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Christian Stahl, Winzerhof Stahl, Franken, Germany: Star Winemaker for some Time, now also a Michelin-starred Chef (March 2024)

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When the 2024 Michelin Stars in Germany for the best chefs of the country were announced, something spectacular happened that I have not yet seen before. One of the say 400 German star winemakers became one of Germany`s 340 Michelin-starred chefs: Christian Stahl, Winzerhof Stahl in Franken, Germany, Winemaker of the Year 2018 (FAS, Stuart Pigott), also earned his first Michelin star as a chef in his fine dining restaurant of the Winzerhof Stahl.   

At his most recent visit to Washington DC at our house, Christian said at the dinner: "I am a winemaker from Monday to Thursday and I am a chef from Friday to Saturday".

While Christian is a trained winemaker with an university degree, he never had any formal training as chef. 

Christian Stahl studied winemaking and graduated from the Geisenheim University in 2005. In 2007, jointly with his wife, he took over the winery of his parents and expanded it to 45 hectares compared with 2 hectares in 1984. In parallel to focussing on the winery, Christian pushed ahead with moving the traditional wine-tavern of the winery towards a fine-dining restaurant, with Christian heading the team in the kitchen, culminating this month in receiving his first Michelin star. 

I met Christian for the first time in Frankfurt/ Offenbach at restaurant "Schaumahl", where he presented his wines at a winemaker dinner. This was in 2012.

4 years later, in 2016, Christian started to get a foot into the US market with his wines and he came regularly to the USA with a focus on Washington DC and New York City. His first tasting in the US was in January 2016 at Cleveland Park Fine Wines and Liquor Store. Until Covid hit and then again at the end of 2021, Christian was a frequent guest in the Washington DC area, marketing his wines. 

In fact, in November 2021, Christian came with his co-chef Mirko Schweiger, and we organised a dinner at our home in McLean, Washington DC, with the 2 German chefs Christian and Mirko, as well as Chef Ken from Virginia.

In 2017, we visited Christian L. Stahl at the Winzerhof Stahl in Franken and experienced first hand that Christian is not only a gifted winemaker but also a highly talented chef. Those who came on the Germany-East Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2017 will definitely remember the out-of-this-world lunch Christian cooked for us at Winzerhof Stahl.


Michelin Guide 2024

Der Kommentar des Guide Michelin 2024: „Wein oder Essen? Im Restaurant des Winzerhofs Stahl steht beides im Fokus, und zwar in Form eines modernen 9-Gänge-Überraschungsmenüs samt perfekt abgestimmter Begleitung aus neun Weinen des eigenen Weinguts. Das Interieur ist ein charmanter Mix aus minimalistischem Design und Altbau-Elementen wie freigelegten Holzbalken und offener Steinwand. Dazu herrscht in dem kleinen Gastraum eine angenehm intime Atmosphäre. Das ist nicht zuletzt Inhaber Christian Stahl zu verdanken, der persönlich am Gast ist - man spürt förmlich seine Leidenschaft fürs Kochen und den Wein! Der Patron und sein eingespieltes Küchenteam, das er zusammen mit Mirko Schweiger leitet, servieren die Speisen selbst.“

Christian L. Stahl in Washington DC/ USA

2016

Christian has been coming to the US since 2016. His first tasting in the US was in January 2016 at Cleveland Park Fine Wines and Liquor Store. See: Welcome to the USA: Christian L. Stahl from Winzerhof Stahl in Franken, Germany

Pictures: Christian L. and Simone Stahl at Cleveland Park Fine Wines and Liquor Store in Washington DC, with Importer Chris Bartha, General Manager Anthony Quinn and Christian Schiller.
 
2016

Later in the year, when Christian came for the second time, he was our guest of honor at our Riesling Party 2016, where he presented his wines. See: Annette and Christian Schiller’s Summer of Riesling 2016 in McLean, Virginia, with German Star Winemaker Christian L. Stahl, German Wine Journalist Joachim A.J. Kaiser and Virginia Star Winemaker Chris Pearmund

Pictures: Christian Stahl at Annette and Christian Schiller’s Summer of Riesling 2016 in McLean, Virginia
 
2017
 
In January 2017 Annette organized a winemaker dinner with him at Evo Bistro in McLean, Virginia. See: Franken Wines, Virginia Oysters and French-Mediterranian Food: Winemaker Dinner with Christian L. Stahl from Winzerhof Stahl, Germany, and Chef Driss Zahidi at Evo Bistro in McLean, Virginia

Pictures: Winemaker Dinner with Christian L. Stahl from Winzerhof Stahl, Germany, and Chef Driss Zahidi at Evo Bistro in McLean, Virginia
 
2017

Before the dinner, Annette and Christian Schiller, had invited to a reception with Christian L. Stahl had their private home. We had Rappahanock oysters from Virginia and Stahl wine. They paired very well. See: Franken Wines, Virginia Oysters and French-Mediterranian Food: Winemaker Dinner with Christian L. Stahl from Winzerhof Stahl, Germany, and Chef Driss Zahidi at Evo Bistro in McLean, Virginia

Pictures: Oysters and Stahl Wines at Schiller's Residence
 
2018 

Annette Schiller, ombiasy WineTours, organized a winemaker dinner with Christian at the trendy BToo Restaurant on 14th Street NW. 40 German wine lovers had a great time with the excellent wines of Christian L. Stahl and the super food of Chef Dieter Samyn.

See: Winemaker Dinner with Christian L. Stahl, Winzerhof Stahl, Franken, Germany, and Chef Dieter Samyn at BToo in Washington DC, USA



Pictures: Winemaker Dinner with Christian L. Stahl and hef Dieter Samyn at BToo in Washington DC, USA

2021
 
The last time, I saw Christian in the Washington DC area was in 2021. The USA lifted its 18-month covid travel ban on November 8th, 2021. One of the first, if not the first, was star winemaker and chef Christian L. Stahl from Franken, Winemaker of the Year 2018 (FAS, Stuart Pigott). He was accompanied by Chef Mirko from his fine dining team.
 
Christian and Mirko flew over to the USA on November 9th and spent 2 days in Washington DC before moving on to New York City and Chicago 
 
On very short notice, Annette Schiller and I managed to arrange a winemaker dinner with Christian L. Stahl and his bone dry wines from Franken at our home in McLean on Wednesday November 10th. As it turned out, the RSVPs we got was double the number of seats available for this evening. As a result, we had a second dinner a few days later, with same wines and the same menu, however without Christian Stahl. He was sitting in the plane back to Germany on that evening. 

See: Christian Stahl, Winzerhof Stahl, Franken, Germany back in the USA - Winemaker Dinner at the Schiller Residence in McLean, Northern Virginia (2021) 



 

Pictures: Winemaker Dinner with Christian L. Stahl, Chef and Winekaer, at the Schiller Residence in McLean, Northern Virginia (2021)  
 
With Christian L Stahl In Germany
 
2012
 
We met Christian for the first time in 2012 in Germany at the top Restaurant SchauMahl in Frankfurt/ Germany, were he came for a winemaker dinner.

Pictures: Christian Schiller and Annette Schiller with Christian Stahl in Frankfurt. See: The Bistronomics Cuisine of Chef Christoph Kubenz and the Wines of Winemaker Christian Stahl at Restaurant schauMahl in Frankfurt, Germany
 
2017

In 2017, we visited Christian L. Stahl at the Winzerhof Stahl in Franken and experienced first hand that Christian is not only a gifted winemaker but also a Highly talented chef. Those who came on the Germany-East Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2017 will definitely remember the out-of-this-world lunch Christian cooked for us at Winzerhof Stahl. See: Lunch with Christian L. Stahl, Winzerhof Stahl, Franken: Not only a Gifted Winemaker but also a Gifted Chef - Germany-East Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours

Pictures: Lunch at Winzerhof Stahl, with Chef Christian L. Stahl. See: Lunch with Christian L. Stahl, Winzerhof Stahl, Franken: Not only a Gifted Winemaker but also a Gifted Chef - Germany-East Tour 2017 by ombiasy 

schiller-wine - Related Postings

Welcome to the USA: Christian L. Stahl from Winzerhof Stahl in Franken, Germany

Annette and Christian Schiller’s Summer of Riesling 2016 in McLean, Virginia, with German Star Winemaker Christian L. Stahl, German Wine Journalist Joachim A.J. Kaiser and Virginia Star Winemaker Chris Pearmund

The Bistronomics Cuisine of Chef Christoph Kubenz and the Wines of Winemaker Christian Stahl at Restaurant schauMahl in Frankfurt, Germany  

Franken Wines, Virginia Oysters and French-Mediterranian Food: Winemaker Dinner with Christian L. Stahl from Winzerhof Stahl, Germany, and Chef Driss Zahidi at Evo Bistro in McLean, Virginia
 
Lunch with Christian L. Stahl, Winzerhof Stahl, Franken: Not only a Gifted Winemaker but also a Gifted Chef - Germany-East Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours 

Winemaker Dinner with Christian L. Stahl, Winzerhof Stahl, Franken, Germany, and Chef Dieter Samyn at BToo in Washington DC, USA (2018)

Christian Stahl, Winzerhof Stahl, Franken, Germany back in the USA - Winemaker Dinner at the Schiller Residence in McLean, Northern Virginia (2021) 



 


Announcement: Wines from the Loire Valley - Tasting at the NoLoCo (Northern Loudoun County) Chapter of the American Wine Society on April 14, 2024, led by Annette Schiller

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Announcement

Jennifer Crafts, NoLoCo Chapter Chair: Annette Schiller will present on the topic of Wines from the Loire Valley. As a leader of wine tours through the various wine regions of France, she is an expert on these wines. She and Christian will host at their house in McLean. Attendance will be capped at 22. If needed, I will keep a waitlist.

Annette Schiller - Loire Valley

Annette Schiller: The Loire belongs to France's Crown Jewels. For centuries, French kings have spent their summers on the banks of the lovely Loire River and drank the wonderful wines that grow in the region. Still today their magnificent Châteaux and the fantastic wines are attractions for every visitor.

The Loire Valley is a vast wine region stretching for about 600 miles from the Atlantic Ocean to the Auvergne mountains. There are five main, distinctively different wine regions, each with its own characteristic grapes, appellations, and wine style. 

The Loire Valley wine region is a complex region: there is no varietal or style to associate with, which makes it difficult to clearly put a mark on the region. That's why this incredibly beautiful region is so very interesting to discover and to explore. The Loire Valley wines also provide the best value in terms of drinking pleasure / price. 

Christian and I travelled to the Loire Valley in February to tie last strings for the upcoming wine tour to the Loire in June. We were smitten with the quality of the wines across the board.

LOIRE VALLEY: Sunday, June 09 - Thursday June 20, 2024 
 
Annette Schiller: What comes to your mind when you hear ‘Loire Valley’? Of course images of glorious Châteaux pop up in your mind. Yes that is true and we will visit some iconic château and dig deep into France’s history. However, during this wine tour we also discover a magnificent, but often overlooked French wine region and one of the most exciting best kept secrets of excellent, high quality wines at very reasonable prices. The Loire Valley wine region is a vast area and consists of several distinct wine regions, each with its own characteristic grapes, appellations, and wine style. We take you on a journey from the Atlantic Ocean to the Auvergne mountains to explore this unique region. We learn to appreciate “Sancerre”, "Pouilly-Fumé", “Vouvray", “Chinon”, as well as many other not so familiar appellations.

See: Announcement: Loire Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours (Sunday, June 09 - Thursday June 20, 2024) 










  
   

 
Postings on Schiller-wine Related to the Upcoming 2024 Loire Trip by ombiasy WineTours
 
This is the 15th in a series of postings on Schiller-wine related to the 2024 Loire Valley Trip by ombiasy WineTours in June.
 
A Journey Through The Loire Valley - Seminar at the 2023 American Wine Society National Conference in St. Louis/ Missouri/ USA led by Annette Schiller

Plateau des Fruits de Mer and a Muscadet Sèvre et Maine Sur Lie at Historic Brasserie Cigale in Nantes, Loire Valley, France (February 2024)
 
Announcement: Loire Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours (Sunday, June 09 - Thursday June 20, 2024)
 
Salons des Vins - all with a Focus on Natural, Organic, Biodynamic and Low-intervention Producers in the Loire Valley and elsewhere in France and Europe - in February in Angers and Samour, Loire Valley, France (February 2024)
 
 
Announcement: "The Wines of the Loire Valley" presented by Annette Schiller at the American Wine Society/ Northern Virginia Chapter on March 8, 2024
 
Visiting Natural Wine Producer Liv Vincendeau - Domäne Vincendeau in Rochefort sur Loire/ Anjou (February 2024) 
 
 
 
Moon - Monks - Michelin: Overnight stay and 1-star Michelin Dinner at the Abbaye Royale de Fontevraud, with Chef Thibaut Ruggeri (February 2024)
 
Fine de Claire, #3 Oysters from Cancale, the Oyster Capital of Brittany, and a 2022 Domaine Henry Pellé, Menetou-Salon, Saugnon-Blanc in Tours, Loire Valley, France (February 2024)
 
At Château de Pray, a Loire Château from the 12th Century and a Michelin Star: Overnight Stay and High-end Dinner in an Historic Setting (February 2024)
 
A Journey through the Loire Valley - Tasting at the American Wine Society (Northern Virginia Chapter), led by Annette Schiller (March 2024)
 
Château de Chambord - Not only a Famous Loire Palace, but also an AOC Cheverny Wine Producer
 
 
Dinner at Au P'tit Goûter - a Friendly Little Bistro right in the Middle of Chavignol, Sancerre, Loire Valley - with Front-of-the-house Jérémy, Chef Jérôme Germain and Tuscany (February 2024)
 
 
A Journey through the Vineyards of the Loire Valley - Tasting at the Washington Wine and Cheese Seminar, led by Annette Schiller (March 2024)

 

Another Memorable Wine Dinner at Belga Café, with the (in my View) Michelin Star Level Cooking of Chef Bart Vandaele, the Worldclass Wines Selected by Olivier Lotterie of Vineyard Brands, and a Very Enjoable Ambiance (March 2024)

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Another memorable wine dinner at Belga Café on the hill in Washington DC, with the (in my view) Michelin star level cooking of Chef Bart Vandaele, the #worldclass wines selected by Olivier Lotterie of Vineyard Brands and a very enjoyable ambiance. 
 


