his Traubenhaus team, a leading German wine importer/ distributor/ online retailer in Texas, for a German Wine and Food Dinner at the Omni Barton Creek Report and Spa in Austin on Monday, March 21, 2016. It was a great celebration of the wines and the foods of Germany.

Pictures: Austin

Interestingly, the wines at the Austin dinner, which took place 3 days after a major wine tasting of German wines with Phil Bernstein, from Mac Arthur Beverages, a leading wine retailer for German wine on the US East Coast if not in the whole of the country, were very different from the wines which were poured in Washington DC. In a nutshell: The Washington DC tasting was representing the traditional US market for German wine, while the Austin German Wine and Food dinner was representing the “New Germany”.

See:
Phil Bernstein of MacArthur Beverages Presents the new Vintage (2014) to the German Wine Society (Washington DC Chapter), USA/ Germany
The New Germany (from an American Perspective): Dry, Red and Sparkling – Tasting at the American Wine Society with Annette Schiller, USA/ Germany
At Weingut Matthias Müller, Mittelrhein, with Traubenhaus, their US-Importer, Germany

Pictures: Omni Barton Creek Report and Spa in Austin, Texas

To begin with, while in Washington DC, all the wines poured were Rieslings, none of the wines at the Austin dinner were Rieslings. Instead, the Pinot grape varieties dominated the tasting in Austin, with Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Noir being poured. Riesling accounts for 1/3 of the German white wine production. 2/3 is accounted for by other grape varieties. Among the non-Riesling white grape varieties, Grauburgunder (Pinot Gris) and Weissburgunder (Pinot Blanc) are increasingly being planted. And Germany has become the #1 Pinot Blanc producer in the world and the #2 Pinot Gris producer (after Italy) in the world. The American consumers are increasingly discovering these wines from Germany.

Pictures: Reception

While in Washington DC, the Mosel accounted for a substantial part of the tasting, we did not drink any Mosel wine in Austin. Instead, most of the wines came from the Pfalz. In a way, the Pfalz, as Justin Bryan explained, is an extension of the Alsace region into Germany. In fact, some of the vineyards of one of the presented Pfalz producer (Weingut Nauerth-Gnagy) are located across the border in Alsace, France.

We had no red wine in Washington DC. In Austin, red wines played a major role. Indeed, the most expensive wine in Austin was a Pinot Noir from the Ahr region. About 1/3 of the Germany’s wine output is red wine. Germany has become one of the leading Pinot Noir producers in the world. At a recent tasting of Pinot Noirs around the world excluding Burgundy), organized by the Decanter Wine Journal, a German Pinot Noir from the Ahr region (Weingut Jean Stodden) was selected as the best wine. But the US market is very slow in discovering what Germany now has to offer in terms of premium and ultra-premium red wines. German red wines are difficult to find in the US. At the Austin German Wine and Food Dinner, we had 2 Pinot Noirs from the Ahr region.

Finally, while the majority of the wines in Washington DC had residual sweetness, in Austin, all wines were bone-dry, except for the last wine, which was poured with the dessert. See below on the question if German wine culture is dry or sweet.

Pictures: Dinner

Traubenhaus

Traubenhaus is a relatively new, Texas-based importer/ distributor/ retailer of German wine. The two key-persons in the company are Germany-based Paul Steinbach and Texas-based Justin Bryan. They met a few years ago in Germany, when Justin was working in Germany, and decided to create a German wine import company in Texas. The company has an interesting and expanding portfolio. Ultimately, they want to become the leading importer of German wine in the US, with winemakers from all 13 German wine regions in their portfolio, said Paul.

The third owner is Chris Comfort, in charge of IT, who I met in Austin. Also present at the event was Abigail Perry, the new Austin representative of Traubenhaus.

Pictures: Chris Comfort and Abigail Perry, both Traubenhaus

Recently, Paul and Bryan visited their German producers and invited me to join them. I was able to come along on their visit of Weingut Matthias Müller in Spay in the Mittelrhein.

Traubenhaus: Our selection of German wine, most of which was previously unavailable in the United States, represents a wide range of grape varietals and styles from top producers. Each wine is specially curated by our resident German wine expert, Paul Steinbach, to provide a characteristic German wine experience. Handmade, natural, exceptional—these are all qualities you can expect from the German wine presented by Traubenhaus.

Since 2007, Weingut Matthias Müller has been a member of the VDP, the association of about 200 German elite winemakers.

Pictures: Paul Steinbach and Justin Bryan, both Traubenhaus, and Annette Schiller, ombiasy WineTours, and Christian Schiller, schiller-wine, Visiting Weingut Matthias Müller, with Matthias and Johannes Müller. See: At Weingut Matthias Müller, Mittelrhein, with Traubenhaus, their US-Importer, Germany

About Chef Alice Gonzalez

Chef Alice Gonzalez’s personal food philosophy is “being true to yourself and evoking feeling through food,” says the staff at Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa.

After her initial culinary education at Johnson & Whales University, in Providence, Rhode Island, where she graduated with honors, Chef Gonzalez continued her education working in different cities throughout the United States and the United Kingdom. Inter alia, she worked under Chef Todd English at the Olives restaurant in Charlestown and under Chefs Grant Achatz and Dave Beran at Alinea in Chicago. Before joining the Barton Creek Resort & Spa’s culinary team in May 2015, Chef Gonzalez was the Executive Sous Chef at Morimoto Napa under Chef Kang Kaun.

Pictures: Chef Alice Gonzalez and MD Bob Peckenpaugh

Celebrating the Wines and Foods of Germany

appetizer
German Sausages, Wurst, Mustards and Breads Station
Wine Pairing: 2014 Nauerth-Gnagy Pinot Noir Dry Rosé

Pictures: appetizer and 2014 Nauerth-Gnagy Pinot Noir Dry Rosé

dinner

Pictures: Justin Bryan Welcoming the Dinner Guests, with Chris Comfort and Abigail Perry, all Traubenhaus

Pictures: Dinner - A Celebration of Germany

first course
Skate Schnitzel
Wine Pairing: 2012 Weegmüller Pinot Blanc

Pictures: first course and 2012 Weegmüller Pinot Blanc

Pictures: At Weingut Weegmüller in the Pfalz, with Stephanie Weegmüller. See: Wine Tasting at Weingut Weegmüller with Stephanie and Gabriele Weegmüller – Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2014)

second course
Smoked Braised Pork, Cabbage, Marble Potatoes, Onion Stew
Wine Pairing: 2012 Nauert-Gnagy Pinot Gris

Pictures: second course and 2012 Nauert-Gnagy Pinot Gris

main course
Veal Loin, Pretzel-Crust, Mustard Brussels Sprouts
Wine Pairing: 2012 Winzergenossenschaft Mayschoss-Altenahr XII Trauben Pinot Noir

Pictures: main course and 2012 Winzergenossenschaft Mayschoss-Altenahr XII Trauben Pinot Noir

dessert
Black Forest Torte, Kirsch Ganache, Luxardo Gourmet Cherries
Wine Pairing: 2012 Winzergenossenchaft Mayschoss-Altenahr Monchberg Vineyard Sweet Pinot Noir

Pictures: dessert and 2012 Winzergenossenchaft Mayschoss-Altenahr Monchberg Vineyard Sweet Pinot Noir

coffee

Picture: coffee

The German Wine Culture: Dry or Sweet or Both?

Terry Theise, in his most recent catalogue (Vintage 2014), addresses the issue of the German wine culture: Is it a dry wine culture or a sweet wine culture or both. Let me quote Terry Theise.

Terry Theise: … What I myself see, from the growers I visit and the restaurants I go to, and the stories I am told, Germany is not only a dry-wine culture, it is militantly and obsessively so. How many letters have I gotten from travelers to Germany who were promptly dismayed to find the utter hegemony of the Trocken style? I did not set these people up. They saw what I see. And what we see gives cause for grave concerns. The wines we love are threatened. … If you were dropped from the sky and landed in Germany you would conclude it is a dry wine culture.

Outside of Germany it is a not-dry wine culture, because we in other countries can perhaps see with greater perspective that the not-dry German Rieslings are a singular and precious gift to the world and to the cause of beauty.

… So the answer to the question, in truth is: It is both a sweet and a dry wine culture, but not if the Germans themselves have anything to say about it. Other than a few token dessert-wines they would just as soon see the sweet wines go extinct.

Pictures: Annette Schiller and Chris Comfort

In an earlier article “Can American Fans Save German Riesling” (Slate, October 19, 2011), Mike Steinberger argued similarly: … But in the 1970s and ’80s, German drinkers soured on sweetish Rieslings. It was during this period that Germany saw a proliferation of French-influenced restaurants, and consumers demanded dry wines. … Meanwhile, domestic demand for fruity Rieslings has effectively collapsed; German palates have been completely reoriented, and Rieslings with pronounced residual sugar are now outcasts in their own neighborhood. … The fruity style now is being kept alive, barely, by foreign consumers, and Americans in particular, which is another ironic twist to this story. … Theise told me that the only reason most of his producers continue to make sweetish Rieslings is because he keeps buying them—if he were to stop tomorrow, they would very likely cease production of these wines and turn out nothing but trocken bottlings.

schiller-wine: Related Postings

Germany-East Wine and Art Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Announcement: 5 Exciting ombiasy WineTours in 2016 - BURGUNDY BORDEAUX GERMANY

Phil Bernstein of MacArthur Beverages Presents the new Vintage (2014) to the German Wine Society (Washington DC Chapter), USA/ Germany

Wine Tasting at Weingut Weegmüller with Stephanie and Gabriele Weegmüller – Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2014)

At Weingut Matthias Müller, Mittelrhein, with Traubenhaus, their US-Importer, Germany

Picture: Annette and Christian Schiller with Sophie Schÿler Thierry from Château Kirwan

Heart’s Delight is an annual four-day celebration in Washington DC, USA, bringing together winemakers, celebrity chefs, gourmands, and wine enthusiasts to raise money for the American Heart Association. It is very much Bordeaux-centered, although American winemakers also participate.

The events are not cheap, but high-class and tax deductible (partly). Over the past 14 years, the events have raised over $12 million for the American Heart Association, helping to support research into the number one cause of death in the United States.

This year, Heart’s Delight took place from Wednesday, March 9 to Saturday March 12, 2016. Unusually this year, some of the events of the first day – Wednesday - will take place almost 6 weeks after the other events, on Wednesday, April 20, 2016.

As every year, there were exciting dinners with celebrity chefs and winemakers at embassies, private homes and top restaurants, tastings, receptions, after-dinner-parties as well as auctions.

At a special side event, Annette and Christian Schiller hosted Sophie Schÿler Thierry from Château Kirwan, a second growth, which is owned by the Schÿler family, at Evo Bistro in McLean, Virginia, for lunch.

Pictures: Sophie Schÿler Thierry from Château Kirwan at Evo Bistro in McLean, Virginia. See: Sophie Schÿler, Owner of Château Kirwan, 3ième Grand Cru Classé, Margaux, for a Wine Pairing Luncheon at Evo Bistro in McLean, with the Wines of RdV and Clemens Busch, USA/ France/ Germany

Program

Wednesday March 9 was the United States of Wine celebration showcasing American wine. A range of American wines were presented by owners and winemakers. It included a silent and live auction featuring wine from participating winemakers and exciting trips. This was followed by a byo - style Collectors Dinner celebration.

Thursday March 10 offered a series of intimate wine dinners with an international flair in homes, restaurants and Embassies with a host, chef and winemaker at each.

One of the highlights was the luncheon at the French Embassy.

Host: His Excellency, The Ambassador of France to the United States, Gérard Araud
Sponsor: General Dynamics
Wine: Château Montrose presented by Hervé Berland
Residence of the Ambassador of France, 24 guests - US$2,000/ticket

Friday, March 11: Vintners Dinner - This year, this evening featured a retrospective of the 16 years of Vintners Dinner history, including the wines of Château Mouton Rothschild, Château Haut-Brion, Château Cheval Blanc, Château Latour and Château Margaux. The dinner was followed by a live auction led by Sotheby’s Jamie Ritchie featuring wine directly from the cellars of our friends from Bordeaux in grand format. US$ 15.000 for a table of 8.

Picture: Annette Schiller, ombiasy WineTours, and Christian Schiller at a Heart's Delight Event in 2015. Hopefully, next year we will have a German Riesling producer participating in the event.

Saturday, March 12 began with a virtual tour of Bordeaux in the afternoon, including a wine tasting of the 2013 vintage. The adventure continued with exciting seminars and food prepared by some of the nation’s top chefs, making Heart’s Delight the place to discover the latest in epicurean trends and new talent. Guests could also bid on exclusive travel packages, dining experiences and rare and exceptional wines during the spirited silent and live auctions.

Pictures: Impressions from Heart’s Delight Wine Tasting and Auction 2015 (Source: Heart’s Delight Wine Tasting and Auction 2016)

Wednesday, April 20: Congress Has Heart: United States of Wine Reception - This Capitol Hill celebration will showcase some of the best in American wine and will host Members of Congress; some will be pouring wine from their home state. Special Invited Guest, Speaker Paul Ryan, will be presented with the Congress Has Heart Award. This will be followed by the New Vintage Reception for young professionals to network and learn more about the American Heart Association’s mission. These events are normally the first of the annual Heart’s Delight celebrations. This year, however, because of scheduling conflicts, these events will take place more than a month after the other events.

Auctions

During the events, there were live and silent auctions. Guests (as well as absent bidders) had the opportunity to bid on exclusive travel packages, dining experiences and rare and exceptional wines during the spirited silent and live auctions. ombiasyPR and WineTours donated a “Seven-Day Wine Tour through Germany’s Riesling Country”.

Auction Item #514: Seven-Day Wine Tour through Germany’s Riesling Country
Estimated value: US$4,200
Auction Item # 514
Donated by Ombiasy PR & Wine Tours

See:
Auction Item #514: Seven-Day Wine Tour through Germany’s Riesling Country - Heart’s Delight Wine Tasting and Auction (2016), Washington DC, USA

Picture: Kaub in the Mittelrhein Valley with the Castles Pfalzgrafenstein and Burg Gutenfels

This seven-day tour (May 5-11, 2016) lets you explore the regions that are quintessential to understand Riesling and the concept of terroir: The Rheingau, Mittelrhein, Ahr, Mosel, and Nahe wine regions. You will visit many picturesque wine towns and take a cruise on the romantic Rhine River with its castle- and vine-ribboned bank; the Mosel valley with its dizzying steep vineyards; delving into 2,000 years of history and tasting premium wines at 16 world-class wine estates, such as J.J. Prüm, Leitz, Molitor, Zilliken, and Meyer-Näkel. The tour starts and ends in Frankfurt am Main. You will travel with the husband and wife team Dr. Christian Schiller, wine writer, and Annette Schiller, organizer of wine classes, wine tours, and wine events. Their expert knowledge about German wines and their personal relationships with the wine estate owners and winemakers will give you an unparalleled, personal, and authentic experience and an inside view behind the scenes of premium German wineries.

Spot for 1 person. Flight to and from Frankfurt is not included in the tour. Six nights accommodation, transport in the wine regions, all visits and sightseeing, all wine tastings, and meals are included

Bordeaux Producers at Heart’s Delight 2016

Château Barde-Haut, Saint-Émilion, Hélène Garcin-Lévêque

Château Clos l’Église, Pomerol, Hélène Garcin-Lévêque

Château du Tertre, Margaux, Alexander van Beek

Château Gazin Rocquencourt, Pessac-Léognan, Véronique Bonnie-Laplane and Bruno Laplane

Picture: Annette Schiller and Véronique Bonnie-Laplane and Bruno Laplane

Château Giscours, Margaux, Alexander van Beek

Château Guiraud, Sauternes, Luc Planty

Château Kirwan, Margaux, Sophie Schÿler

Pictures: Sophie Schÿler-Tierry with Annette Schiller, Christian Schiller and Dave McIntyre from the Washington Post

Château Lafon-Rochet, Saint-Estèphe, Lucas Leclercq

Picture: Annette and Christian Schiller with Château Lafon-Rochet's Technical Dirirector Lucas Leclercq. See: A Tour and Tasting at Château Lafon-Rochet in Saint-Estèphe, Bordeaux, with Winemaker and Owner Basile Tesseron (2013), France

Château Lagrange, Saint-Julien, Charlotte Denjean

Château Lascombes, Margaux, Karine Barbier

Château Lynch-Bages, Pauillac, Stephen Bolger

Picture: Christian and Annette Schiller with Stephen Bolger of Château Lynch-Bages, Pauillac. See: Tour and Tasting at Château Lynch-Bages in Bages, Bordeaux, France

Château Malartic-Lagravière, Pessac-Léognan, Véronique Bonnie-Laplane and Bruno Laplane

Château Montrose, St.-Estephe, Hervé Berland

Picture: Christian and Annette Schiller with Hervé Berland of Château Montrose, St.-Estephe

Château Phélan Ségur, Saint-Estèphe, Pamela Wittman

schiller-wine - Related Postings

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Auction Item #514: Seven-Day Wine Tour through Germany’s Riesling Country - Heart’s Delight Wine Tasting and Auction (2016), Washington DC, USA

Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux (UGC) on the 2016 North America Tour - Schiller’s Favorites

Sophie Schÿler, Owner of Château Kirwan, 3ième Grand Cru Classé, Margaux, for a Wine Pairing Luncheon at Evo Bistro in McLean, with the Wines of RdV and Clemens Busch, USA/ France/ Germany

A Tour and Tasting at Château Lafon-Rochet in Saint-Estèphe, Bordeaux, with Winemaker and Owner Basile Tesseron (2013), France

Tour and Tasting at Château Lynch-Bages in Bages, Bordeaux, France

Tour at Tonnellerie Berger and Fils: How is a Barrique Made? Bordeaux, France

Picture: Annette and Christian Schiller in Texas

Texas, which has the size of France, is the No. 7 grape producing and the No. 5 wine producing state in the US. By law, a wine can carry the Texas name if at least 75% of the juice is harvested from the state.

Texas is the site of the first vineyard established in North America by Spanish missionaries circa 1662, long before California. As European settlers followed the development of mission outposts, they brought more grapevine cuttings, further expanding the industry through the 1800s. Following prohibition, it was not until the 1970s that there was a renewed interest in winemaking in Texas.