Invitation

Join me for a wonderful Wine Dinner on March 28th for $129++ per person and welcome Spring with us! at Belga Café.
 
Enjoy Chef's famous White Asparagus a la Flamande, Slow Confit Scallops, Spring Lamb Loin and a Honeycomb dessert that will leave you wanting more!
 
All this paired with outstanding wines from Vineyard Brands

The menu is inspired by chef Bart Vandaele and expertly paired by Olivier Lotterie, Vice President, Mid-Atlantic Sales Manager Vineyard Brands Inc.
 
Thursday, March 28 at 6:30 pm.
 
Olivier Lotterie, Vice President, Mid-Atlantic Sales Manager Vineyard Brands Inc.
 
Arriving
 






 
Dinner
 





 
The Menu 


Welcome
 
The tartare taco, crispy potato, cornichon, radish

 
First Course
 
Jumbo white asparagus a la flamande farm butter, egg, parsley, nutmeg
 
Domaine Weinbach, Les Vignes du Precheur, Vin D’Alsace, 2020
Wieninger, Wiener Gemischter Satz, Austria 2021
 







 
Second Course
 
Slow confit scallops, grilled mussels, chive beurre blanc with Maryland crab
 
Rully, Vincent Girardin, Vielles Vignes 2019 
Rully, Vincent Girardin, Vielles Vignes 2020
 








 
Third Course
 
Spring lamb loin, peas, fava beans, morels, mint, pate a brick, balsamic lobster sauce
 
Crozes-Hermitage, Maison Les Alexandrins, 2018
 





 
Fourth Course
 
Medow honey case, vanilla, honey Bavarian, clover pollen honey, orange, honeycomb tuile
 
Miles Madeira, Tinta Negra, 2008
 



The Wines
 

Bye-bye
 







First Wine Dinner with Chef Bart in 2011
 
With Jean Trimbach from Domaine Trimbach, Alsace, at Bart M. Vandaele’s Belga Café in Washington DC (2011)  



Pictures: Christian G.E.Schiller with Jean Trimbach at Bart M. Vandaele’s Belga Café in Washington DC
 
Previous Dinners with Chef Bart

About half of these wine dinners - Jurtschitsch, Max von Kunow, Gunderloch, Lafon Rochet, Clemens Busch, Immich-Batterieberg, Koehler-Ruprecht, Christian L. Stahl, Haut-Bailly - were organized by Annette Schiller, ombiasy WineTours, with winemakers that we have visited on ombiasy wine tours and that were visiting the Washington DC area.
 
Winemaker Dinner at Chef Bart Vandaele's Trendy BToo, with Joël and Sandrine Duffau of Château La Mothe du Barry and Château Les Arromans, Entre-Deux-Merr, Bordeaux, in Washington DC, USA

Winemaker Dinner with Château Haut-Bailly at BToo in Washington DC, with Daina Paulin and Chef Bart Vandaele, USA/ Bordeaux (2018)

JJ Prüm Winemaker Dinner at BToo in Washington DC/ USA, with Wilhelm Steifensand ("Herr Prüm") and Chef Bart Vandaele (2018)

Winemaker Dinner with Jean-Claude Rieflé of Domaine Rieflé-Landmann, Alsace, at Bart Vandaele's Belga Café on Capitol Hill in Washington DC, USA/ Alsace (2018)

Winemaker Dinner with Christian L. Stahl, Winzerhof Stahl, Franken, Germany, and Chef Dieter Samyn at BToo in Washington DC, USA (2018)

Winemaker Dinner with David Reynaud, Domaine les Bruyeres, Crozes-Hermitage in the Rhone Valley, at Chef Bart Vandaele's BToo in Washington DC, USA/ France  (2017)

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 (2016)

Chef Bart M. Vandaele Celebrated the 2 Year Anniversary of his B Too Restaurant with the Wines of Domaine Jean-Marc Brocard from Chablis, USA/France (2015)

Winemaker Dinner with Château LAFON-ROCHET Wines and Winemaker Anaïs Maillet at Chef Bart Vandaele’s Hipp B Too Restaurant in Washington DC, US/France (2014)

A Feast with Jean Trimbach, Maison Trimbach in Alsace, and Chef Bart M. Vandaele at B Too in Washington DC, USA/France (2014)

Weingut Gunderloch– The New Generation: Owner Johannes Hasselbach in Washington DC, US (2014)

The Wines of Stefanie and Alwin Jurtschitsch, Weingut Jurtschitsch, Kamptal, Austria (2014)

Weingut von Hoevel – The New Generation: Max von Kunow in Washington DC, US (2014)

With Jean Trimbach from Domaine Trimbach, Alsace, at Bart M. Vandaele’s Belga Café in Washington DC (2011)

Wine and Goat Cheese in the Loire Valley: Crottin de Chavignol (Cheese), Sancerre (Wine) and Pouilly-Fumé (Wine)

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The Loire Valley is not only a paradise for castle buffs and wine enthusiasts, but also .... for cheese lovers.

On the 2024 Loire Valley by ombiasy WineTours in June 2024, we will indeed spend lots of time visiting castles and wineries. Towards the end of the tour, when we are for 2 nights in Sancerre and will visit winemakers in the AOC Sancerre and AOC Pouilly-Fumé, we will also devote some time to cheese, more specifically, to the iconic Crottin de Chavignol goat cheese. 

See: Announcement: Loire Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours (Sunday, June 09 - Thursday June 20, 2024)

In France, cheese is made everywere. As for the Loire valley, the western part towards the coast, cow milk cheese rules, while in the eastern part of the Loire Valley goat cheese dominates. 

See: The Loire Valley: Not only a Paradise for Castle Buffs and Wine Enthusiasts, but also .... for Cheese Lovers

It is the various kinds of goat cheese - Sainte-Maure de Touraine, Selles-sur-Cher, Valencay, Pouligny-Saint-Pierre, Chabichou du Poitou and Crottin de Chavignol - that people think of when it comes to cheese in the Loire valley. We will focus on one of them, the Crottin de Chavignol, when we spend 2 nights in Sancerre, a stone's throw away from Chavignol, and visit a winemaker in Chavignol as well as have a cheese-centered lunch in Chavignol at a well-known cheese producer, Romain Dubois in Chavignol. Fromagerie Romain Dubois is a leading affineur of Crottin de Chavignal, with 2 outlets, one in Saint-Satur and one in Chavignol. In Chavignol, in additon to the cheese store, Romain Dubois has a wine and cheese bar, where we will have lunch and taste Romain Dubois' Crottin de Chavignol at different stages of ripeness.

While we were in Sancerre in February 2024, we enjoyed a cheese tasting (with different Sancerre wines by the glass) at the hotel were we were staying and where the group will be staying in June. 

We checked in at Fromagerie Romain Dubois and we had a Romain Dubois Crottin de Chavignol with the dinner we enjoyed at the bistro Au P'tit Goûter. See: Dinner at Au P'tit Goûter - a Friendly Little Bistro right in the Middle of Chavignol, Sancerre, Loire Valley - with Front-of-the-house Jérémy, Chef Jérôme Germain and Tuscany (February 2024)

Wine: In Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé

Sancerre (Berry Bros. & Rudd)

Sancerre is a famous white Sauvignon Blanc appellation located on the left bank of the Loire, across from Pouilly-Fumé.

While  Pouilly-Fumé's vineyards are tightly clustered and homogeneous, Sancerre's 14 communes (including the great villages of Chavignol, Bué, Verdigny, Amigny and Ménétréol) are widely dispersed, covering nearly 3,000 hectares over vertiginous valleys at up to 350 metres above sea level, and three distinct soil types: silex, a white flint found around Sancerre and Ménétréol in particular, giving perfume and a fine structure; terres blanches, a calcareous clay soil that whitens as it dries (widely distributed), delivering a full, fruity richness; and caillottes, a Portlandian soil brimming with large limestones imparting both power and verve – as found in Sancerre, Chavignol and Bué.

A fourth soil type, griottes, tightly-packed with small limestones, has also been identified – as found near the village of Vosges. Kimmeridgean clay crops up less consistently than in Pouilly-Fumé and since most Sancerre, bar the single-vineyard wines, are a blend of soils the result is a richer, fuller and fleshier Sauvignon Blanc.

As with Pouilly-Fumé, an increasing number of (single-vineyard) wines are being raised in French oak, mostly 500-litre and demi-muids; little surprise in light of naturally higher alcohol levels due to global warming. Sancerre Rouge is also made from Pinot Noir, the quality of which is often compromised by bleeding some of the juice to make rosé – Vincent Pinard is a master nonetheless.

Recommended producers: François CotatAndré DezatDavid Sautereau

Top vineyards include: Les Monts Damnés, La Grande Côte, Le Cul de Beaujeu, Grand (and Petit) Chemarin, Chêne Marchand

Pouilly-Fumé (Berry Bros. & Rudd)

Pouilly-Fumé is a famous white Sauvignon Blanc appellation located on the right bank of the Loire River.

Compared to Sancerre on the opposite bank, the Pouilly-Fumé appellation is approximately half the size at 1,200 hectares, and tightly-focused around the villages of St Andelain and Les Loges on a fairly homogeneous, south-west facing slope. The appellation's soils are divided between limestone-rich Kimmeridgean and Portlandian (less active calcium) clay, with the cherry on the cake being the red, flinty clay soils clustered around the St Andelain knoll.

Top vineyards in Pouilly-Fumé include Les Cocques, Les Bois and Les Cornets. The result is a floral, finely-poised yet powerful nose, with a noticeably limestone-like dry palate kept taut by a fine structure. Indeed such is the stony intensity of a good Pouilly-Fumé that an increasing number of producers are ageing their best crus in French oak, to good effect.

Recommmended producers: Didier Dagueneau, Alain Cailbourdin, André Dezat and the up-and-coming Nicolas Gaudry








Cheese: Crottin de Chavignol 

teddingtoncheese.co.uk: Situated in the north-east department of the Cher, Chavignol is a hamlet near the town of Sancerre, which is famous for its wine production. The Crottin de Chavignol was first made as a snack to be eaten during the grape harvest. It took its name from the small clay oil lamp from the Sancerrois but was soon nicknamed 'horse droppings'. This was because crottin in French means 'dung' and because of the cheese's resemblance to horse dung when mature. The Crottin de Chavignol was granted its AOC status in 1976. 

When fresh, a Crottin de Chavignol weighs 140g, but during the first two weeks of maturation it dries to 110g. The rind develops a white bloom with a bluish hue and can be eaten at this young stage. Its texture is moist and it has a light goaty flavour. After a further three weeks of ripening the small cheese shrinks to 70 grammes. It becomes harder and drier, and the flavour becomes fuller and the smell stronger. It is at this stage that we sell the Crottin de Chavignol at The Teddington Cheese. 

The cheese can be matured for a further three months during which time it shrinks to 40g. The rind becomes pitted and brown, and sometimes black. The flavour is intense and the very hard rind can only be removed by grating. 

Sixteen million Crottin de Chavignol are made every year, the majority in large creameries. The farmhouse Crottins we sell at The Teddington Cheese are made using unpasteurised goats' milk. They represent a very small proportion of the total production and their flavour is always superb. These small cheeses are excellent throughout the year although the very best, as with most goats' milk cheeses, are made from spring to autumn. Crottin de Chavignol are excellent as part of a cheeseboard and also fabulous when grilled and served warm on a salad as a starter. Alternatively, enjoy on their own with a glass of Sancerre de Chavignol wine.

Each Crottin measures 4cm in diameter, is 3cm tall, weighs 75 grammes and has a fat content of 45%.

Crottin de Chavignol - Variations in Style (New England Cheese Making Supply Company)

...Crottin de Chavignol can be eaten at various stages of the maturity process.
  • After 8 days weighs 140gr (5oz) and has a strong nutty taste.
  • After 21 days the cheese begins to come into its own with a much more complex flavor and the surface begins to show various molds developing.
  • After 4 months, the cheese weighs only 40gr (1.5oz) and has turned into a more complex cheese. The surface at this point is covered with darker dried molds and the paste is very dense and strong in flavor.
  • When the cheese is allowed to age even longer the surface will turn a grey/brown color and the body of the cheese will become very dry. The flavor becomes very complex but time to taste it is essential.

Tasting Crottin de Chavignol at Le Panoramic Hôtel in Sancerre

Le Panoramic Hôtel in Sancerre is a wonderful, recently completely renovated 4-star hotel with breathtaking views over the Sancerre vineyards and a stone’s throw from charming old town Sancerre. 