Pictures: Austin

Today, Texas has over 4,400 acres of producing vineyard farmland. The state boasts 8 American Viticultural Areas (AVA), although many vineyards exist outside the specified AVAs. The vineyard farmland is expanding rapidly. This is partly the result of pressure on water supplies in Texas, encouraging cotton growers to switch to grapes, as the latter use only one quarter of the amount of water per acre than cotton does.

Picture: Map of Texas

There are 350 wineries in Texas, ranging from small producers who concentrate on tourism for their sales to large wineries who have developed state and, only to a very limited extent, national markets.

The Val Verde Winery in Del Rio is the longest operating winery in the state, founded in the 1880s by Frank Qualia, a Northern Italian immigrant. There were at least 20 wineries in Texas before prohibition, but only Val Verde survived.

Pictures: Fredricksburg in the Texas Hill Country

American Viticultural Areas (AVA)

Texas High Plains: Located west of Lubbock in the Panhandle at an elevation of 3000-4000 feet, the climate of this appellation is very dry. The Texas High Plains AVA grows over 80% of Texas’ wine grapes, although the state’s wineries are concentrated in the Texas Hill Country.

Texas Hill Country: Located west of Austin and San Antonio, this appellation, like Texas, is large. It is the second largest AVA in the USA. Two smaller appellations, listed below, have been designated within the Texas Hill Country due to the unique microclimates they embody. Many wineries are located in this scenic area.

Pictures: At Tasting Room of Narrow Path Winery in Fredericksburg

Bell Mountain: Designated in 1986, it is the first established AVA in Texas, covering five square acres about 15 miles north of Fredricksburg within the Texas Hill Country.

Fredricksburg: This viticultural area covers about 110 acres and is located in the Texas Hill Country

Escondido Valley: This appellation established in 1992 covers 50 square miles in Pecos County in far West Texas, located near Fort Stockton

Pictures: At Tasting Room of Fiesta Winery in Fredericksburg

Mesilla Valley: Located at the far western tip of the Texas border north and west of El Paso, this area is hot and dry with a long growing season.

Texas Davis Mountains: This west Texas appellation is cool and wet at an elevation ranging from 4,500 to 8,300 feet.

Texoma: Located in north-central Texas, this area contains approximately 3,650 square miles along the Texas-Oklahoma line.

Pictures: At Texas Wine Cellars Beer and Tasting Room in Fredericksburg

Grape Varieties

Harvest time in Texas is normally around the end of July - 2 months earlier than in California and 3 months earlier than in Europe.

In the High Plains, where 80% of Texas grapes are grown, the near-desert humidity produces low disease pressure, although there are other problems like late-spring frosts and severe hail storms. Vitis vinifera varieties are widespread in the High Plains.

Pictures: At Tasting Room of Grape Greek Vineyards in Fredericksburg

Pictures: At Grape Greek Vineyards on the Route from Fredericksburg to Austin in Texas Hill Country

Initially in the 1970s, as far as vitis vinifera grape varieties are concerned, the focus was on grapes that had been successful in Bordeaux and in the Bourgogne, including Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. Over time, the focus shifted to Rhône varieties, including Shiraz, Grenache and Mourvedre and non-French varieties, including Tempranillo, Sangiovese, Viognier and Albariño.

Virtually nobody grows Pinot Noir anymore. Chardonnay is challenging to grow because it buds out early in the season, which makes the grapes subject to late spring freezes.

In the south and east of Texas, a band of Pierce’s Disease susceptibility (a fatal bacterial disease that can affect an entire vineyard) runs from the Louisiana border down the Gulf coast to Houston. That is the area where Blanc du Bois and Lenoir plantings are most common. Blanc du Bois is a hybrid grape with Italian Muscat in its heritage. Lenoir is of American heritage.

Pictures: At Becker Vineyards on the Route from Fredericksburg to Austin in Texas Hill Country

Sparkling Wine

In terms of sparkling wines, both the charmat and the methode traditionelle are being used in the small but expanding Texas sparkling wine industry.

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Picture: Annette Schiller and Johannes Bürkle Looking for the Hessische Bergstrasse Region on the Map

The visit of Weingut Simon-Bürkle in Zwingenberg was the last event of the Germany-East Wine and Art Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015).

Johannes Bürkle was our host.

Pictures: Arriving at Weingut Simon-Bürkle

Weingut Simon-Bürkle

This is a very young winery by German standards. It was founded in 1991 by two friends who shared a common devotion to and philosophy of winemaking. The late Kurt Simon and the late Wilfried Bürkle met during their studies at the Weinsberg Viticultural School, and upon completion of their studies they decided to start a winery. Their obsession with quality brought the winery to the top of what the Bergstrasse has to offer. After the untimely death of Kurt Simon in 2003, his wife Dagmar continued his work together with Wilfried Bürkle.

Pictures: Annette Schiller with Dagmar Simon and Johannes Bürkle

In 2013 Wilfried Bürkle passed away and many asked what will become of this winery without the two founding shakers and movers. Wilfried’s son Johannes studied winemaking and together with Dagmar Simon they continue the legacy. In the just released Gault & Millau 2015: "This year again no other winery at the Hessische Bergstrasse produced wines showing the pronounced characteristics of the different grape varieties and vineyards in this way."

11 hectares

Vineyards: Alte Burg, Steingeröll (Zwingenberg), Schöntal (Alsbach), Höllberg (Auerbach).

Grape varieties: Riesling (50%), Gewürztraminer, Muskateller, Silvaner, Grauburgunder, Weißburgunder and Scheurebe as well as Spätburgunder, Cabernet Sauvignon, St. Laurent and Lemberger.

Pictures: Tasting with Johannes Bürkle

The Wines we Tasted

2009 Weingut Simon-Bürkle Zwingenberger Steingeröll Riesling Sekt brut

2012 Weingut Simon-Bürkle Zwingenberger Steingeröll Riesling Spätlese trocken
2012 Weingut Simon-Bürkle Zwingenberger Steingeröll Muskateller trocken
2014 Weingut Simon-Bürkle Alsbacher Schöntal Auxerrois trocken
2014 Weingut Simon-Bürkle Alsbacher Schöntal Silvaner trocken

2013 Weingut Simon-Bürkle Zwingenberger Spätburgunder trocken
2012 Weingut Simon-Bürkle Zwingenberger Steingeröll Lemberger barrique trocken
2013 Weingut Simon-Bürkle Auerbacher Höllberg Riesling Auslese

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Tasting at Weingut Lützkendorf with Uwe Lützkendorf – Germany-East Wine and Art Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Weingut Pawis (Saale Unstrut): Estate Tour and Wine Tasting with Markus Pawis – Germany-East Wine and Art Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Weingut Thürkind in Gröst, Saale-Unstrut: Tour, Tasting and Lunch – Germany-East Wine and Art Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Schiller's Favorite Winemakers in the Saale Unstrut Region, Germany

Weingut Schloss Proschwitz, Prinz zur Lippe, in Zadel, Sachsen: Tour and Tasting with Prinz zur Lippe – Germany-East Wine and Art Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Dining with Prinz zur Lippe, Owner of Weingut Schloss Proschwitz, at the Lippe’sches Gutshaus - Germany-East Wine and Art Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Weingut Karl Friedrich Aust in Radebeul, Sachsen: Tour and Lunch with Tasting – Germany-East Wine and Art Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Visit of Weingut Klaus Zimmerling: The Wines of Klaus Zimmerling and the Art of his Wife Malgorzata Chodakoska - Germany-East Wine and Art Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Schiller's Favorite Winemakers in Sachsen (Saxony), Germany

Tour and Tasting at Weingut Wirsching in Iphofen in Franken with General Manager Uwe Matheus– Germany-East Wine and Art Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Visit and Tasting at Weingut Am Stein Ludwig Knoll in Würzburg, Franken - Germany-East Wine and Art Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Tasting and Tour with the Pinot Noir Legend Paul Fürst, Weingut Rudolf Fürst in Bürgstadt, Franken– Germany-East Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Schiller’s Favorites: 2 Legendary Wine Taverns in Würzburg – Juliusspital and Bürgerspital

Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut Graf Neipperg in Schwaigern, Württemberg – Germany-East Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Tasting at Weingut Dautel in Württemberg with Christian Dautel - Germany-East Wine and Art Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Wine Pairing Dinner at Restaurant Friedrich von Schiller in Bietigheim-Bissingen in Württemberg– Germany-East Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut Herzog von Württemberg at Schloss Monrepos with Owner Duke Michael of Württemberg and Winemaker Moriz Just – Germany-East Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Vineyard Tour, Cellar Tour and Tasting with Rainer Schnaitmann at Weingut Rainer Schnaitmann in Fellbach, Württemberg – Germany-East Wine and Art Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), Germany

Wine Tasting at Weingut Simon-Bürkle in Zwingenberg, Hessische Bergstrasse

Announcement: 5 Exciting ombiasy WineTours in 2016 - BURGUNDY BORDEAUX GERMANY

Picture: Nicolas Rossignol, Owner and Winemaker at Domaine Rossignol in the Bourgogne and Christian Schiller

Nicolas Rossignol, Owner and Winemaker at Domaine Rossignol in the Bourgogne, was in town (Washington DC) and I had the pleasure to wine and dine with him at la Bergerie in Alexandria, a leading French restaurant in the Washington DC area. The evening was orchestrated by 3 Laurents: Laurent Janowsky, owner of La Bergerie, and Laurent Givry and Laurent Lala, both from Elite Wines, Importer and Distributor of the wines of Domaine Rossignol.

Domaine Nicolas Rossignol

Nicolas Rossignol is one of the best examples of a new generation of Burgundy wine makers whose great wines lie in the future rather than the past, entering the fray in 1994. Born in 1974, he represents the 5th generation of vine growers on the soils of Volnay. After completing his technical formation at the enology school in Beaune, Nicolas put his knowledge into practice, staging at Domaine Joseph Voillot in Volnay, Domaine Louis Latour in Ardeche and Domaine Vieux Telegraphe in Chateauneuf-du-Pape. Anxious to learn other farming and winemaking techniques, he went to work in South Africa at Domaine Boschendal Stellenbosch in 1995, followed by Château Cardonne, owned by Château Lafite-Rothchild in Bordeaux.

Pictures: Getting Ready - Laurent Lala, Nicolas Rossignol and Laurent Givry

Upon his return home to his family’s Domaine (Rossignol-Jeanniard) Nicolas began vinifying in 1994. However, it was not long before he started his own Estate. In 1997, he acquired approximately 7.5 acres spread over the communes of Volnay, Pommard, Beaune, Aloxe-Corton and Pernand- Vergelesses. In 1998, he increased his vineyard holdings by about 3.5 acres.

Today, Nicolas makes wine from his own 17 acre estate, as well as from his fathers's vineyards.

Pinot File: Nicolas Rossignol is one of the best examples of the new generation of winemakers in Burgundy. The wines go through a long fermentation (4 weeks, during which 1 to 2 weeks of cold pre-fermentation). He uses moderate amounts of new oak. The wines are bottled without fining or filtering.

Pictures: Nicolas Rossignol

Christopher Massie on Wine: The wine-making style Nicolas prefers can be best described as “sophisticated” – to borrow a term from Allen Meadows of Burghound, who describes these wines precisely as such. Towards producing wines of classic proportions, offering intense levels of the purist fruit as well as silky tannins and laser-focused transparency, he utilizes whole clusters during fermentation. Nicolas prefers the sweetness this method imparts to the finished wines (ala Jayer), but also stresses that this method must be avoided in vintages where the stems are not ripe.

Bergman’s Bourgogne: Nicolas Rossignol has a firm grip on Volnay and Pommard, the two villages just south of Beaune. There are few cellars in Burgundy where you can taste seven Volnay premier crus and eight Pommard premier crus. In addition to these there is also a handful of village wines from both villages. Instead of blending the small parcels and just label it Volnay premier cru Nicolas Rossignol prefers to bottle everything separately.

But Nicolas Rossignol's wine portfolio is not only about Volnay and Pommard. It is practically all red, but on top of all the Pommards and Volnays there are wines from Beaune, Savigny-lès-Beaune, Pernand-Vergelesses and Aloxe-Corton.

La Bergerie

The Casual Travelist: Tucked into one of Alexandria’s classic brick townhomes, La Bergerie will take your taste buds straight to Lyon. The charming owner Laurent greeted us warmly as we settled in one of the cozy booths. Exposed brick walls, elegant floral arrangements and candlelit tables set the tone for our romantic evening. … Whether you’re celebrating a milestone anniversary or just in the mood for classic French cusine La Bergerie will surely impress with its romantic atmosphere and impeccable service.

Pictures: La Bergerie with Nicolas Rossignol and Owner Laurent Janowsky as well as Chef Adrian Gutierrez

Laurent Jonowsky also owns and runs Del Ray Café in Alexandria, Virginia. See:
Bordeaux Winemaker and Owner Marc Pasquet - Château Mondésir-Gazin - at Del Ray Café in Alexandria, Virginia, USA

Picture: Annette Schiller with Margaret and Laurent Janowsky at the Embassy of New Zealand in Washington DC

Importer and Distributor: Elite Wines

In 2002, Laurent Michel Givry, a native of Toulouse, France and a veteran of the wine industry, started Elite Wines with small, eclectic, and yet good valued wines from France and Spain. Right from the beginning, he was very successful with his concept. Today, the portfolio includes a large number of French and Spanish wines as well as Australian, New Zealand, Argentine, Chilean, German and American wines.

Picture: Christian Schiller, Laurent Gevry and Laurent Lala of Elite Wines, and Annette Schiller of ombiasyPR and WineTours, at the New Zealand Embassy in Washington DC

OmbiasyPR and WineTours: Looking forward to Going Back to the Bourgogne

My wife Annette Schiller owns and runs ombiasyPR and WineTours, focusing on wine tours to Germany and France. The 2016 program includes a tour to the Bourgogne. See: Announcement: 5 Exciting ombiasy WineTours in 2016 - BURGUNDY BORDEAUX GERMANY

Picture: Tour Leader Annette Schiller in Gevry-Chambertin, Bourgogne

Reception

Hors D’Oeuvres

NV Cremant de Bourgogne, Domaine Tripoz
100% Chardonnay, demeter certified

Pictures: Reception

Dinner

Pictures: Dinner

First Course

Le Crab Mou aux Anchois et Lardons
Soft Shell Crab with an Anchovy and Bacon Sauce

Picture: Le Crab Mou aux Anchois et Lardons

2013 Domaine Rossignol Savigny les Beaune

The Wine Advocate: The 2013 Savigny-les-Beaune Village is actually a blend of all Nicolas Rossignol’s vineyards, both premier and village cru. It has a focused bouquet with floral black fruits and a touch of seaweed – quite complex and engaging already. The palate is medium-bodied with chalky tannins, a brisk line of acidity and a grippy and quite masculine finish. I think blending everything together was a good move.

Picture: 2013 Domaine Rossignol Savigny les Beaune

Second Course

Les Tagliarinis à l’Huile de Truffe Blanche
Home Made Tagliarini Pasta with White Truffle Oil

Picture: Les Tagliarinis à l’Huile de Truffe Blanche

2013 Domaine Rossignol Beaune 1er cru “Clos du Roy”

Le Figaro – Vin: Le célèbre Premier Cru Clos du Roi se situe à l'extrémité nord du vignoble de Beaune, à la lisière de Savigny-lès-Beaune. Son sol argilo-calcaire et son exposition parfaite, au sud autant qu'à l'est, en font un terroir de prédilection pour le pinot noir.

Nicolas Rossignol vendange à la main dans des petites cagettes de 8 kg pour ne pas abîmer les fruits avant un tri minutieux, une vinification traditionnelle et un élevage en fûts de chêne pouvant aller jusqu'à 20 mois pour bien exprimer la cuvée. Selon les millésimes, la proportion de bois neuf peut aller jusqu'à 50%.

Il en résulte un Premier Cru intense, puissant, riche et taillé pour des gardes supérieures à 10 ans.

Picture: 2013 Domaine Rossignol Beaune 1er cru “Clos du Roy”

Third Course

La Poitrine de Pigeon sur une Purée de Panais, Sauce Star Anise
Roasted Breast of Squab (mr) on a Parsnip Purée with a Star Anise Sauce

Picture: La Poitrine de Pigeon sur une Purée de Panais, Sauce Star Anise

2013 Domaine Rossignol Pommard “Les Vignots”

The Wine Advocate: The 2013 Pommard les Vignots, which lies next to Lalou Bize Leroy’s plot, includes 30% whole cluster since it was the only Pommard not damaged by hail. It has a sensual black cherry and cassis-scented bouquet: neat ‘n tidy. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy black fruit, fine acidity and a chewy but pure and economical finish. Easy-drinking Pommard, no more, no less.

Picture: 2013 Domaine Rossignol Pommard “Les Vignots”

Fourth Course

La Côtes de Veau de Lait aux Salsifis et Girolles
Milk Fed Veal Chop with Oyster Plant and Fresh Chanterelles

Picture: La Côtes de Veau de Lait aux Salsifis et Girolles

2013 Domaine Rossignol Volnay 1er cru “Clos des Angles“

Vinous - Antonio Galloni: Healthy medium red. Aromas of cherry, pepper and flowers. Soft, approachable red berry flavors are complicated by a saline quality and perked up by a peppery element. The dusty tannins will not stand in the way of drinking this wine young, with some time in a decanter. Rossignol says the 2011 is a better bet today and advises holding this for a year or two. -- Stephen Tanzer

Picture: 2013 Domaine Rossignol Volnay 1er cru “Clos des Angles“

Café Gourmand

Picture: Sweets

Thanks ... and See You in Beaune

Thanks Nicolas Rossignol, Laurent Janowsky, Chef Adrian Gutierrez, Laurent Givry and Laurent Lala for an outstanding evening. Hopefully, we will have a chance to taste the wines of Nicolas Rossignol and see where they come from during the forthcoming ombiasy WineTour by Annette Schiller to the Bourgogne. See:

Pictures: Nicolas Rossignol and Laurent Givry

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Bourgogne Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), France

Sophie Schÿler, Owner of Château Kirwan, 3ième Grand Cru Classé, Margaux, for a Wine Pairing Luncheon at Evo Bistro in McLean, with the Wines of RdV and Clemens Busch, USA/ France/ Germany

Bordeaux Winemaker and Owner Marc Pasquet - Château Mondésir-Gazin - at Del Ray Café in Alexandria, Virginia, USA

Picture: Tour and Tasting at Weingut Josef Biffar, in Deidesheim, with Owner/ Winemaker Fumiko Tokuoka

Weingut Josef Biffar in Deidesheim, Pfalz, run by the single mother Fumiko Tokuoka from Japan, has a number of roots. First and foremost the owners, the Tokuoka family, entrepreneurs from Japan. Second, Weingut Reichsrat von Buhl, also in Deidesheim, which the Tokuoka family used to run for 25 years, on a lease basis. Third, the former, well-known Weingut Josef Biffar, which ceased operations a few years ago. Fourth, the “Im Katharinenbild” property near to the railway station in Deidesheim, which has become the headquarters of the new Weingut Josef Biffar.