At Fromagerie Romain Dubois in Chavignol with Gilles Dubois

The Dubois family has been producing goat cheese for four generations. Romain Dubois, the present owner, is passionate about cheese. He doesn't have his own goats; rather, he collects freshly made cheese from producers such as Jean-Franois Blain and ages it in the cellars of his fromagerie. The shop offers other fine cheeses as well as the local crottin.

Fromagerie Romain Dubois is right in the center of Chavignol. When you enter Chavignol coming from Sancerre, on the left side you find the Fromagerie Dubois-Boulay. It was owned by the Dubois family until about 10 years ago, when Gilles Dubois sold it. 

Gilles Dubois, who we met at Fromagerie Romain Dubois now helps his son Romain run the cheese store and bar, where we will have lunch.







To end the Dinner: Crottin de Chavignol at Au P'tit Goûter in Chavignol

Gilles Dubois also owns the bistro Au P'tit Goûter down the road where we had dinner in Februar 2024. 

Thus, we decided to go to Au P'tit Goûter in Chavignol, which I had discovered when we were in Chavignol and which I found very inviting. We took our car and went back to Chavignol. 

We had a great time at Au P'tit Goûter, a friendly little bistro right in the middle of Chavignol. Everything was there: the good ambiance, the good, home-made food, the good Sancerre wines and the good humor of Jérémy and Jérôme - without forgetting the little dog Tuscany. 

See: Dinner at Au P'tit Goûter - a Friendly Little Bistro right in the Middle of Chavignol, Sancerre, Loire Valley - with Front-of-the-house Jérémy, Chef Jérôme Germain and Tuscany (February 2024)







LOIRE VALLEY: Sunday, June 09 - Thursday June 20, 2024 
 
Annette Schiller: What comes to your mind when you hear ‘Loire Valley’? Of course images of glorious Châteaux pop up in your mind. Yes that is true and we will visit some iconic château and dig deep into France’s history. However, during this wine tour we also discover a magnificent, but often overlooked French wine region and one of the most exciting best kept secrets of excellent, high quality wines at very reasonable prices. The Loire Valley wine region is a vast area and consists of several distinct wine regions, each with its own characteristic grapes, appellations, and wine style. We take you on a journey from the Atlantic Ocean to the Auvergne mountains to explore this unique region. We learn to appreciate “Sancerre”, "Pouilly-Fumé", “Vouvray", “Chinon”, as well as many other not so familiar appellations.

See: Announcement: Loire Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours (Sunday, June 09 - Thursday June 20, 2024) 










  
   

 
Postings on Schiller-wine Related to the Upcoming 2024 Loire Trip by ombiasy WineTours
 
This is the 19th in a series of postings on Schiller-wine related to the 2024 Loire Valley Trip by ombiasy WineTours in June.
 
A Journey Through The Loire Valley - Seminar at the 2023 American Wine Society National Conference in St. Louis/ Missouri/ USA led by Annette Schiller

Plateau des Fruits de Mer and a Muscadet Sèvre et Maine Sur Lie at Historic Brasserie Cigale in Nantes, Loire Valley, France (February 2024)
 
Announcement: Loire Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours (Sunday, June 09 - Thursday June 20, 2024)
 
Salons des Vins - all with a Focus on Natural, Organic, Biodynamic and Low-intervention Producers in the Loire Valley and elsewhere in France and Europe - in February in Angers and Samour, Loire Valley, France (February 2024)
 
 
Announcement: "The Wines of the Loire Valley" presented by Annette Schiller at the American Wine Society/ Northern Virginia Chapter on March 8, 2024
 
Visiting Natural Wine Producer Liv Vincendeau - Domäne Vincendeau in Rochefort sur Loire/ Anjou (February 2024) 
 
 
 
Moon - Monks - Michelin: Overnight stay and 1-star Michelin Dinner at the Abbaye Royale de Fontevraud, with Chef Thibaut Ruggeri (February 2024)
 
Fine de Claire, #3 Oysters from Cancale, the Oyster Capital of Brittany, and a 2022 Domaine Henry Pellé, Menetou-Salon, Saugnon-Blanc in Tours, Loire Valley, France (February 2024)
 
At Château de Pray, a Loire Château from the 12th Century and a Michelin Star: Overnight Stay and High-end Dinner in an Historic Setting (February 2024)
 
A Journey through the Loire Valley - Tasting at the American Wine Society (Northern Virginia Chapter), led by Annette Schiller (March 2024)
 
Château de Chambord - Not only a Famous Loire Palace, but also an AOC Cheverny Wine Producer
 
 
Dinner at Au P'tit Goûter - a Friendly Little Bistro right in the Middle of Chavignol, Sancerre, Loire Valley - with Front-of-the-house Jérémy, Chef Jérôme Germain and Tuscany (February 2024)
 
 
A Journey through the Vineyards of the Loire Valley - Tasting at the Washington Wine and Cheese Seminar, led by Annette Schiller (March 2024)
 
Announcement: Wines from the Loire Valley - Tasting at the NoLoCo (Northern Loudoun County) Chapter of the American Wine Society on April 14, 2024, led by Annette Schiller
 

Where Christian Eats: Michelin-starred and Michelin-nonstarred Restaurants in Frankfurt, Germany (April 2024)

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The Michelin Guide Deutschland 2024 was released in March 24. 

In total, 340 chefs got 1, 2 or 3 star(s) in Germany. 

I was in particular pleased that winemaker Christian Stahl was awarded a Michelin star.

See: Christian Stahl, Winzerhof Stahl, Franken, Germany: Star Winemaker for some Time, now also a Michelin-starred Chef (March 2024)

In Frankfurt, there is no restaurant that got 3 stars. Two restaurants got 2 stars and eight restaurants got 1 star, no change compared with the previous year. 

I am listing Frankfurt's Michelin-starred restaurants below and I am adding four other restaurants, including one apple wine tavern, that I like very much.

Two 2-star Restaurants

Gustav


Picture: Outstanding Dinner at Gustav - 1-star Michelin - in Frankfurt, Germany, with Chef Jochim Busch

Lafleur

Eight 1-star Restaurants

bidlabu

Picture: Dinner at Bidlabu, 15 Points Gault Millau, in Frankfurt, with GM/ Sommelier Dietmar Fritz and Chef André Rickert, Germany

Carmelo Greco

Erno's Bistro

Main Tower Restaurant & Lounge

Masa Japanese Cuisine

Seven Swans

Picture: Chef Jan Hoffmann, Seven Swans, Serving. See: Dinner at Seven Swans (Chef: Jan Hoffmann, 1 Star Michelin) in Frankfurt, Germany

Weinsinn 

Picture: Dinner at the "New" Weinsinn in Frankfurt, Germany, with Owner Matthias Scheiber. See: Phantastic Dinner at the "New" Weinsinn in Frankfurt, Germany 

Other 

Chairs

See: Dinner at Chairs, Frankfurt, Germany - 2 White Toques Gault/ Millau, Nose-to-tail Fine Dining, Natural Wines, Casual Atmospherec
 
Emma Metzler
 

Pictures: Food and Wine with a Focus on Sustainability: Dinner with Friends at Restaurant Emma Metzler in Frankurt, Germany (March 2024) 

L’ Ecume



Pictures: Dinner at Restaurant L' Ecume - #1 in the "Fine Dining" Category of Journal Frankfurt/ 2023 - with Chef/ Owner Alex Sadowczyk, Germany, 2022

Mainlust "Desche Otto"
 
 
Pictures: Mainlust “Desche Otto”– an Ultra Traditional Apple Wine Tavern, with an Innovative Twist, off the Beaten Track in Schwanheim, Frankfurt am Main, Germany

schiller-wine: Related Postings 

Announcement: 2024 Tours by ombiasy (Annette Schiller) - Loire Valley, German Classic, Rhône

Announcement: Loire Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours (Sunday, June 09 - Thursday June 20, 2024)

Summary: Germany "From Berlin to Frankfurt" 2023 (Saale Unstrut, Sachsen, Franken, Württemberg) by ombiasy WineTours

Summary: From Lyon to Paris - Total Immersion in Burgundy and Champagne 2023 by ombiasy WineTours (July 02 - 13, 2023)

Summary: Austria 2023 by ombiasy WineTours - 12 Days: May 28 - June 08, 2023

Christian Schiller`s SCHILLER-WINE Blog on Corking Wines` Top 101 Wine Writers of 2020 List

The 2023 American Wine Society National Conference in St. Louis/ Missouri/ USA: Seen Through Christian Schiller's Camera Lens 

Maison Guigal in Ampuis, Côte Rôtie, Northern Rhône: Cellar Tour, Tasting and Vineyard Tour - Rhône Valley Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France

Tour and Tasting at Château Haut-Bailly, Graves, Appellation Pessac-Léognan, Grand Cru Classé, with Cellar Master Jean Christoph - Bordeaux Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours, France

2022 Annual Riesling Party at the Schiller Residence in McLean, Virginia, USA 

Massive Tasting of Bordeaux 1982 - the Vintage that made Robert Parker a Star, USA/ France

Kékfrankos - Blaufränkisch - Lemberger: A Grape’s Immigration Story From Central Europe To The US West Coast - Seminar at the 2023 American Wine Society National Conference in St. Louis/ Missouri/ USA led by Annette Schiller

All Sorts of Sparklers: How do the Bubbles get into that Bottle? - Tasting at the American Wine Society (NoVa Chapter) led by Annette Schiller 

The New German Wine Law of 2021 - Tasting at the German Wine Society (Washington DC Chapter), presented by Annette Schiller  

Christian Schiller: Re-elected to the Board of the "Weinfeder", the Association of German Wine Journalists

20 Best Washington DC (USA) Alcohol Blogs + Websites (December 31, 2023): #3 schiller-wine by Christian Schiller 

2024 Annual Meeting of the Weinfreundeskreis Hochheim, a 45 Years Old Wine Brotherhood in the Famous Wine Village Hochheim, Rheingau, Germany, with Annette Schiller, Founding Member, and Christian Schiller

German Wine Society (Capital Chapter) Membership Meeting 2024: Carl Willner Re-elected President and Christian Schiller Re-elected Vice-president, USA/ Germany

Masterclass - The Wines of Germany: Presentation by Annette Schiller at the German Embassy in Washington DC/ Consular Conference March 2024






 

The New German Wine Law of 2021 - Shifting from the Sugar Level at Harvest to the Wine's Geographic Origin

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On November 26, 2020, the German parliament passed a new wine law, which took effect on January 27, 2021. 

Importantly, the new German wine law introduces a new hierarchy to determine the quality of wine - the Romanesque model of origin. The emphasis shifts from the sugar level to the wine’s geographic origin. The bottom line is the quality promise: the narrower the geographical indication, the higher the quality. This concept follows the “terroir” principle, well-known from the classification in Burgundy and elsewhere. 

From the bottom to the top of the terroir quality ladder, the winemaking requirements are getting more demanding, in terms of grape varieties allowed, maximum yield, minimum must concentration, harvesting methods (hand versus machine) and sensory characteristics.

At the same time, the Prädikate system, based on the sugar level in the grapes at harvest - Kabinett, Spätlese, Auslese, ... - remains in place but has been adjusted and shifted to the backburner. 

As under the old law, the Prädikatsystem is only applicable to Qualitätswein. 

Unlike under the old law, wines with a Prädikat are sweet under the new law. Previously, wines with a Prädikat could be dry (with the adjective "trocken" added, for example, Kabinett trocken) or sweet. 

Also, the Prädikat system has lost its significance in terms of being a quality indicator. Under the new law the quality is determined by the terroir principle and at each level of quality, you can have Kabinett, Spätlese, Auslese,..... Thus the Prädikat wines range from entry-level wines to ultra-premium wines. In a way, disregarding the noble-sweet Eiswein, Beerenauslese and Trockenbeerenauslese wines, the Prädikat system has shifted from a quality indicator to a sweetness scale. 

The EU System

The new German wine quality system is consistent with the European Union’s three-tier quality pyramid scheme which has been in place since 2012. 

The EU distinguishes wine without a geographic designation from wine with a geographic designation. 

The latter can be either wine with a Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) or wine with a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO).

Deutscher Wein, Landwein, Qualitätswein

Deutscher Wein (German Wine) is at the bottom of the quality pyramid - Wine without a geographic designation.

Landwein (Country Wine) is one step up - Wine with a Protected Geographical Indication (PGI, German: geschützte geografische Angabe or g.g.A.)

Qualitätswein (Quality Wine) is at the top of the quality pyramid - Wine with a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO, German: geschützte Ursprungsbezeichnung or g.U.)

I. Deutscher Wein - No Further Indication of Provenance
 
Deutscher Wein is the lowest quality level of German wine. There is no further indication of provenance than "Germany".  The quality requirements are the lowest. Any grape variety, for example, is allowed. 

II. Landwein - Protected Designation of Geographical Origin (PGI)

One step up on the quality pyramid is Landwein. Landwein accounts for less than 10% of all German wine, but is growing. 

There are 26 Landwein wine regions.

Although at the low end of the quality ladder of German wine, there is not only entry-level Landwein but also premium and ultra-premium Landwein: 

First, wines that are of low quality and do not meet the quality criteria of Qualitätswein.
 
Second, wines that are of high quality but do not meet the criteria of Qualitätswein, for example by using a grape variety that is not in the catalogue of allowed grape varieties in the region. This is similar to the so called Super Tuscan wines in Italy.