Driving force behind all this is Fumiko Tokuoka, who studied oenology and winemaking at the famous Geisenheim school in the Rheingau. She was our host.

We started the evening with a winery tour, followed by a tasting led by Fumiko. We then proceeded to Fumi, a Japanese Restaurant that belongs to Weingut Josef Biffar, where we had a wine dinner; Fumiko joined us for the dinner. I will report in a separate posting about the dinner.

Pictures: Weingut Josef Biffar in Deidesheim

The Tokuoka Family from Japan

The story begins in 1989, when Toyohiro Tokuoka, Fumiko’s father, signed a 24 years lease with the then owner of Weingut Reichsrat von Buhl, the famous conductor Enoch zu Guttenberg. Weingut Reichsrat von Buhl was run by the Tokuoka family from Japan from 1989 to 2013. In 1996, Fumiko Tokuoka came to Germany to support her father at Weingut Reichrat von Buhl. Initially, she interned at Reichsrat von Buhl, but soon started to study winemaking at the famous Geisenheim university. As it turned out, she spent more than 10 years at the Geisenheim University, initially as a student and und later as a researcher. In addition, she also married into Weingut Ottes in Lorch, Rheingau, and has 2 children with Helmut Ottes. Obviously, she got involved at Weingut Ottes as well. But some years ago, the marriage failed.

In 2005, eight years before the end of the lease, the von Gutenberg family sold Weingut Reichsrat von Buhl to the businessman Achim Niederberger, who in 2002 had already taken over Weingut Bassermann-Jordan and who in 2007 also bought Weingut Dr. Deinhard (von Winning), both also in Deidesheim. During the first half of the 19th century, these three estates were one, which then was split up by the “Jordan’sche Teilung” (Jordan Splitting) in 1849 because there were three heirs.

Pictures: Sekt Reception at Weingut Josef Biffar

With the lease of Weingut Freiherr von Buhl coming to an end and the new owner not prepared to extend the lease, the Tokuoka family initially pursued the project of the Sektmanufaktur Graf with the management team of Weingut Freiherr von Buhl as partners. This, however, did not work out as planned.

The search for a viable alternative, with the German partners, led the Tokuoka family puchase the famous Weingut Josef Biffar, which had ceased operations after the 2010 vintage. The “Im Kathrinenbild” property close to the railway station became the base for the re-emerging Weingut Josef Biffar.

Pictures: Cellar Tour at Weingut Josef Biffar, in Deidesheim, with Owner/ Winemaker Fumiko Tokuoka

The “Im Kathrinenbild” Property

The “Im Kathrinenbild“ was constructed by a Jewish family in 1892 as a winery and wine trading house. Following bankruptcy in the 1920s, the Deutsche Bank took over the property. In the early 1930, a wine co-op was founded in Deidesheim and the co-op acquired the property. The Kathrinenbild property was used by the co-op until the 1980s and remained more or less unused until the Tokuoka family bought the property in 2010.

The Biffar Family

Weingut Josef Biffar was founded in 1879 by the Biffar family from the Lyon area in France. The Biffar family had moved to Deidesheim in 1723. The Biffar family was not only a prominent wine producer, but also was and is a very successful producer of candy fruits. The Tokuoka family bought Weingut Josef Biffar in 2013.

Weingut Josef Biffar Today

Today, Weingut Josef Biffar, owned and run by Fumiko Tokuoka, is again cultivating 7.5 hectares, partially in very good sites like Ungeheuer, Pechstein, and Reiterpfad. Michael Leibrecht, who used to work at Weingut Reichsrat von Buhl with her, is her head winemaker.

The 2015 Gault Millau WineGuide notes: “Weingut Biffar is back again, but with a new owner.” The cellar is noticeably over-dimensioned for the current area under vines. Japan continues to be a buyer and Fumiko Tokuoka is making efforts to find new customers.

To have another string to their bow, Fumiko Tokuoka integrated a Japanese restaurant with the name FUMI into the “Im Katharinenbild” building. There, Fumiko combines typically Japanese cuisine with her still and sparkling wines. It is an outstanding restaurant and worth a detour. We had a lovely wine dinner there with Fumiko.

Pictures: Tasting at Weingut Josef Biffar, in Deidesheim, with Owner/ Winemaker Fumiko Tokuoka

The Wines we Tasted

2011 Weingut Josef Biffar Spätburgunder Sekt brut
2009 Weingut Josef Biffar Pinot Sekt brut
2014 Weingut Josef Biffar Chardonnay trocken
2013 Weingut Josef Biffar PAX VERITAS Forster Pechstein Riesling trocken
2013 Weingut Josef Biffar Sauvignon Blanc trocken
2011 Weingut Josef Biffar PAX VERITAS Spätburgunder trocken

Wine Dinner

Following tour and tasting we moved to fumi for a wonderful winemaker dinner with Fumiko Tokuoka. I am reporting about the wine dinner in a separate posting.

Pictures: Dinner at fumi

Postings on the Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015) (Posted and Forthcoming)

4 Wine Tours by ombiasy coming up in 2015: Germany-East, Germany-South. Germany-Nord and Bordeaux

Fall Tours by ombiasy WineTours 2015 - A Very Special Treat: Experience Harvest Time !

Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Tour, Tasting (and Lunch) with Robert Schätzle, Owner and Winemaker, Weingut Schloss Neuweier in Baden– Germany-South Wine Tour by ombiasy (2015)

Wine Pairing Lunch at Röttele’s Restaurant (1 Star Michelin) at Schloss Neuweier, with Owner and Winemaker Robert Schätzle, Weingut Schloss Neuweier - German South Wine Tour by ombiasy (2015)

Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut Salwey in Oberrotweil, Kaiserstuhl, Baden, with Benno Salwey – Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Schiller’s Favorite Wine Bars and Wine Taverns in Freiburg, Baden, Germany

Tour and Tasting at Weingut Franz Keller in Oberbergen, Baden – Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Wine Paring Lunch at Restaurant Schwarzer Adler (1 Star Michelin) in Oberbergen, Kaiserstuhl, Baden – Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Tasting at Weingut Bernhard Huber in Baden, with Yquem Viehauser and Julian Huber – Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut Dr. Heger in Ihringen, Kaiserstuhl, Baden – Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Tour and Tasting at Maison Léon Beyer in Eguisheim, Alsace, France, with Marc Beyer – Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), France

At Domaine Weinbach in Kaysersberg, Alsace, with Catherine Faller: Tasting and Tour – Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), France

Wine Lunch at Weingut Jülg with Johannes Jülg– Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Tasting at Weingut Ökonomierat Rebholz in Siebeldingen, Pfalz – Germany-South by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Schiller's Favorite (Wine-) Restaurants in Deidesheim in the Pfalz, Germany

Vineyard Tour, Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut Müller Catoir – Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Tour and Tasting at Weingut A. Christmann in Gimmeldingen, Pfalz, with Steffen Christmann – Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), Germany

Tour and Tasting at Weingut von Winning in Deidesheim, Pfalz– Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), Germany

Tour and Tasting at Weingut Josef Biffar in Deidesheim, with Owner and Winemaker Fumiko Tokuoka

Wine Pairing Dinner at Restaurant FUMI at Weingut Josef Biffar in Deidesheim, with Owner and Winemaker Fumiko Tokuoka

Tour and Tasting at Weingut Markus Schneider in Ellerstadt, Pfalz, with Markus Schneider

Tour and Tasting at Weingut Koehler Ruprecht in Kallstadt, Pfalz, with Franzi Schmitt – Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Tasting at Weingut Dreissigacker in Bechtheim, Rheinhessen, with Ute Dreissigacker

Tour and Wine Pairing Lunch at Weingut Eva Vollmer in Mainz-Ebersheim, Rheinhessen, with Eva Vollmer

Announcement: 5 Exciting ombiasy WineTours in 2016 - BURGUNDY BORDEAUX GERMANY

Picture: Austin Capitol at Night

Lonely Planet: You'll see it on bumper stickers throughout the city: 'Keep Austin Weird.' And while old-timers grumble that Austin has lost its funky charm, the city has mostly managed to hang on to its laid-back vibe. Though this former college town with a hippie soul has seen an influx of tech types and movie stars, there's still a strong contingent of residents who just want to focus on their music or write their novel or annoy their neighbors with crazy yard art.

Picture: Chris Comfort and Justin Bryan, both Traubenhaus, a Leading German Wine Importer/ Distributor/ Online Retailer in Texas,with Dinner Guests at a German Wine and Food Dinner at the Omni Barton Creek Report and Spa in Austin on Monday, March 21, 2016. See: German Wine and Food in Texas: A German Wine and Food Dinner in Austin with Justin Bryan, Traubenhaus, USA/ Germany

Pictures: 6th Street Area in Austin

Here is my list of favorite wine bars.

Apothecary Cafe & Wine Bar

4800 Burnet Road, Tel. (512) 371-1600

Snooth, Tiffany Young: This wine bar stands out for its inside decor of dark wood that matches its name’s mystical qualities and tagline, “the cure for what ails you.” The atmosphere is intimate even amidst the loud chatter that fills the air.

In addition to a dinner menu, Apothecary is now serving brunch, one of the most important meals of the day in Austin. The menu says that most of the shared plate offerings can be made gluten-free.

All day on Sunday and Monday, wine glasses are $1 off and bottles are $10 off of the listed price. On Saturdays, sparkling wine bottles are half off. Excluding a few house favorites, the wine list rotates monthly, so drop in often to see what’s new.

Simplicity Wine & Eats

4801 Burnet Road, Tel. (512) 419-0200

Snooth, Tiffany Young: Supposing Apothecary is too busy, you can walk across the street to Simplicity Wine and Eats. Simplicity is a fitting name as the decor is very bare, but you can easily fit 30 to 40 of your closest friends among the large tables and sitting area in a cinch. Another benefit is its inexpensive wine and sangria.

The atmosphere won’t make you feel as though you’re having a night out on the town, but if you just love wine and want to go to an unpretentious wine bar, this is the place. It feels a lot like the bingo hall or bowling alley, where you’re always welcome, you’ll get what you need and you don’t need to dress up. Depending on the night you’re looking for, it could be just the thing.

Vino Vino

4119 Guadalupe Street, Tel. (512) 465-9282

Austin Monthly, Meredith Bethune, Ramona Flume and Sam Sumpter, April 3, 2014: Whether you’re an oenophile or don’t know your merlots from your cabernets, the Vino Vino staff (see sidebar) is always enthusiastic about finding the best bottle, among its hundreds, for your budget and taste. With a cozy atmosphere and menu that allows for pairing french fries and Champagne (a recommended combination), as well as its Sunday paella nights, it’s sure to become your favorite neighborhood wine pub—even if it’s not in your neighborhood.

Winebelly

519 W Oltorf Street, Tel. (512) 487-1569

Thrillist, Taylor Prewitt: Good wine becomes great wine when surrounded by a smattering of platters to gorge on. Winebelly will get you there with its curated international vino list, but then it’s up to you to choose between tapas or small plate offerings, just $5 during happy hour.

House Wine

408 Josephine Street, Tel. (512) 322-5210

Snooth, Tiffany Young: The name says it all. This wine bar, located near the downtown area in a small, intimate house, has a patio where you can hang out with a view of downtown Austin. In addition to nightly specials and half-priced glasses of wine on any bottle opened the previous night, available on Sundays, it also has wine tasting classes.

This is the place to go if you’re looking to wile the night away gabbing with close friends or looking for an intimate venue at which to catch up. You’ll feel right at home [pun intended] on one of the couches or on the patio furniture outside.

Small nibbles like cheese plates and desserts are available, including a local artisan cheese plate for a sampling of the nearby farms’ products.

Aviary Lounge

2110 S. Lamar Blvd, Tel. (512) 916-4445

Austin Monthly, Meredith Bethune, Ramona Flume and Sam Sumpter, April 3, 2014: Shopping local is even more fun thanks to Aviary, Austin’s only home decor store and wine bar, offering patrons the unique ability to shop while they sip. The boutique’s inventory of modern and whimsical home decor items pairs perfectly with a curated selection of wine, beer and gourmet tapas. And daily specials, like $10 wine flights on Mondays and $10 off all bottles on Fridays, make the experience guilt-free.

Mulberry

360 Nueces St #20, Tel. (512) 320-0297

Thrillist, Taylor Prewitt: With 100+ options to choose from, you’d have to be particularly picky or especially snobby to not find something to like at Downtown’s Mulberry, wine or otherwise. Happy hour Tuesday through Friday, 5-7pm means 20% off bottles, and $2 off wine glasses, but the real treat is the discounted cheese and meat plates with names so unpronounceable as to ensure their quality. Finocchiona anyone?

The Grove Wine Bar

6317 Bee Cave Road, Tel. (512) 327-8822

Snooth, Tiffany Young: If you’re looking to avoid downtown but are still in that general area, head west to Westlake’s The Grove Wine Bar. It has 10 different flight selections to choose from, ranging from “Pure Pinot pleasure” to “Cabs you may want to go home with.”

In addition to its wine selection, which varies from California selections to Italian and Argentinian labels, The Grove Wine Bar serves soups, salads, starters, pizzas, pastas and paninis. While the menu sounds casual, it also has fine dining options, such as blue crab cake, seared miso sea bass and sesame-seared Ahi tuna.

Crú Wine Bar

238 W. Second St., Tel. (512) 472-9463

11410 Century Oaks Terrace, Tel. (512) 339-9463

Austin Monthly, Meredith Bethune, Ramona Flume and Sam Sumpter, April 3, 2014: With locations in two of the best shopping areas in town, Crú Wine Bar is the perfect place to relax after some retail therapy. The cozy bars feature 30 wines by the glass, in addition to hundreds of bottles to accommodate any price range. Stop in for a customized wine flight or indulge with the Napa-style cuisine, which ranges from roasted wild mushroom stone-fired pizzas to seared Georges Bank scallops. It’s a sophisticated scene without the snobbery.

The Red Room Lounge

306 E 3rd Street, Tel. (512) 501-1536

Thrillist, Taylor Prewitt: Red Room Lounge keeps things chill with its relaxed interior and its tufted leather couches, convenient for when you start to lean from sipping all that juice. Do what you will with the $15-$25 wine flights, but don’t forget to toast yourself, with wine glass in hand, for checking out one of Austin’s classiest joints.

Picture: The Art of Whites, Grand Tasting - Panelists Andy Myers, Master Sommelier, DC: Wine Director; José Andrés ThinkFoodGroup; Helen Johannesen, CA: Director of Operations & Wine Director of Animal/ Son of a Gun; Anthony Giglio, NY: Author, Speaker, Wine Director, The Centurion Lounges by American Express; Jon Bonné, NY: Author and Senior Contributing Editor, Punch and Moderator Jay Youmans, Master of Wine, DC: Capital Wine School, Beverage Consultant

Close to 300 people attended the Fourth Annual Virginia Wine Summit that took place on April 5, 2016, at the Salamander Resort and Spa in Middleburg.

Pictures: Salamander Resort and Spa in Middleburg

Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Todd Haymore participated in the event. Governor Terry McAuliffe joined us for the Champagne Reception: “We are pleased to host this annual event to showcase our world-class Virginia wines, and invite national and international opinion leaders to see and taste the recent developments in the Virginia wine industry.

Picture: Christian Schiller, Governor Terry McAuliffe and Annette Schiller

The summit brought industry leaders and wine enthusiasts together to discuss the state’s burgeoning wine industry, and celebrate Virginia’s wine and food culture. It consisted of wine and food pairings, panel discussions, and one-on-one talks with Virginia winemakers. Those that attended the summit included restaurateurs, sommeliers, wine-shop owners, winemakers, wine enthusiasts, media representatives and other industry professionals.

Pictures: Jon Bonné with Christian Schiller and Annette Schiller

The summit featured as keynote speaker Jon Bonné, one of the leading American voices on wine: "I've covered wine around the world and really to try to put Virginia into context of the 49 other states in terms of how much progress has been made in the wine industry, and really how wonderful it is that the focus has stayed on small, curious wineries that want to push things forward."

Pictures: Annette Schiller with Jay Youmans and Jen Breaux Blosser

The Virginia Wine Summit is organized by the Virginia Wine Board. The summit was held in Richmond for the first three years.

Pictures: Painting Sessions at the Virginia Wine Summit Receptiom

The Conference

8:30AM – 9:30AM Registration

Pictures: Fourth Annual Virginia Wine Summit in Middleburg

9:30AM – 10:45AM The Art of Whites, Grand Tasting

This seminar was a blind comparison of some of Virginia’s top white wines against their counterparts from other notable wine regions.

Moderator:
Jay Youmans, Master of Wine, DC: Capital Wine School, Beverage Consultant
Panelists:
Andy Myers, Master Sommelier, DC: Wine Director, José Andrés ThinkFoodGroup
Jon Bonné, NY: Author and Senior Contributing Editor, Punch
Anthony Giglio, NY: Author, Speaker, Wine Director, The Centurion Lounges by American
Express
Helen Johannesen, CA: Director of Operations & Wine Director of Animal/ Son of a Gun

Pictures: The Art of Whites, Grand Tasting

11:00AM – 12:15PM Somm Might Say: East Coast vs. West Coast

Have you ever wondered how sommeliers approach wine and food pairings? At this seminar you could hear how East Coast and West Coast sommeliers approach pairings – ranging from the relatively simplistic to more sophisticated.