Third, wines that are of high quality but the winemaker does not want to go through the evalution process required for the wine as, for example, he or she is not filtering the wines.

III. Qualitätswein -  Protected Designation of Origin (PDO)
 
Qualitätswein is the top-level of wine in the German wine quality ladder. 
 
There are two kinds of Qualitätswein: Qualitätswein (without Prädikat) and Qualitätswein with Prädikat
 
Qualitätswein (without Prädikat) is always dry and can be enriched (chaptalized) with a legally limited amount of sugar before fermentation in order to inrease the alcohol content of the wine. Landwein and Deutscher Wein can also be enriched, but not Qualitätswein with Prädikat. 
 
Qualitätswein with Prädikat is always sweet - fruity-sweet or noble-sweet. Fruity-sweet wines are made sweet by stopping the fermentation (Kabinett, Spätlese, Auslese), noble-sweet wines are sweet because of the excessively high amount of sugar in the grape at harvest, which can not be fully fermented to dryness (Eiswein, Beerrenauslese, Trockenbeerenauslese). 
 
In order for a wine to be a Qualitätswein with Prädikat, the wine needs to fullfill two requirements, one at harvest and the other one in the glass as finished wine. Let's take Spätlese as an example.
 
First, at harvest, the grapes need to have at least Spätlese level in terms of sugar content.
 
Second, in the glass, the wine needs to be sweet. The wine needs to be in the sweetness corridor determined by the regional wine association. Put it differently, there is no Spätlese trocken anymore.
 
For both of the two kinds of Qualitätswein - without and with Prädikat - there are 4 different levels of quality.
 
A. Anbaugebiet - Growing Area

At the lowest level of the Qualitätswein pyramid, wines from one of the 13 German Qualitätswein areas. They are different from the 26 Landwein areas. The wines can be either Qualitätswein without Prädikat or with Prädikat. 

If the label just says Qualitätswein Mosel, for example, the wine will be dry and from the Mosel area. 

If the wine is sweet, a Prädikat needs to be on the label as well indicating the level of sweetness in the wine. A Mosel Spätlese, for example, would be an entry-level fruity-sweet wine from the Mosel. 

On the label, Qualitätswein can be replaced by the indication “wine with a protected designation of origin” combined with the name of a winegrowing area

B. Region - Region
 
“Region” is a sub-area of an Anbaugebiet.
 
Wine previously sold under a "Grosslage" designation (a Grosslage is an aggregation of several single vineyards) falls under this category. Grosslage designations were not abolished by the new law but will become more obvious for consumers as they will have to be clearly marked by the word "Region" preceding the Grosslage. 
 
Also, the use of the name of a village is not permitted for Grosslage wines anymore. This is reserved for single vineyards. If there is a village and a vineyard on the label, the wine cannot be from a Grosslage but must be from a single vineyard.
 
Wines from the well known Piesporter Michelsberg, for example, with the grapes possibly coming from a vast number of vineyards in the Piesport region, will need to be labelled as Region Michelsberg. 

But there is an exception: The use of the village name is allowed if at least 85 percent of the grapes originate from the indicated village. In this case, to follow our example, the wine would be sold as Region Piesporter Michelsberg.

C. Ortswein – Village   
 
Similar to the quality ladder in the Bourgogne, there will be wines at the village level: Ortswein. These are wines which come from vineyards within the boundaries of a village named on the label.

Wines in the Ortswein category must have been harvested at least at the Kabinett level in terms of sugar content (according to the Prädikat system).

The label would say, for example, Qualitätswein Hochheim. The grapes are from any of the vieyards of the village of Hochheim.

D. Lagenwein – Single Vineyard 
 
The top category of the Qualitätswein pyramid is Lagenwein - single vineyard wine. The name of a single vineyard must be on the label with the name of the village, for example, Hochheimer (village) Hölle (single vineyard).

There are three sup-groups of Lagenwein: 
 
Grosse Lage - Grand Cru, at the top, 
 
Erste Lage - Premier Cru, one step below, 
 
and all other - not classified - single vineyards.
 
a. Erste Lage – Premier Cru 

If an Erste Lage wine is dry, it is a "Erstes Gewächs".

b. Große Lage – Grand Cru 
 
If a Grosse Lage wine is dry, it is a "Grosses Gewächs". 

As with all single vineyard wines, for a Grosse Lage wine, the village must also appear on the label. This is contrary to current practice of the VDP to show only the vineyard on the label of their Grosse Lage wines, i.e. Morstein and not Westhofener Morstein.

Gewann

A Gewann is a specific plot in a single vineyard. It can be considered the equivalent of the French lieu-dit. If the Gewann is included in the villages vineyard register, it can be mentioned on the label in case the grapes are all from this Gewann.  

Implementation

The implementation will be progressive and will be binding from the 2026 vintage.

Take-aways

Gutswein/ Estate Wine does not exist in the Law

The term Gutswein, which is prominent in the VDP classification, does not exist in the new wine law of 2021. 

Gutswein is the entry-level wine of VDP estates, indicating that the wine is from any vineyard of the estate.  

Kabinett, Spätlese and Auslese are Sweet

A widesprerad believe in the USA, for example, is that Kabinett, Spätlese and Auslese are sweet wines. Often this is indeed the case. But it is not backed by the pre-2021 German wine law. According to the German wine law of 1971, Kabinett, Spätlese and Auslese are determined by the sugar content in the grapes at harvest. For all these categories the amounts of sugar in the must are such that Kabinett, Spätlese and Auslese are - if you let the fermentation go through - dry wines. However, German winemakers make them sweet by stopping the fermentation. 

This has now been rectified by the German wine law of 2021. The requirements for a Kabinett, Spätlese and Auslese are a certain level of sugar in the grapes at harvest and a certain sugar level in the wine in the glass. Kabinett trocken, Spätlese trocken and Auslese trocken do not exist anymore.

Classified and Non-classified Vineyards

The fact that the law refers to Grosse Lage and Erste Lage vineyards implies that all single vineyards need to be evaluated and grouped into Grosse Lage, Erste Lage and others. There are old vineyard cards prepared by the Prussian tax authorities, a wealth of data at Geisenheim University and other information available. Still, it will take some time for the specially founded regional protection associations, which have been charged with that task, to agree in close consultation with stakeholders from associations and winegrowers on a classification of the vineyards in Germany.

Prädikatswein lost Superiority over Qualitätswein

Many of my American wine friends regard a Qualitätswein mit Prädikat as superior to a Qualitätswein (without Prädikat). With the move to a terroir-based quality ladder - Region, Area, Village, Singel Vineyard - and the relegation of the Prädikate system to simple indicators of sweetness, this view is no longer supported by the new German wine law. Under the new law, all wines above Deutscher Wein and Landwein will be a Qualitätswein, if they are dry, from the regional level up to the top level of single vineyard Grosses Gewächs or will be Qualitätswein mit Prädikat, if they are sweet, from the regional level up to the top level of single vineyard. Qualitätswein is at a par with Prädikatswein.

schiller-wine: Related Postings 

Announcement: 2024 Tours by ombiasy (Annette Schiller) - Loire Valley, German Classic, Rhône

Announcement: Loire Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours (Sunday, June 09 - Thursday June 20, 2024)

Announcement: Wines from the Loire Valley - Tasting at the NoLoCo (Northern Loudoun County) Chapter of the American Wine Society on April 14, 2024, led by Annette Schiller

Summary: Germany "From Berlin to Frankfurt" 2023 (Saale Unstrut, Sachsen, Franken, Württemberg) by ombiasy WineTours

Summary: From Lyon to Paris - Total Immersion in Burgundy and Champagne 2023 by ombiasy WineTours (July 02 - 13, 2023)

Summary: Austria 2023 by ombiasy WineTours - 12 Days: May 28 - June 08, 2023

Christian Schiller`s SCHILLER-WINE Blog on Corking Wines` Top 101 Wine Writers of 2020 List

The 2023 American Wine Society National Conference in St. Louis/ Missouri/ USA: Seen Through Christian Schiller's Camera Lens 

Maison Guigal in Ampuis, Côte Rôtie, Northern Rhône: Cellar Tour, Tasting and Vineyard Tour - Rhône Valley Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France

Tour and Tasting at Château Haut-Bailly, Graves, Appellation Pessac-Léognan, Grand Cru Classé, with Cellar Master Jean Christoph - Bordeaux Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours, France

2022 Annual Riesling Party at the Schiller Residence in McLean, Virginia, USA 

Massive Tasting of Bordeaux 1982 - the Vintage that made Robert Parker a Star, USA/ France

Kékfrankos - Blaufränkisch - Lemberger: A Grape’s Immigration Story From Central Europe To The US West Coast - Seminar at the 2023 American Wine Society National Conference in St. Louis/ Missouri/ USA led by Annette Schiller

All Sorts of Sparklers: How do the Bubbles get into that Bottle? - Tasting at the American Wine Society (NoVa Chapter) led by Annette Schiller 

The New German Wine Law of 2021 - Tasting at the German Wine Society (Washington DC Chapter), presented by Annette Schiller  

Christian Schiller: Re-elected to the Board of the "Weinfeder", the Association of German Wine Journalists

20 Best Washington DC (USA) Alcohol Blogs + Websites (December 31, 2023): #3 schiller-wine by Christian Schiller 

2024 Annual Meeting of the Weinfreundeskreis Hochheim, a 45 Years Old Wine Brotherhood in the Famous Wine Village Hochheim, Rheingau, Germany, with Annette Schiller, Founding Member, and Christian Schiller

German Wine Society (Capital Chapter) Membership Meeting 2024: Carl Willner Re-elected President and Christian Schiller Re-elected Vice-president, USA/ Germany

Masterclass - The Wines of Germany: Presentation by Annette Schiller at the German Embassy in Washington DC/ Consular Conference March 2024











 


 

German and Austria Winemakers (Clemens Busch, Kühn, Meinklang, Frank John) at the Salons des Vins - all with a Focus on Natural, Organic, Biodynamic and Low-intervention Producers - in February in Angers and Saumur, Loire Valley, France (February 2024)

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In preparation of the forthcoming Loire Valley Tour 2024 by ombiasy WineTours, Annette and I spent 2 nights in Angers in order to visit various wine fairs. 

See here:  Salons des Vins - all with a Focus on Natural, Organic, Biodynamic and Low-intervention Producers in the Loire Valley and elsewhere in France and Europe - in February in Angers and Samour, Loire Valley, France (February 2024)
 
At these wine fairs there were a few wine producers from Germany and Austria that Annette and I knew personally. This posting focusses on these German and Austria winemakers.

Salons des Vins - with a Focus on Natural, Organic, Biodynamic and Low Intervention Wines - in Angers and Samour

There were several wine fairs in the region in early February. At least 3 are noteworthy and we went to 2 of them:  

(1) The Salon des Vins Grenier Saint Jean, a wine fair with natural wine producers at the Le Grenier Saint Jean in Angers. 

250 producers. I guess 25% of the producers were from the Loire, 50% from other French wine regions and 25% from other European countries, including 4 producers from Germany. The fair took place in 2 large halls.

(2) Salon Angers Loire dégusT’

The Salon Angers Loire degusT' 2024 - with about 600 producers - consisted of 3 salons des vins: 

Salon des Vins Demeter (100 demeter certified producers), La Levée de la Loire (300 bio producers) and Salon des Vins de Loire (200 regular producers). 

(3) La Dive Bouteille in Saumur

We did not attend La Dive Bouteille, which bills itself as the world’s largest annual natural wine fair. But Kevin Pike of Schatzi Wines in the USA did.


 
Salon des Vins Grenier Saint Jean 
 
(February 3 and 4 in Angers) 
 
We spent a day at the Salon des Vins Grenier Saint Jean, a wine fair with natural wine producers at the Le Grenier Saint Jean in Angers. 

While our focus was on producers from the region for the forthcoming Loire 2024 Tour by Ombiasy, we also made room in our schedule for meeting old friends and #worldclass producers from Germany and Austria showcasing their wines there: Peter Jakob Kühn, Meinklang- Werner Michlits,Frank John, Clemens Busch. 