Moderator:
Anthony Giglio, NY: Author, Speaker, Wine Director, The Centurion Lounges by American Express
West Coast Panelists:
David Lynch, CA: Contributing editor, Bon Appetit and Wine Director of St. Vincent
Chris Tanghe, Master Sommelier, WA: Wine Portfolio Manager & Educator of Vinum Wine Importing and Distributing
East Coast Panelists:
Steven Grubbs, GA: Wine Director of Empire State South and Five & Ten
Jack Mason, Master Sommelier, NY: Wine Director, Marta
Menu designed by Kathy Morgan, Master Sommelier, VA/DC: Beverage Consultant & 2014 Somm Might Say Champion: Team DC

Pictures: Somm Might Say: East Coast vs. West Coast

11:00AM – 12:15PM Find Your Match: Virginia Reds

In the speed dating style, in this seminar you could experience an intimate tasting of Virginia red wines with the winemaker themselves. The winemakers had 6 ½ minutes per table to present their wine.

Participating wineries:

Ankida Ridge Vineyards
Bluestone Vineyard
Boxwood Estate Winery
Cardinal Point Vineyard & Winery
Chatham Vineyards on Church Creek
Chrysalis Vineyards
Narmada Winery
North Gate Vineyard
Sunset Hills Vineyards
The Williamsburg Winery

Pictures: Find Your Match: Virginia Reds

11:00AM – 12:15PM Talk Dirt To Me: Central VA vs Northern VA Terrior

A compelling winemaker discussion of the climates and soils of Central VA and Northern VA, and how they impart unique characteristics in their wines.

Moderator:
Frank Morgan, VA: Author for DrinkWhatYouLike.com and Contributing Editor VA Wine Lover Magazine, VA
Panelists:
Luca Paschina, VA: Winemaker & General Manager, Barboursville Vineyards, VA
Mattieu Finot, VA: Winemaker, King Family Vineyards, VA
Benoit Pineau, VA: Winemaker, Pollak Vineyards, VA
Doug Fabbioli, VA: Winemaker, Fabbioli Cellars, VA
Jim Law, VA: Winemaker, Linden Vineyards, VA
Gonzalo Ortiz, VA: Vineyard Manager, Breaux Vineyards, VA

Pictures: Talk Dirt To Me: Central VA vs Northern VA Terrior

12:30PM – 2:00PM Lunch

Prepared by Chef Chris Edwards of The Salamander Resort

Keynote Speech from Jon Bonné

Pictures: Lunch with Social Media Award Winner Frank Morgan, Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Todd Haymore and Jon Bonné

2:30PM – 3:50PM Moments in Time: Vintage Variation

In this workshop we explored Virginia’s past vintages and how weather patterns have shaped the wine through vertical tastings.

Moderator:
Erin Scala, VA: Beverage Director & Owner for Petit Pois & Fleuire, and Co-host for I’ll Drink to That Podcast
Panelists:
Stephen Barnard, VA: Winemaker, Keswick Vineyards, VA
Doug Flemer, VA: Owner & Winemaker, Ingleside Vineyards, VA
Michael Shaps, VA: Owner & Winemaker, Michael Shaps Wines, VA

Pictures: Moments in Time: Vintage Variation

2:30PM – 3:50PM Uncommon in the Commonwealth

Up-and-coming varieties like Petit Verdot, Nebbiolo, Tannat, Albariño and Petit Manseng are quickly gaining recognition as unique and captivating wines. In this seminar you could enjoy an informative tasting and discussion around these interesting wines.

Moderator:
Jennifer Knowles, DC: Sommelier and Wine & Beverage Director for The Jefferson Hotel and Plume Restaurant
Panelists:
Erik Segelbaum, DC: Sommelier, Le Diplomate
Fred Dexheimer, Master Sommelier, NC: Creator of RxWine Lab
Andy Wedge, TN: Sommelier, Husk Nashville
Kathy Morgan, Master Sommelier, DC: Master Sommelier & Beverage Consultant

Pictures: Uncommon in the Commonwealth

2:30PM – 3:50PM Why Chardonnay Matters

Chardonnay is Virginia’s most widely planted grape. The panelists and attending winemakers discussed the different styles being produced in Virginia and what happens to this elegant grape when it meets Virginia’s varied terroir.

Moderator:
Richard Leahy, VA: Wine Consultant & Author
Panelists:
Andy Chabot, TN: Sommelier and Director of Food & Beverage, Blackberry Farm
Neal Wavra, VA: Sommelier and Co-Found of FABLE Hospitality
Julie Dalton, MD: Sommelier, Wit and Wisdom Tavern
Julie Defriend, KY: Sommelier, 8Up Elevated Kitchen & Drinkery

Pictures: Why Chardonnay Matters

4:00PM – 5:00PM Reception at Harriman's Restaurant

We finished off the day at Harriman’s Restaurant, enjoying sparkling wine and local craft beer while listening to remarks from Virginia Governor, Terry McAuliffe.

Pictures: Virginia Wine Summit Reception

Wine Producer Virginia

Virginia is the 5th largest wine industry in the US, with nearly 300 wineries and over 3,500 acres of vineyards. In the original charter of the thirteen colonies was a royal commission to pursue three luxury items that England was unable to provide for itself: wine, silk, and olive oil. Every colony made attempts to satisfy the requirements of its charter. Despite many years of failure, the early Americans persisted in their efforts. A big step forward was made in 1740 when a natural cross pollination occurred between a native American grape and a European vitis vinifera. Other successful crossings followed.

Pictures: Christian Schiller and Jennifer Breaux Blosser. See: Visiting Jennifer Breaux Blosser and Breaux Vineyards in Virginia, USA

In 1762, John Carter, who had 1,800 vines growing at Cleve Plantation, sent 12 bottles to the Royal Society of Encouragement of the Arts, Manufacture and Commerce in London for their evaluation. Minutes of their meeting on the 20th of October 1762 declared Carter’s wines to be “excellent” and a decision was taken to reward Carter’s efforts with a gold medal for his wines. These were the first internationally recognized fine wines produced in America.

Picture: Virginia

Over the past 30 years or so, Virginia wines have experienced a tremendous development - to elegant and balanced, mostly European vinifera-based wines. Recently, Donald Trump as well as AOL founder Steve Case bought a Virginia winery.

Picture: Annette Schiller, Vicki Fedor, Mark Fedor and Christian Schiller. See: Anniversary Dinner at North Gate Vineyards with Owners/ Winemakers Mark and Vicki Fedor and Chef Sebastian Oveysi from Amoo’s Restaurant in McLean, Virginia/ USA

Today, the vitis vinifera grapes Chardonnay and Viognier are the leading white varieties. Increasingly they are made without any or with neutral oak, to retain natural acidity and freshness. It appears Viognier is on its way to becoming Virginia’s official “signature grape”.

For French-American hybrid varieties, Seyval Blanc is still popular, but resembles now the fresh and crisp wines from France’s South West. Vidal has become the backbone of the artificially frozen (cryoextraction), ice wine which I am not a great fan of. Cryoextraction is an approach, developed by the French, which kind of simulates the frost in the vineyard in the wine cellar.

Picture: Christian Schiller and Doug Fabbioli, Fabbioli Cellars. See: Visiting Wine Maker Doug Fabbioli and his Fabbioli Cellars in Virginia, USA

As far as red wines are concerned, there has been a shift from straight varietal wines to blends, with the blends now being dominated by Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Mirroring the Virginia white wines, there is an increasing focus on neutral oak and clean, vibrant fruit. Tannat, Uruguay’ signature grape from the South West of France, is showing up in more Virginia wines, usually as a blend. The only red French American hybrid which has performed consistently well in Virginia is Chambourcin, which resembles the Gamay grape of Beaujolais.

Finally, Claude Thibault, a native from France, has taken Virginia sparkling wines to a new level. His NV Thibault-Janisson Brut, made from 100 percent Chardonnay, is as close as you can get to Champagne outside of France.

See:
American Wines with French Roots: The Wines President Obama Served at the State Dinner for President Hollande, USA/France
As Close as You Can Get to (French) Champagne at the US East Coast – Claude Thibaut and His Virginia Thibaut Janisson Sparklers at screwtop Wine Bar
Claude Thibault of Thibault Janisson – an Ultra-premium Sparkling Wine Producer in Virginia, USA - at American Wine Society (Northern Virginia Chapter)

Picture: Claude Thibault and Christian Schiller at American Wine Society (Northern Virginia Chapter)

schiller-wine: Related Posting

Northern Virginia Magazine October 2012: Wine Recs from Local Winos

Virginia Wines Shine in San Francisco - 2012 San Francisco International Wine Competition, USA

Jim Law and Linden Vineyards in Virginia – A Profile, USA

Boxwood Winery in Virginia: Lunch with Wine Makers Rachel Martin and Adam McTaggert in the Chai between the Tanks – TasteCamp 2012 East Kick-Off, USA

An Afternoon with Jordan Harris, Winemaker of Tarara, Virginia, USA

Vineyard Walk, Wine Tasting in the Vineyard and Lunch in the Tarara Tank Cellar with Wine Maker Jordan Harris, Tarara Winery, USA

Visiting Jennifer Breaux Blosser and Breaux Vineyards in Virginia, USA

Bordeaux Meets Virginia: Visiting Rutger de Vink and his RdV Vineyards with Anne Cuvelier from Chateau Leoville Poyferre in St. Julien, Bordeaux

Judging Virginia Wines in Suffolk, Virginia - Virginia Wine Lover Magazine Wine Classic 2012