See here:  Salons des Vins - all with a Focus on Natural, Organic, Biodynamic and Low-intervention Producers in the Loire Valley and elsewhere in France and Europe - in February in Angers and Samour, Loire Valley, France (February 2024)

Weingut Clemens Busch in Angers


   


 
Weingut Clemens Busch in Germany and in the USA

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

Pictures: Annette Schiller, Christian Schiller and Clemens Busch at Panda Gourmet, Washington DC. See: Wine-pairing Dinner with Clemens Busch, Weingut Clemens Busch, Mosel, at Panda Gourmet in Washington DC, USA

Picture: Annette and Christian Schiller at the Rieslingfeier 2017 in New York City with Clemens Busch. See: The Annual "Slaughterhouse" Riesling Feast in New York: Rieslingfeier 2017, USA

Pictures: Annette Schiller, Clemens Busch and Christian Schiller in Washington DC, USA in 2014. See: German Star Winemaker Clemens Busch, Weingut Clemens Busch in the Mosel Valley, in Washington DC, USA

Picture: Gernot Kollmann, Weingut Immich-Batterieberg, Annette Schiller, ombiasy WineTours, Dominik Sona and Franzi Schmitt, Weingut Koehler-Ruprecht and Clemens Busch, Weingut Clemens Busch, at Bart Vandaele's BToo in Washington DC. 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: In Seattle, Washington State, in 2013, during the 4th Riesling Rendezvous: Clemens Busch, Christian Schiller and Hermann Wiemer, founder of Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyards in the Finger Lakes Region in New York State. See: The World of Riesling in Seattle - Fourth Riesling Rendezvous in Washington State, USA

Weingut Frank John in Angers


Weingut Frank John in Germany

Pictures: Tasting in the Courtyard and Cellar Tour with Frank John at Weingut Frank John in Neustadt an der Weinstraße, Pfalz - Germany-South and Alsace 2022 by ombiasy WineTours

Meinklang - Werner Michlitz in Angers



 
Meinklang - Werner Michlitz in Austria
 




Pictures: At the Forefront of Biodynamic Winemaking: Visiting Werner and Angela Michlits and their Weingut Meinklang in Austria

Weingut Peter Jakob Kühn in Angers



Weingut Peter Jakob Kühn in 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

Pictures: Winemaker of the Year Peter Jakob Kühn, Bernhard Kühn, Angela Kühn, Weingut Kühn, Oestrich, Giuseppe Lauria, Gault Millau (Rheingau) and Christian Schiller at the Gault and Millau Awards Ceremony in Mainz

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

Picture: 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


Pictures: With Sandra Kühn-Quenter during the 2014 Tour by ombiasy WineTours

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

Salon Angers Loire dégusT’

(February 5 and 6 in Angers)

The Salon Angers Loire degusT' 2024 - with about 600 producers - consisted of 3 salons des vins: Salon des Vins Demeter (100 demeter certified producers), La Levée de la Loire (300 bio producers) and Salon des Vins de Loire (200 regular producers).








Weingut Rieger in Angers




Weingut Kühling-Gillot & Weingut Battenfeld Spanier in Angers




Weingut Battenfeld-Spanier in Germany

Pictures: Christian Schiller with H. O. Spanier and Caroline Spanier-Gillot at a Tasting in Bodenheim. See: The Wine Maker Couple H.O. Spanier and Carolin Spanier-Gillot, with Roland Gillot, Lead Wine Tasting of Kuehling-Gillot and Battenfeld-Spanier Wines at Weingut Kuehling-Gillot, Germany

Pictures: At a Tasting in Bodenheim at Weingut Kuehling-Gillot. See: The Wine Maker Couple H.O. Spanier and Carolin Spanier-Gillot, with Roland Gillot, Lead Wine Tasting of Kuehling-Gillot and Battenfeld-Spanier Wines at Weingut Kuehling-Gillot, Germany

Weingut Kühling-Gillot in Germany

Pictures: Tasting with Carolin Spanier-Gillot, Weingut Battenfeld-Spanier and Weingut Kühling-Gillot, in Hohen-Sülzen - Germany-South and Alsace 2018 Tour by ombiasy WineTours

La Dive Bouteille

(February 4 and 5 in Saumur) 

We did not attend La Dive Bouteille. Broken Palate (Jason Wilson 2020): I was thinking about dumb phases during my visit last week to the Loire Valley, where I attended La Dive Bouteille, which bills itself as the world’s largest annual natural wine fair. It’s held in the town of Saumur, with more than 200 natural winemakers from throughout Europe, pouring their wines deep in the labyrinthine, troglodyte cellar of Caves Ackerman.

The fair itself was fun. Natural wine has become its own subculture at this point and so the laziest of observations would be, “there are more tattoos and piercings and whatnot than at a usual wine fair!” Yes, duh. I found that myself and others, particularly the men, hewed to a certain natural wine uniform: beard and/or man bun, hoodie, flannel, beanie, shoes we believe to be cool. For lack of imagination, let’s call it the “aging skateboarder” look. 

The atmosphere was different than a typical, staid wine fair where trade and journalists politely taste and spit and there’s usually a color-coded map with table numbers and professional signage. La Dive Bouteille is loud, dark, and you can barely read the hand-scrawled white posters with winery names taped to the walls. And people are drinking. At 6 o’clock, the entire fair takes over a wine bar in the center of Saumur called La Tonnelle. 

LOIRE VALLEY: Sunday, June 09 - Thursday June 20, 2024 
 
Annette Schiller: What comes to your mind when you hear ‘Loire Valley’? Of course images of glorious Châteaux pop up in your mind. Yes that is true and we will visit some iconic château and dig deep into France’s history. However, during this wine tour we also discover a magnificent, but often overlooked French wine region and one of the most exciting best kept secrets of excellent, high quality wines at very reasonable prices. The Loire Valley wine region is a vast area and consists of several distinct wine regions, each with its own characteristic grapes, appellations, and wine style. We take you on a journey from the Atlantic Ocean to the Auvergne mountains to explore this unique region. We learn to appreciate “Sancerre”, "Pouilly-Fumé", “Vouvray", “Chinon”, as well as many other not so familiar appellations.

See: Announcement: Loire Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours (Sunday, June 09 - Thursday June 20, 2024) 










  
   

 
Postings on Schiller-wine Related to the Upcoming 2024 Loire Trip by ombiasy WineTours
 
This is the 20th in a series of postings on Schiller-wine related to the 2024 Loire Valley Trip by ombiasy WineTours in June.
 
A Journey Through The Loire Valley - Seminar at the 2023 American Wine Society National Conference in St. Louis/ Missouri/ USA led by Annette Schiller

Plateau des Fruits de Mer and a Muscadet Sèvre et Maine Sur Lie at Historic Brasserie Cigale in Nantes, Loire Valley, France (February 2024)
 
Announcement: Loire Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours (Sunday, June 09 - Thursday June 20, 2024)
 
Salons des Vins - all with a Focus on Natural, Organic, Biodynamic and Low-intervention Producers in the Loire Valley and elsewhere in France and Europe - in February in Angers and Samour, Loire Valley, France (February 2024)
 
 
Announcement: "The Wines of the Loire Valley" presented by Annette Schiller at the American Wine Society/ Northern Virginia Chapter on March 8, 2024
 
Visiting Natural Wine Producer Liv Vincendeau - Domäne Vincendeau in Rochefort sur Loire/ Anjou (February 2024) 
 
 
 
Moon - Monks - Michelin: Overnight stay and 1-star Michelin Dinner at the Abbaye Royale de Fontevraud, with Chef Thibaut Ruggeri (February 2024)
 
Fine de Claire, #3 Oysters from Cancale, the Oyster Capital of Brittany, and a 2022 Domaine Henry Pellé, Menetou-Salon, Saugnon-Blanc in Tours, Loire Valley, France (February 2024)
 
At Château de Pray, a Loire Château from the 12th Century and a Michelin Star: Overnight Stay and High-end Dinner in an Historic Setting (February 2024)
 
A Journey through the Loire Valley - Tasting at the American Wine Society (Northern Virginia Chapter), led by Annette Schiller (March 2024)
 
Château de Chambord - Not only a Famous Loire Palace, but also an AOC Cheverny Wine Producer
 
 
Dinner at Au P'tit Goûter - a Friendly Little Bistro right in the Middle of Chavignol, Sancerre, Loire Valley - with Front-of-the-house Jérémy, Chef Jérôme Germain and Tuscany (February 2024)
 
 
A Journey through the Vineyards of the Loire Valley - Tasting at the Washington Wine and Cheese Seminar, led by Annette Schiller (March 2024)
 
Announcement: Wines from the Loire Valley - Tasting at the NoLoCo (Northern Loudoun County) Chapter of the American Wine Society on April 14, 2024, led by Annette Schiller
 

Loire Winemaker Dinner with Clément Berthier, Sancerre, at Bastille Brasserie in Alexandria, Virginia, USA

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Two months ahead of Loire 2024 by ombiasy, organized and led by Annette Schiller, Annette and I attended a fantastic winemaker dinner with Clément Berthier, Sancerre, at Bastille Brasserie in Alexandria. We will spend the last 2 nights of the tour in Sancerre and hopefully also visit Clément& Florian Berthier.

This outstanding wine dinner was organized by Marc Lotterie of Elite Wines.

Clément& Florian Berthier/ Elite Wines

This vineyard stretches from one end of the Loire’s riverbanks to the other, from Sancerre to the Coteaux du Giennois. Clément and Florian Berthier combine traditional and modern-day practices to carry out the mission conferred upon them by their father, to preserve the family heritage with the same diligence. The three grape varieties cultivated here are the Sauvignon Blanc for the white wine and Pinot Noir & Gamay for the reds and rosés.

  • Appellation: Coteaux du Giennois, Sancerre, Pouilly Fumé and Menetou Salon
  • Owner: Clement & Florian Berthier
  • Winemaker: Clement & Florian Berthier - 5 Generations
  • Varieties Grown: Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Gamay
  • Hectares/Age of Vines: 50
  • Altitude/Soil: Between 200-400 meters above sea level. Limestone, Silex, and Marne.
  • Farming Methods: Organic - Certified | Biodynamic

Bastille Brasserie

Chefs Christophe & Michelle Poteaux opened Bastille in 2006. Christoph and Michelle were both working at the Watergate Hotel before they opened Bastille.

Bringing the flavors and aromas of France to Old Town Alexandria, Bastille Brasserie and Bar is a popular family-owned restaurant which has been pleasing palates since 2006. The restaurant is owned by chefs Christophe and Michelle Poteaux, who bring their own unique twist to traditional French bistro dishes, inspired by whatever is fresh and seasonal. You can choose to dine at an intimate table for two in the dining room or opt to enjoy a lighter meal at the bar.
 
See: Burgundy Dinner at Bastille Brasserie & Bar in Alexandria, VA, with the Food of Chefs Christophe & Michelle Poteaux and the Wines of Ed Addiss and Barbara Selig (Wine Traditions), Washington DC (September 2023)
 
Arriving 
 


Five Wines + Five Courses 

Tuesday, April 9, 2024 | 6:30pm | $115 pp ++





APERITIF
Amuse
Gougères au Chèvre
L’Instant, Sauvignon Blanc, VDF 2022




PREMIER
“Marmite de Fruits de Mer”
Bay Scallops | Clams | Mussels | Lemon | Crème Fraiche | Brioche
Coteaux du Giennois, Sauvignon Blanc, 2022




DEUXIÈME
“Flétan de l’Atlantique” GF
Atlantique Halibut | Cauliflower | Beurre Blanc aux Fines Herbes
Sancerre, Sauvignon Blanc, 2022



TROISIÈME
“Lapin au Poivre Rose” GF
Braised Amish Rabbit | Pink Peppercorn Sauce | Lardons | Broccolini
Coteaux du Giennois, Pinot Noir - Gamay 2021







QUATRIÈME
“Galette au Chèvre”
Herbed Goat Cheese | Caramelized Onion-Orange | Thyme | Flatbread
L’Instant, Pinot Noir, VDF 2022



DOUCEURS
Mignardise


The Wines


Chef Christophe Poteaux




Bye-bye

 
LOIRE VALLEY: Sunday, June 09 - Thursday June 20, 2024 
 
Annette Schiller: What comes to your mind when you hear ‘Loire Valley’? Of course images of glorious Châteaux pop up in your mind. Yes that is true and we will visit some iconic château and dig deep into France’s history. However, during this wine tour we also discover a magnificent, but often overlooked French wine region and one of the most exciting best kept secrets of excellent, high quality wines at very reasonable prices. The Loire Valley wine region is a vast area and consists of several distinct wine regions, each with its own characteristic grapes, appellations, and wine style. We take you on a journey from the Atlantic Ocean to the Auvergne mountains to explore this unique region. We learn to appreciate “Sancerre”, "Pouilly-Fumé", “Vouvray", “Chinon”, as well as many other not so familiar appellations.

See: Announcement: Loire Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours (Sunday, June 09 - Thursday June 20, 2024) 










  
   

 
Postings on Schiller-wine Related to the Upcoming 2024 Loire Trip by ombiasy WineTours
 
This is the 20th in a series of postings on Schiller-wine related to the 2024 Loire Valley Trip by ombiasy WineTours in June.
 
A Journey Through The Loire Valley - Seminar at the 2023 American Wine Society National Conference in St. Louis/ Missouri/ USA led by Annette Schiller

Plateau des Fruits de Mer and a Muscadet Sèvre et Maine Sur Lie at Historic Brasserie Cigale in Nantes, Loire Valley, France (February 2024)
 
Announcement: Loire Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours (Sunday, June 09 - Thursday June 20, 2024)
 
Salons des Vins - all with a Focus on Natural, Organic, Biodynamic and Low-intervention Producers in the Loire Valley and elsewhere in France and Europe - in February in Angers and Samour, Loire Valley, France (February 2024)
 
 
Announcement: "The Wines of the Loire Valley" presented by Annette Schiller at the American Wine Society/ Northern Virginia Chapter on March 8, 2024
 
Visiting Natural Wine Producer Liv Vincendeau - Domäne Vincendeau in Rochefort sur Loire/ Anjou (February 2024) 
 
 
 
Moon - Monks - Michelin: Overnight stay and 1-star Michelin Dinner at the Abbaye Royale de Fontevraud, with Chef Thibaut Ruggeri (February 2024)
 
Fine de Claire, #3 Oysters from Cancale, the Oyster Capital of Brittany, and a 2022 Domaine Henry Pellé, Menetou-Salon, Saugnon-Blanc in Tours, Loire Valley, France (February 2024)
 
At Château de Pray, a Loire Château from the 12th Century and a Michelin Star: Overnight Stay and High-end Dinner in an Historic Setting (February 2024)
 
A Journey through the Loire Valley - Tasting at the American Wine Society (Northern Virginia Chapter), led by Annette Schiller (March 2024)
 
Château de Chambord - Not only a Famous Loire Palace, but also an AOC Cheverny Wine Producer
 
 
Dinner at Au P'tit Goûter - a Friendly Little Bistro right in the Middle of Chavignol, Sancerre, Loire Valley - with Front-of-the-house Jérémy, Chef Jérôme Germain and Tuscany (February 2024)
 
 
A Journey through the Vineyards of the Loire Valley - Tasting at the Washington Wine and Cheese Seminar, led by Annette Schiller (March 2024)
 
Announcement: Wines from the Loire Valley - Tasting at the NoLoCo (Northern Loudoun County) Chapter of the American Wine Society on April 14, 2024, led by Annette Schiller
 
 
German and Austria Winemakers (Clemens Busch, Kühn, Meinklang, Frank John) at the Salons des Vins - all with a Focus on Natural, Organic, Biodynamic and Low-intervention Producers - in February in Angers and Saumur, Loire Valley, France (February 2024)

 


Loire Wine Dinner at The Elkridge Furnace Inn (Greater Baltimore Area) with Chef Dan Wecker

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At the suggestion of Roland Young, we went to The Elkridge Furnace Inn and Garden House in the Greater Baltimore area for a Loire Wine Dinner. In contrast to other events, there was no winemaker present nor an importer or distributor presenting his portfolio. The wines were the personal choices of Chef Dan Wecker, who also presented the wines along with the food. While it took us more than 2 hours to go there (and only 45 minutes to go back home), it was a most enjoyable and memorable evening. We will be back. 