A New Winery in Virginia - The Barns at Hamilton Station Vineyards, USA

Boxwood Winery in Virginia: Lunch with Wine Makers Rachel Martin and Adam McTaggert in the Chai between the Tanks – TasteCamp 2012 East Kick-Off, USA

Book Review: "Beyond Jefferson's Vines - The Evolution of Quality Wine in Virginia" by Richard Leahy, USA

TasteCamp 2012 in Virginia, USA – A Tour d’Horizont

As Close as You Can Get to (French) Champagne at the US East Coast – Claude Thibaut and His Virginia Thibaut Janisson Sparklers at screwtop Wine Bar

See: American Wines with French Roots: The Wines President Obama Served at the State Dinner for President Hollande, USA/France

Visiting Wine Maker Doug Fabbioli and his Fabbioli Cellars in Virginia, USA

North Gate Vineyard in Virginia, USA – A Profile

Anniversary Dinner at North Gate Vineyards with Owners/ Winemakers Mark and Vicki Fedor and Chef Sebastian Oveysi from Amoo’s Restaurant in McLean, Virginia/ USA

Virginia Wine Chat “Live” with Frank Morgan at Breaux Vineyards, Virginia, USA

Virginia's Best Wines: 2016 Virginia Governor's Cup, USA

Virginia's Best Wines: 2015 Virginia Governor's Cup, USA

Virginia's Best Wines: 2014 Virginia Wineries Governor’s Cup, USA

Governor’s Cup Competition 2013, Virginia, USA

Picture: Annette and Christian Schiller at Arrowine in Arlington, Virginia, with the Wines of Achim von Oetinger, Weingut von Oetinger

Achim von Oetinger is an old buddy of Annette and me. Based in Erbach in the Rheingau, which is 45 minutes away from Frankfurt by car, we see him regularly at events when we are in Germany. I have asked him several times: When will your wines be available in the USA. His answer was always the same: I am too small. I do not have enough wine for getting involved in exports to the USA.

Picture: Achim von Oetinger with Annette and Christian Schiller at the 2015 Wine Week in Wiesbaden, Germany. See: Schiller’s Impressions from the 2015 Wine Week in Wiesbaden, Germany

Against this background, I was thrilled to find an e-mail from Doug Rosen, owner of Arrowine, a leading wine store in the Washington DC area, with the 2013 Von Oetinger "Alte Reben" Riesling Trocken (Rheingau, Germany) as the coming weekend’s White Door Buster Sale Wine (the special sale prices are available only on the coming weekend or until supplies sell out and for in-store sales only).

Picture: Achim and Julia von Oetinger, Weingut von Oetinger at the 2015 Riesling Gala at Kloster Eberbach. See: Riesling Gala 2015 at Kloster Eberbach in the Rheingau, Germany

I was very pleased to read this, for several reasons.

First, Achim von Oetinger is one of the new stars of the Rheingau. It is not without reason that he was Stuart Pigott’s Discovery of the Year 2015. See: Best German Wines and Winemakers – Stuart Pigott’s Favorites (December 2014)

Second, on the forthcoming Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2016), Weingut von Oetinger is the first stop of the tour. See below and here: Announcement: 5 Exciting ombiasy WineTours in 2016 - BURGUNDY BORDEAUX GERMANY and Coming-up: 2016 Spring Tours by ombiasy WineTours to Germany and the Bourgogne, Germany/ France

Third, Achim’s wines are super! See below what Doug Rosen has to say. I fully concur with Doug.

Picture: Annette Schiller and Achim von Oetinger at Weingut Wilhelm Weil, see: The Rheingau and its Terroirs: Tasting with Rheingau’s Elite Winemakers, Germany

Germany-North by ombiasy WineTours (2016)

On the forthcoming Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2016), Weingut von Oetinger is the first stop of the tour: Thursday, May 5, 2016, 10:00 am Cellar tour, and tasting at winery Detlev Ritter und Edler von Oetinger (VDP) in Erbach, Rheingau.

The family of the „Knights and Nobles“ von Oetinger can look back to the year 1828 for winemaking tradition in Erbach. In 1958 the estate was divided between the brothers Eberhard and Robert. Recently the two estates have become one again and the winery is managed by Achim von Oetinger, Robert’s grandson, and his wife Julia. Achim’s uncle Eberhard was a very prominent personality in the German wine world; famous for his skills as auctioneer at the world-renowned wine auctions in the Eberbach Abbey and nicknamed the Karajan of wine auctions. 30 acres of vineyards now belong to the estate, of which 90% are planted with Riesling, the rest with the Burgundy grapes: Pinot-Noir, Pinot-Blanc, Pinot-Gris. Achim pursues quality with a vengeance and the perfect combination of traditional Rheingau values and modern business management produces wines that increase in quality from one year to the next. Last year, Germany’s most famous wine critic, Stuart Pigott nominated Achim von Oetinger “discovery of the year”.

For more information see: Coming-up: 2016 Spring Tours by ombiasy WineTours to Germany and the Bourgogne, Germany/ France

Pictures: At Weingut Robert Weil in the Rheingau During the Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2014), see: Germany-North Wine Tour by ombiasy, 2014

Arrowine’s White Door Buster Sale: 2013 Von Oetinger "Alte Reben" Riesling Trocken (Rheingau, Germany)

At the store, I realized that Doug Rosen, who had just left for a 14 days trip to Bordeaux, not only had the 2013 Von Oetinger "Alte Reben" Riesling Trocken (Rheingau, Germany) on sale, but I dedected half a dozen or so diiferent wines from Weingut von Oetinger on the shelves, including trocken, fruity-sweet and noble-sweet wines. Here is what Arrowine had to say about the special of the weekend, the 2013 Von Oetinger "Alte Reben" Riesling Trocken.

Pictures: Arrowine in Arlington, Virginia

Arrowine: Though misconceptions about riesling abound, it remains a noble and extremely high quality white wine grape that makes some of the world greatest, highest rated, most collected, most cherished, most complex, most expensive and most ageworthy white wines. Styles range from bone-dry to nectar-sweet. Please come to Arrowine this weekend to experience a taste of an exceptionally good, very dry Riesling from terrific old vines, the 2013 Von Oetinger "Alte Reben" Riesling Trocken from Rheingau, Germany.

This excellent 2013 dry riesling comes from the terrific Von Oetinger estate in the Rheingau's fabulous Erbach region. It is 100% riesling from a small estate-owned hillside vineyard of very low yielding old vines. It shows the remarkably vivid and focused flavors, concentration, complexity and length that define high-quality rieslings. It will age beautifully for at least 5-7 more years.

The exemplary Von Oetinger estate is a prestigious 3rd generation estate founded by a family that's been growing wine grapes around Erbach since 1828. In recent years the estate's quality has skyrocketed under Achim Von Oetinger (the 3rd generation of the family wine business). This jump in quality was noted by the important Gault Millau wine publication which recently wrote: "This has been a recent climber, and the shape of the curve continues further upward as the wines show ever higher quality and individuality." This estate was also named the "Discovery of the Year" by FAZ Magazine.

This beautiful white wine is very dry ("trocken") and comes from a distinguished vineyard in the great Hohenrain vineyard area, with vines over 50 years old ("Alte Reben" means "Old Vines"). This vineyard is near the village of Erbach, a renowned wine village in Germany's famed Rheingau region. According to Achim von Oetinger, this old vine dry Riesling is "his answer to Spätlese."

Pictures: Buying 2013 Von Oetinger "Alte Reben" Riesling Trocken from Rheingau, Germany

The Von Oetinger estate is a top producer of the region that has been accepted as a member of the Association of German Prädikat Wine Estates, a group of about 200 estates that includes most (but not all) of Germany's greatest wine producers as members. This association of top growers strictly monitors quality and voluntarily imposes stricter standards on members than under the (already very strict) German wine laws. Their membership in this important group is indicated by the letters "VDP" on the capsule.

"VDP": Thankfully, in Germany, they've abbreviated the phrase "Verband Deutscher Qualitäts- und Prädikatsweingüter" to "VDP" and created an easy to recognize symbol, a stylized eagle with a grape cluster, to indicate that a wine estate meets high standards when it comes to the "trinity" of 1. producer, 2. site and 3. quality.

Today there about 200 VDP vintners representing a commitment to traditional and, above all, high-quality German wine. If you want a great bottle of German wine, the letters "VDP" and the eagle symbol are a virtual guarantee of high quality.

Here's how the delicious 2013 Von Oetinger "Alte Reben" Riesling Trocken tastes: This is fragrant riesling that brings to mind peaches and citrus fruit as well as white flowers and subtle exotic fruit and spice. The palate has lively acidity and continues with white peaches and bright citrus and adds a note of greengage plum, spice and mineral. The finish is very long, vibrant and invigorating. This is fabulously food-friendly wine that will go with beautifully with meals from seasoned seafood, to fried chicken, to herbed pork chops.

Try a taste at Arrowine today, then load up at a terrific Door Buster Sale price. Reg. $36.99 Door Buster Sale: 1-5 bottles: $21.99 per bottle 6+ bottles: $19.99 per bottle.

Picture: Achim von Oetinger and Christian Schiller a Few Years Ago in Berlin. See: 70 Galleries – 200 Praedikat Wine Estates – 1000 Wines: Art and Wine in Berlin

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