Invitation

Welcome to the Loire Wine Dinner at The Elkridge Furnace Inn! 

Join us for an evening of exquisite wines from the Loire Valley paired with a delectable multi-course meal. Indulge in the flavors of this renowned wine region while enjoying the charming ambiance of our historic venue. This themed, chef-curated dinner promises to be a memorable experience for wine enthusiasts and food lovers alike. Award-winning Chef, Dan Wecker has quite a following! Reserve your spot now for a delightful evening of fine dining and exceptional wines...

Elkridge Furnace Inn offers upscale farm-to-table dining on a seasonal menu including daily specials highlighting on-site gardens. Lots of garden dining under our climate controlled tented space as well as limited indoor dining in an historic setting.

Washington Post: The Elkridge Furnace Inn is a Shocker

Within a stone's throw of afternoon gridlock at Route 1 and Interstate 195, this is a proper early American estate, complete with a three-story manor house, sweeping views of the Patapsco River, huge trees and meandering brick paths. Step inside and it's oh, so soothing. There are tasteful bronze and crystal chandeliers, upholstered gilt chairs, long and lush tablecloths, cheery fireplaces and a real conversation-level ambience.

The inn is the dream and passion of owner-chef Dan Wecker, who bought the property in 1988 and spent six years restoring its 23 rooms, supporting himself with catering jobs and work as a commercial printer.

Half the inn serves as a popular location for storybook weddings. The restaurant, on the first and second floors, is a respite for diners and for Wecker.

Although the French food has earned the inn a reputation as a destination or special-event restaurant -- and it is that, too -- there is nothing pretentious about the menu. Wecker said he doesn't want diners to be intimidated or even to think they have to get really dressed up to dine there. The menu is in French and English, with an explanation of the preparations. 

Loire Wine Dinner at The Elkridge Furnace Inn 

Arriving








 
Loire Wine Dinner
 


Reception
 





First Course
 






Salad




Main





Dessert



Kitchen and Service Team


The Wines


Bye-bye

Happy Birthday John


LOIRE VALLEY: Sunday, June 09 - Thursday June 20, 2024 
 
Annette Schiller: What comes to your mind when you hear ‘Loire Valley’? Of course images of glorious Châteaux pop up in your mind. Yes that is true and we will visit some iconic château and dig deep into France’s history. However, during this wine tour we also discover a magnificent, but often overlooked French wine region and one of the most exciting best kept secrets of excellent, high quality wines at very reasonable prices. The Loire Valley wine region is a vast area and consists of several distinct wine regions, each with its own characteristic grapes, appellations, and wine style. We take you on a journey from the Atlantic Ocean to the Auvergne mountains to explore this unique region. We learn to appreciate “Sancerre”, "Pouilly-Fumé", “Vouvray", “Chinon”, as well as many other not so familiar appellations.

See: Announcement: Loire Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours (Sunday, June 09 - Thursday June 20, 2024) 










  
   

 
Postings on Schiller-wine Related to the Upcoming 2024 Loire Trip by ombiasy WineTours
 
This is the 20th in a series of postings on Schiller-wine related to the 2024 Loire Valley Trip by ombiasy WineTours in June.
 
A Journey Through The Loire Valley - Seminar at the 2023 American Wine Society National Conference in St. Louis/ Missouri/ USA led by Annette Schiller

Plateau des Fruits de Mer and a Muscadet Sèvre et Maine Sur Lie at Historic Brasserie Cigale in Nantes, Loire Valley, France (February 2024)
 
Announcement: Loire Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours (Sunday, June 09 - Thursday June 20, 2024)
 
Salons des Vins - all with a Focus on Natural, Organic, Biodynamic and Low-intervention Producers in the Loire Valley and elsewhere in France and Europe - in February in Angers and Samour, Loire Valley, France (February 2024)
 
 
Announcement: "The Wines of the Loire Valley" presented by Annette Schiller at the American Wine Society/ Northern Virginia Chapter on March 8, 2024
 
Visiting Natural Wine Producer Liv Vincendeau - Domäne Vincendeau in Rochefort sur Loire/ Anjou (February 2024) 
 
 
 
Moon - Monks - Michelin: Overnight stay and 1-star Michelin Dinner at the Abbaye Royale de Fontevraud, with Chef Thibaut Ruggeri (February 2024)
 
Fine de Claire, #3 Oysters from Cancale, the Oyster Capital of Brittany, and a 2022 Domaine Henry Pellé, Menetou-Salon, Saugnon-Blanc in Tours, Loire Valley, France (February 2024)
 
At Château de Pray, a Loire Château from the 12th Century and a Michelin Star: Overnight Stay and High-end Dinner in an Historic Setting (February 2024)
 
A Journey through the Loire Valley - Tasting at the American Wine Society (Northern Virginia Chapter), led by Annette Schiller (March 2024)
 
Château de Chambord - Not only a Famous Loire Palace, but also an AOC Cheverny Wine Producer
 
 
Dinner at Au P'tit Goûter - a Friendly Little Bistro right in the Middle of Chavignol, Sancerre, Loire Valley - with Front-of-the-house Jérémy, Chef Jérôme Germain and Tuscany (February 2024)
 
 
A Journey through the Vineyards of the Loire Valley - Tasting at the Washington Wine and Cheese Seminar, led by Annette Schiller (March 2024)
 
Announcement: Wines from the Loire Valley - Tasting at the NoLoCo (Northern Loudoun County) Chapter of the American Wine Society on April 14, 2024, led by Annette Schiller
 
 
German and Austria Winemakers (Clemens Busch, Kühn, Meinklang, Frank John) at the Salons des Vins - all with a Focus on Natural, Organic, Biodynamic and Low-intervention Producers - in February in Angers and Saumur, Loire Valley, France (February 2024)
 
Loire Winemaker Dinner with Clément Berthier, Sancerre, at Bastille Brasserie in Alexandria, Virginia, USA




ANNOUNCING THE GERMAN WINE SOCIETY’S SPRING FESTIVAL CELEBRATION AT THE GERMAN EMBASSY IN WASHINGTON, D.C. ON MAY 3, 2024!

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ANNOUNCING THE GERMAN WINE SOCIETY’S SPRING FESTIVAL CELEBRATION AT THE GERMAN EMBASSY IN WASHINGTON, D.C. ON MAY 3, 2024!

 

German Wine Society Members and Friends of German Wine,


It is a pleasure to announce that the German Embassy has invited us once again to hold an event  at the German Embassy House!  And for this event, our asparagus-themed Spring Festival dinner, we will also have the opportunity to enjoy once again the cuisine of the German Embassy’s new chef, Mikko Kosenen of Mikko Nordic Fine Foods.  Chef Mikko also operates a restaurant in Washington, D.C., and was formerly executive chef for the Ambassador of Finland.  Please plan to join us to share our love of German wine paired with asparagus dishes, at the German Embassy where the German Wine Society began.


Spring in Washington announces itself with cherry blossoms, migrating songbirds, and tasty ramps at farmers’ markets.  In Germany, nothing epitomizes Spring like the revered white stalks of Spargel (asparagus)!  The green variety is more popular in North America and tends to be available in supermarkets year-round.  Germans, however, prefer the white variety that is harvested from mid-April to near the end of June (St. John’s Day), and often is harder to find in the United States.  The Germans have given this harvest season its own name - Spargelzeit - and celebrate it with passion.  


Rich in nutrients and very low in calories, asparagus has become a culinary status symbol for many Germans.  To produce white asparagus, soil is piled up into knee-high banks, which give the fields their characteristic appearance.  White asparagus grows entirely surrounded by earth, which protects the slender stalks from sunlight exposure and keeps them from turning green.  This also affects the subtle flavor of it.  The popular vegetable is cultivated in almost all federal states as well as in neighboring countries.  In fact, Germans consume more white asparagus than their country produces, so it is necessary to import it.


Please join the German Wine Society’s Capital Chapter on the evening of Friday, May 3, 2024, from 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm, for a four-course asparagus-themed dinner in the German Embassy House, plus an outdoor reception with served hors d’oeuvres on the Embassy House patio (weather permitting).  Our Spring Festival dinner will feature not only the elegant vegetable in both its green and white versions, but also fine German wines, including Silvaner, known for its affinity with asparagus.  We will have seven whites including two containing Silvaner grapes, a red, and a sparkling wine, representing five of Germany’s wine regions.  It has been a tradition of the German Wine Society to hold Spargelfest dinners at this time of year at various locations, including the German Embassy House, Cafe Mozart (now regrettably closed), and Cafe Berlin last year.  We look forward to our return to the Embassy where our Society began 47 years ago, in 1977.


Registration for this event must be received by Monday, April 29, 2024.   

You can register and pay for events in either of two ways.   

 

First, you can register on our Washington, D.C. chapter website, https://germanwinesocietydc.org , and make payment by PayPal.   You will need to create a GWS account for the website if you do not already have one, and you will also need to have a PayPal account, as we cannot accept payment by other forms of credit or electronic transfer.  If you are coming as a couple or other group, you can either register and pay for each individual separately, or do it as part of a single transaction and complete the payment on PayPal together.  If you do a single transaction, please also email the Secretary of the GWS Capital Chapter at the address below to provide the names of each individual coming,.  We will need a complete list of all attendee names in advance for Embassy security, and the individual names will not all appear on the website form for multiple persons registering together.  

 

Second, if you prefer to register by mail and pay by check for the event, please clip off the registration form attached to this notice, indicate the names of all who will be attending, and mail a check made out to the German Wine Society in the proper amount along with the form to:  

 

Carl Willner

President and Secretary, GWS Capital Chapter

1014 Reserve Champion Drive

Rockville, MD 20850

 

You can also reach the Secretary by e-mail at carl.willner1@verizon.net .

    

Whether you are registering by mail or online, please be sure to provide the names of all persons for whom you are registering, and pay the appropriate price depending on whether each person is a member of the German Wine Society (either the Capital Chapter, or one of the other active chapters in the U.S. or an at-large member with annual dues paid), or a non-member.   You can join the GWS Capital Chapter either by using the website and registering to pay annual dues of $35 through PayPal, or by mail using a check, in the same manner as registering for the event.   If you have been a member of the GWS Capital Chapter in the past but are not sure of your current membership status, please email the chapter Secretary at the above e-mail to confirm your status. 

 

Here’s what we have planned for our Spring Festival:

 

May 3, 5:30 pm (entry to Embassy compound passing through security beginning 5:30 pm)Reception and wine dinner at the German Embassy House.  Enter at the main Embassy gate on 4645 Reservoir Road, NW, Washington, DC 20007, and proceed up the stairway alongside the main Embassy building depicted here to the Embassy House on the upper level.   For those who have difficulty ascending the stairs, escorts from the Embassy staff can bring guests through the Embassy building and up an elevator.                         

 

For security purposes, the Embassy requires a list of all attendees in advance; no walk-ins are allowed.  Please remember to bring a valid picture ID.    There is no parking available on Embassy grounds, but it should not be difficult at this time of day to find parking on the street nearby if you are driving.   Be alert, however, to DC parking restrictions.  The German Embassy is not near a Metro subway stop, but it is also possible to arrive by Metro bus (D6 to Foxhall Rd.) or by taxi/ride service.


5:30pm Welcoming menu: hors d’ oeuvres + Sparkling wine served at Patio

Blackened Trout Salad Wraps

Grilled Asparagus Frittata with Chive Sauce

Grilled Shrimp and Asparagus Skewers

Curry Wurst on Toast with Curry Ketchup


These hors d’oeuvres will be accompanied by the following sparkling wine:

Nv Dr. Loosen Sparkling Riesling Dr. L Mosel 


6:30pm Seated Dinner: inside cantina


First (Soup) Course

Asparagus Soup with Lemon and Chive


Served with the following white wines:

2022 Kruger Rumpf Munsterer Rheinberg Kabinett Riesling Nahe (JS 91)

2021 Selbach Oster Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Kabinett Riesling Mosel (WA 93-94)


Second (Salad) Course

Charred Asparagus, Dates, Goat Cheese Salad


Served with the following dry white wines:

2021 Hofgut Falkenstein Niedermenniger Herrenberg Weissburgunder Trocken Mosel

2022 Weingut Keller vom Muscheligen Kalk Rheinhessen (a white Pinot Blanc/Chardonnay/Silvaner blend)


Third (Main) Course

Grilled White Asparagus with Hollandaise Sauce

Crispy Miso-Butter Crusted White Fish

        Beef Striploin with Roasted Spring Vegetables/Potato Salad

       

Served with the following white and red wines:

2021 Max Müller Silvaner Trocken Franken

2017 Weingut Schnaitmann Steinwiege Pinot Noir Württemberg (WE 92)


Dessert Course

 Rhubarb Sour Cream Cake

Strawberry Salad with Sabayon

Chocolate Mousse on Tart Shells


Served with the following sweet white wines:

2022 Carl Loewen Thornicher Ritsch Auslese Riesling Mosel (JS 96)

2020 J.J. Prüm Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Spätlese Riesling Mosel (WA 93)


Coffee and Tea service at end, with bottled still and sparkling water provided at tables

 

We anticipate being joined by members of the German Embassy staff.  Please take the opportunity to mingle with them and share your interests in German wines and Germany!

 

The price for this event will be $168 for members, and $178 for non-members.  There will be a 64-person limit on attendance at this event, including Embassy guests, so reserve soon to avoid disappointment.

 

For this event, we are no longer requiring that guests provide proof of vaccination against covid-19, or wear masks when arriving.   We do encourage our members and guests, however, to be up to date in vaccinations, and request that if you contract covid-19 or another communicable illness, or test positive for covid-19, you refrain from attending the event and protect the health of others.  We can refund payments if you notify us that you are not able to attend the event for this reason prior to the day of the event.

 

All GWS members and guests are reminded that alcohol consumption can lead to intoxication.   Members and guests should use public transportation to events, rely on a designated driver, or taste the wines rather than finish them.

 

The event coordinator for the Spring Festival is Carl Willner, Capital Chapter President and Secretary, and National Vice President and Secretary.  Please send any questions to Carl at carl.willner1@verizon.net .

 

We look forward to seeing you for our Spring Festival!   


Please check our Capital Chapter website and register soon.      


If you no longer wish to receive notices for GWS events, please respond to this email with a request to unsubscribe. 


If registering by mail, please fill out and cut the reservation form below with your check - do not mail the entire notice.                                     

 

 

 

REGISTRATION FORM FOR GERMAN WINE SOCIETY SPRING FESTIVAL EVENT ON MAY 3, 2024 AT THE GERMAN EMBASSY

 

$168.00 Members / $178.00 Non-Member Guests

 

Member(s) Names: _________________________________________________________________

 

Guest(s) Names: _____________________________________________________________________

 

Total Enclosed: ______________________________________________________________________

 

Daytime Phone Number: ____________________________________________________________

 

E-Mail: ________________________________________________________________________________

 

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The 2023 American Wine Society National Conference in St. Louis/ Missouri/ USA: Seen Through Christian Schiller's Camera Lens 

Maison Guigal in Ampuis, Côte Rôtie, Northern Rhône: Cellar Tour, Tasting and Vineyard Tour - Rhône Valley Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France

Tour and Tasting at Château Haut-Bailly, Graves, Appellation Pessac-Léognan, Grand Cru Classé, with Cellar Master Jean Christoph - Bordeaux Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours, France

2022 Annual Riesling Party at the Schiller Residence in McLean, Virginia, USA 

Massive Tasting of Bordeaux 1982 - the Vintage that made Robert Parker a Star, USA/ France

Kékfrankos - Blaufränkisch - Lemberger: A Grape’s Immigration Story From Central Europe To The US West Coast - Seminar at the 2023 American Wine Society National Conference in St. Louis/ Missouri/ USA led by Annette Schiller

All Sorts of Sparklers: How do the Bubbles get into that Bottle? - Tasting at the American Wine Society (NoVa Chapter) led by Annette Schiller 

The New German Wine Law of 2021 - Tasting at the German Wine Society (Washington DC Chapter), presented by Annette Schiller  

Christian Schiller: Re-elected to the Board of the "Weinfeder", the Association of German Wine Journalists

20 Best Washington DC (USA) Alcohol Blogs + Websites (December 31, 2023): #3 schiller-wine by Christian Schiller 

2024 Annual Meeting of the Weinfreundeskreis Hochheim, a 45 Years Old Wine Brotherhood in the Famous Wine Village Hochheim, Rheingau, Germany, with Annette Schiller, Founding Member, and Christian Schiller

German Wine Society (Capital Chapter) Membership Meeting 2024: Carl Willner Re-elected President and Christian Schiller Re-elected Vice-president, USA/ Germany

Masterclass - The Wines of Germany: Presentation by Annette Schiller at the German Embassy in Washington DC/ Consular Conference March 2024 

The New German Wine Law of 2021 - Shifting from the Sugar Level at Harvest to the Wine's Geographic Origin

 

Wines from the Loire Valley - Tasting at the NoLoCo (Northern Loudoun County) Chapter of the American Wine Society on April 14, 2024, led by Annette Schiller

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In contrast to the other American Wine Society chapters in the Northern Virginia area, the NoLoCo (Northern Loudoun County) chapter meets at the home of one of the members and the tasting is always followed by a pot-luck dinner. 

The April 2024 tasting took place at our home in McLean, Virginia, and Annette was the presenter. In terms of the pot-luck dinner, Annette and I contributed an 12-pound American Salmon, which we bought at Wegman's in Tyson's Corner.

Annette poured 8 wines, 4 white and 4 red, with 3 of the wines from producers we will visit on the forthcoming Loire tour.

See: Announcement: Loire Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours (Sunday, June 09 - Thursday June 20, 2024)

Announcement

Jennifer Crafts, NoLoCo Chapter Chair: Annette Schiller will present on the topic of Wines from the Loire Valley. As a leader of wine tours through the various wine regions of France, she is an expert on these wines. She and Christian will host at their house in McLean. Attendance will be capped at 22. If needed, I will keep a waitlist.

Annette Schiller - Loire Valley

Annette Schiller: The Loire belongs to France's Crown Jewels. For centuries, French kings have spent their summers on the banks of the lovely Loire River and drank the wonderful wines that grow in the region. Still today their magnificent Châteaux and the fantastic wines are attractions for every visitor.

The Loire Valley is a vast wine region stretching for about 600 miles from the Atlantic Ocean to the Auvergne mountains. There are five main, distinctively different wine regions, each with its own characteristic grapes, appellations, and wine style.T

The Loire Valley wine region is a complex region: there is no varietal or style to associate with, which makes it difficult to clearly put a mark on the region. That's why this incredibly beautiful region is so very interesting to discover and to explore. The Loire Valley wines also provide the best value in terms of drinking pleasure / price. 

Christian and I travelled to the Loire Valley in February to tie last strings for the upcoming wine tour to the Loire in June. We were smitten with the quality of the wines across the board.

 
McLean, Northern Virginia
 
 
Social Hour



Presentation: Wines from the Loire Valley
 















The Wines

Annette poured 4 white and 4 red wines.





Dinner
 
My favorite was the Salad Niçoise prepared by Pat.





American Salmon







Bye-bye

 
LOIRE VALLEY: Sunday, June 09 - Thursday June 20, 2024 
 
Annette Schiller: What comes to your mind when you hear ‘Loire Valley’? Of course images of glorious Châteaux pop up in your mind. Yes that is true and we will visit some iconic château and dig deep into France’s history. However, during this wine tour we also discover a magnificent, but often overlooked French wine region and one of the most exciting best kept secrets of excellent, high quality wines at very reasonable prices. The Loire Valley wine region is a vast area and consists of several distinct wine regions, each with its own characteristic grapes, appellations, and wine style. We take you on a journey from the Atlantic Ocean to the Auvergne mountains to explore this unique region. We learn to appreciate “Sancerre”, "Pouilly-Fumé", “Vouvray", “Chinon”, as well as many other not so familiar appellations.

See: Announcement: Loire Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours (Sunday, June 09 - Thursday June 20, 2024) 










  
   

 
Postings on Schiller-wine Related to the Upcoming 2024 Loire Trip by ombiasy WineTours
 
This is the 20th in a series of postings on Schiller-wine related to the 2024 Loire Valley Trip by ombiasy WineTours in June.
 
A Journey Through The Loire Valley - Seminar at the 2023 American Wine Society National Conference in St. Louis/ Missouri/ USA led by Annette Schiller

Plateau des Fruits de Mer and a Muscadet Sèvre et Maine Sur Lie at Historic Brasserie Cigale in Nantes, Loire Valley, France (February 2024)
 
Announcement: Loire Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours (Sunday, June 09 - Thursday June 20, 2024)
 
Salons des Vins - all with a Focus on Natural, Organic, Biodynamic and Low-intervention Producers in the Loire Valley and elsewhere in France and Europe - in February in Angers and Samour, Loire Valley, France (February 2024)
 
 
Announcement: "The Wines of the Loire Valley" presented by Annette Schiller at the American Wine Society/ Northern Virginia Chapter on March 8, 2024
 
Visiting Natural Wine Producer Liv Vincendeau - Domäne Vincendeau in Rochefort sur Loire/ Anjou (February 2024) 
 
 
 
Moon - Monks - Michelin: Overnight stay and 1-star Michelin Dinner at the Abbaye Royale de Fontevraud, with Chef Thibaut Ruggeri (February 2024)
 
Fine de Claire, #3 Oysters from Cancale, the Oyster Capital of Brittany, and a 2022 Domaine Henry Pellé, Menetou-Salon, Saugnon-Blanc in Tours, Loire Valley, France (February 2024)
 
At Château de Pray, a Loire Château from the 12th Century and a Michelin Star: Overnight Stay and High-end Dinner in an Historic Setting (February 2024)
 
A Journey through the Loire Valley - Tasting at the American Wine Society (Northern Virginia Chapter), led by Annette Schiller (March 2024)
 
Château de Chambord - Not only a Famous Loire Palace, but also an AOC Cheverny Wine Producer
 
 
Dinner at Au P'tit Goûter - a Friendly Little Bistro right in the Middle of Chavignol, Sancerre, Loire Valley - with Front-of-the-house Jérémy, Chef Jérôme Germain and Tuscany (February 2024)
 
 
A Journey through the Vineyards of the Loire Valley - Tasting at the Washington Wine and Cheese Seminar, led by Annette Schiller (March 2024)
 
Announcement: Wines from the Loire Valley - Tasting at the NoLoCo (Northern Loudoun County) Chapter of the American Wine Society on April 14, 2024, led by Annette Schiller
 
 
German and Austria Winemakers (Clemens Busch, Kühn, Meinklang, Frank John) at the Salons des Vins - all with a Focus on Natural, Organic, Biodynamic and Low-intervention Producers - in February in Angers and Saumur, Loire Valley, France (February 2024)
 
Loire Winemaker Dinner with Clément Berthier, Sancerre, at Bastille Brasserie in Alexandria, Virginia, USA
 
Loire Wine Dinner at The Elkridge Furnace Inn (Greater Baltimore Area) with Chef Dan Wecker

Producer Spotlight: Profoundly Dry Immich Batterieberg Rieslings with Co-owner/ Winemaker Gernot Kollmann, McLean, Virginia, USA

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Chain Bridge Cellars, owned and run by Doug House, is a leading wine store in the greater Washington DC area, a few blocks away from where Annette and I live. In the recent newsletter I was very happy to see the announcement that Gernot Kollmann, co-owner and winemaker at Weingut Immich Batterieberg in the Mosel valley, was coming to the store for a tasting.

Gernot presented 5 of his bone-dry Mosel Rieslings. Following the tasting I had the Weingut Immich Batterieberg Riesling Trocken C.A.I. 2021 with a dozen of Virginia oysters at home. 

Gernot and I go back a number of years.

In 2015, Annette organized a winemaker dinner with Gernot Kollmann (plus Clemens Busch, Weingut Clemens Busch, Mosel, and Dominik Sona, Weingut Koehler-Ruprecht, Pfalz) at the trendy BToo on 14th Street NW in Washington DC (now closed).

We visited Weingut Immich Batterieberg in 2017 on a Germany Tour by ombiasy led by Annette Schiller. 

Weingut Immich Batterieberg is part of the Louis/ Dressner portfolio.

Invitation/ Chain Bridge Cellars (McLean, Virginia) - Producer Spotlight:  Profoundly Dry Immich Batterieberg Rieslings with Winemaker Gernot Kollmann

Bone Dry. Mosel Riesling.

That’s what Gernot Kollman does and, as Wine Advocate wrote a few years ago, “under the direction of Gernot Kollmann, Immich-Batterieberg has quietly grown to become one of the Mosel's top domaines for dry Riesling.”  

Come see how as you meet Gernot and taste:

Wallflower Mosel Riesling Briedeler Herzchen Trocken 2018 - Made at the estate and with estate fruit in collaboration with Virinia's Early Mountain winemaker Ben Jordan!

Immich Batterieberg Riesling Trocken C.A.I. 2021 - the "entry level" bottling honoring estate founder, Carl August Immich

Immich Batterieberg Riesling Escheberg 2020 - a blend of select parcels from all of Gernot's crus.

Immich Batterieberg Riesling Briedeler Herzchen 2020 - From a steep south-east facing location with gray to red slate on the right side of the Pündericher Marienburg.

Immich Batterieberg Wermut NV - Not even going to try to describe the kaleidoscope of aromas and flavors here!

Gernot will share the story of his estate (including why there’s a cannon on the C.A.I. label), his vines, and how climate change has helped reshape Germany’s most famous Riesling region. As usual there’s no charge for our Producer Spotlight tastings held upstairs around the tasting table, but we do ask that you reserve one of the five 30 minute sessions from 5pm to 7:30pm so we can make sure everyone has plenty of time to enjoy and appreciate the wines.   Don’t miss this one! 

Weingut Immich Batterieberg at Louis/Dressner Selections

Louis/Dressner Selections is a wine importing company founded in the early 1990’s by Joe Dressner and his wife Denyse Louis.  The “M” was added when Kevin McKenna joined forces with them a few years later, thus completing the LDM triumvirate. LDM, as they are known, were never interested in scores, never interested in wines with “gobs of fruit,” and never interested in highly paid wine consultants.  They are interested in low-impact, organic farming methods, and they are interested in elegant wines, especially those from the Loire Valley and Beaujolais; they were exploring these wines at a time when few others were.  Their focus has always been on the vignerons, on the people who make the wines.

Weingut Immich Batterieberg/ Bowler Wines

Bowler Wines: We are very excited to be working with Gernot Kollmann, one of the most watched winemakers in Germany. After working at Van Volxem and then making the Knebel wines in 2008, Gernot had the opportunity (with partners) to purchase the historic estate of Immich-Batterieberg. 

The Immich family history in the Mosel dates back to the Middle Ages, when a Prince von Esch possessed the 12th-century building. Located in the center of Enkirch, the original section of the castle, Escheburg, is named after him. The Immich family would own the estate for over 500 years (1425–1989). In the mid-19th century, Carl August Immich needed more cultivable land on which to plant vines. His holdings included the Enkirch hillside, which was less a hillside and more a steep cliff face of solid stone; using sprengbatterien (a battery of explosives filled with gunpowder) from 1841 to 1845, he reduced the site to rubble, which not only made it cultivable but also gave the vineyard its name, Batterieberg (“demolition hill”). The estate's name refers to this site.

The estate consists of 13 ha. Holdings include 1.1 ha of the best parcels in the Batterieberg (grand cru in grey slate + quartzit), as well as parcels in the great vineyards of Ellergrub (grand cru in blue slate), Steffensberg (1er cru in red slate) and Zeppwingert (grand cru in grey slate + quartzit). All of these sites contain parcels of very old, ungrafted, pre-phylloxera vines--a genuine treasure trove of vine material almost unknown elsewhere in Germany. The Escheburg is a dry Riesling, firm and impressive, made from a blend of ungrafted vines from Steffensberg, Ellergrub and Batterieberg. It represents an astonishing value. Batterieberg is located within the larger Zeppwingert, which along with Ellergrub and Steffensberg were among the highest-ranked vineyards according to the 1897 Mosel-Weinbau-Karte, the Prussian viticultural tax map of the Mosel. Gernot's most recent acquisition in 2014 was a small, dizzyingly steep site in neighboring Traben called the Zollturm ("toll tower") which he uses partly for his Sekt and partly for a grand cru cuvee named for the site. The wines are all produced dry in a combination of used casks and stainless steel with full fermentations, ambient yeasts and nothing added to the wines except a low amount of sulfur. The wines are therefore natural and vegan. They are also compellingly vibrant, long-lived in the cellar, and most profoundly terroir-driven.

Immich-Batterieberg has been practicing organic viticulture for ten years and will certify for the first time in 2022. 

Tasting with Gernot Kollmann at Chain Bridge Cellars

Gernot presented 5 wines, all bone-dry Mosel Riesling.







Virginia Oysters and Dry Mosel Riesling
 
Following the tasting I had the Weingut Immich Batterieberg Riesling Trocken C.A.I. 2021 with a dozen of Virginia oysters at home. 





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 (2015)
 
In 2015, Annette organized a winemaker dinner with Gernot Kollmann (plus Clemens Busch, Weingut Clemens Busch, Mosel, and Dominik Sona, Weingut Koehler-Ruprecht, Pfalz) at the trendy BToo on 14th Street NW in Washington DC (now closed). 

That you have 3 top German winemakers at one dinner table does not happen too often, at least not in the USA. We were very lucky and thankful to have Clemens Busch, Weingut Clemens Busch, Mosel, Gernot Kollmann, Weingut Immich-Batterieberg, Mosel, and Dominik Sona, Weingut Koehler-Ruprecht, Pfalz, pouring their wines at a lovely dinner prepared by Chef Bart Vandaele at the trendy BToo on 14th Street NW in Washington DC. At the initiative of Gernot Kollmann, Annette Schiller, who organizes wine tours to Germany, Bordeaux and the Bourgogne, put together the event.

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 (2015)
 
Picture: Gernot Kollmann, Weingut Immich-Batterieberg, Annette Schiller, ombiasy WineTours, Dominik Sona and Franzi Schmitt, Weingut Koehler-Ruprecht and Clemens Busch, Weingut Clemens Busch, at Bart Vandaele's BToo in Washington DC
 
Picture: Weingut Immich-Batterieberg, Weingut Clemens Busch and Weingut Koehler-Ruprecht

Picture: Reception at BToo
Picture: Clemens Busch, Dominik Sona and Anthony Ramdass

Picture: Gernot Kollmann, Ken Kelly (Former President of German Wine Society, Washington DC Chapter) and Mark J Dryfoos at BToo

Picture: Gernot Kollmann and Ken Kelly (German Wine Society) at BToo

Picture: Dave McIntyre (Washington Post) and Clemens Busch at BToo

Pictures: Dinner at BToo 
 
Tasting and Vineyard Visit at Weingut Immich-Batterieberg in Enkirch, Mosel, with Gernot Kollmann - Germany-North Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours
 
We started the day in the Ahr Valley, visited 3 world class winemakers in the Mosel Valley during the day and finished the day in the 2 star Michelin Restaurant Schanz in Piesport with a fine-dining dinner.

We had breakfast in Bad Neuenahr in the Ahr Valley. From there we drove about an hour for our first appointment at Weingut Markus Molitor in the Mosel Valley. After lunch, we spent the early afternoon at Weingut Immich-Batterieberg with Managing Director/ Winemaker Gernot Kollmann. The third visit was at Weingut Fritz Haag, with Oliver Haag.

The visit at Markus Molitor was tasting only. At Fritz Haag and Immich Batterieberg we also visited the vineyards. All 3 tastings were most impressive.

At Weingut Immich-Batterieberg, Gernot Kollmann was our host.
 
See: Tasting and Vineyard Visit at Weingut Immich-Batterieberg in Enkirch, Mosel, with Gernot Kollmann - Germany-North Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours
 
Pictures: Tasting with Gernot Kollmann

Pictures: In the Vineyard with Gernot Kollmann

schiller-wine: Related Postings 

Announcement: 2024 Tours by ombiasy (Annette Schiller) - Loire Valley, German Classic, Rhône

Announcement: Loire Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours (Sunday, June 09 - Thursday June 20, 2024)

Summary: Germany "From Berlin to Frankfurt" 2023 (Saale Unstrut, Sachsen, Franken, Württemberg) by ombiasy WineTours

Summary: From Lyon to Paris - Total Immersion in Burgundy and Champagne 2023 by ombiasy WineTours (July 02 - 13, 2023)

Summary: Austria 2023 by ombiasy WineTours - 12 Days: May 28 - June 08, 2023

Christian Schiller`s SCHILLER-WINE Blog on Corking Wines` Top 101 Wine Writers of 2020 List

The 2023 American Wine Society National Conference in St. Louis/ Missouri/ USA: Seen Through Christian Schiller's Camera Lens 

Maison Guigal in Ampuis, Côte Rôtie, Northern Rhône: Cellar Tour, Tasting and Vineyard Tour - Rhône Valley Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France

Tour and Tasting at Château Haut-Bailly, Graves, Appellation Pessac-Léognan, Grand Cru Classé, with Cellar Master Jean Christoph - Bordeaux Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours, France

2022 Annual Riesling Party at the Schiller Residence in McLean, Virginia, USA 

Massive Tasting of Bordeaux 1982 - the Vintage that made Robert Parker a Star, USA/ France

Kékfrankos - Blaufränkisch - Lemberger: A Grape’s Immigration Story From Central Europe To The US West Coast - Seminar at the 2023 American Wine Society National Conference in St. Louis/ Missouri/ USA led by Annette Schiller

All Sorts of Sparklers: How do the Bubbles get into that Bottle? - Tasting at the American Wine Society (NoVa Chapter) led by Annette Schiller 

The New German Wine Law of 2021 - Tasting at the German Wine Society (Washington DC Chapter), presented by Annette Schiller  

Christian Schiller: Re-elected to the Board of the "Weinfeder", the Association of German Wine Journalists

20 Best Washington DC (USA) Alcohol Blogs + Websites (December 31, 2023): #3 schiller-wine by Christian Schiller 

2024 Annual Meeting of the Weinfreundeskreis Hochheim, a 45 Years Old Wine Brotherhood in the Famous Wine Village Hochheim, Rheingau, Germany, with Annette Schiller, Founding Member, and Christian Schiller

German Wine Society (Capital Chapter) Membership Meeting 2024: Carl Willner Re-elected President and Christian Schiller Re-elected Vice-president, USA/ Germany

Masterclass - The Wines of Germany: Presentation by Annette Schiller at the German Embassy in Washington DC/ Consular Conference March 2024 

The New German Wine Law of 2021 - Shifting from the Sugar Level at Harvest to the Wine's Geographic Origin

Invitation - Wine Tours by ombiasy in 2024: 1. Loire Valley 2. Germany Classic 3. Rhône Valley

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Dear wine aficionados,

Tax season and April 15th are behind us. Now we all have time to think about exciting travel to iconic wine regions.

The first trip this year goes to iconic Loire Valley. Someone pulled out because of medical reasons, hence one room (sgl. or dbl. occupancy) has now again become available. However I have to cancel asap to avoid penalties. 

LOIRE VALLEY WINE TOUR:  Sunday, June 9 - Thursday, June 20, 2024

The Loire Valley is a huge wine region spanning from Muscadet in the west to Sancerre in the east bordering the Burgundy region and then south to the Auvergne mountains parallel to southern Beaujolais and the Côte Rôtie. This vast region has about 185,000 acres of vineyards, most of which are on the hillside banks of the Loire river and its many tributaries. The Loire Valley is home to 87 appellations and produces wines of a sheer diversity of styles and varietals, ranging from bone dry to sticky sweet dessert wines, red, white, rosé, vinified in both still and sparkling format. Signature grapes are Chenin Blanc and Sauvignon Blanc for the whites and Cabernet Franc for the reds. The wines are simply delicious, the tannins in the Cabernet Franc are tamed and the fruit is just beguiling and the exceptional high quality of the wines across the board for little money is just amazing. The Loire Valley’s viticulture is steeped in history and still today has a cohesive artisan wine culture. It respects tradition but is at the same time dynamic and experimental. It is the Loire wine region where biodynamic wine production took off and subsequently this region has become the spiritual home of natural winemaking. Currently three quarters of wineries and about 80% of the vineyards have achieved some sort of environmental accreditation. 
An added attraction of this wine egion is the stunning beauty of the châteaux which dot the landscape.  Of course we will also visit some of the magnificent châteaux and we will even stay in one to completely “feel” the Loire Valley and its incredible history.

Click here for the itinerary: https://ombiasypr.com/index.php/wine-tours/loire/loire-itinerary

FALL WINE TOURS:

GERMANY: the classic Rhein and Mosel regions: Wednesday, August 28 - Friday, September 06, 2024: The tour starts in Wiesbaden and ends in Mainz.

We travel along the main wine arteries of Germany: the Rhine river, the Mosel river, and the much smaller Ahr and Nahe rivers. Roman, medieval, and modern history accompany us all the way and will help us to understand what German wine is all about. The beauty of the landscape, the steep vineyards, the romantic Rhine valley, the quaint villages, the stories behind the wineries and their families, and the gorgeous wines we will taste at world-renowned estates will give us a renewed understanding of German wines. This is Riesling country and the spot on the planet where the Riesling grape developed tausend years ago, and subsequently morphed into the best white wine grape for producing crisp, fruity, elegant, delicious wines. There is one exception: the tiny Ahr valley and Assmanshausen in the Rheingau where Pinot Noir always was and still is king. If you are a Riesling fan, this is the ultimate tour for you.

RHÔNE:  Northern and Southern Rhône: Sunday, October 13 - Wednesday, October 23, 2024: The tour starts in Lyon and ends in Avignon.

Join us as we explore in detail the wines of the Rhône Valley. We start in vibrant, cool, sophisticated Lyon, the capital of Haut Cuisine. We stop in the Northern Rhône where names such as Côte Rôtie, Crozes-Hermitage make us crave a glass of wine. We follow the eponymous Rhône river south to Avignon, the city that was the seat of the papacy for the better part of the 14th century. We stop in Châteauneuf du Pape. We do a side-kick to the gorgeous Dentelles de Montmirail where we find the wines of Gigondas, Vacqueyras, Séguret, and the sweet wines of Rasteau. The southern Rhône belongs to Provence. Provence: this immediately ignites a deep yearning for the fragrance coming from Lavender fields, for the special light the Impressionist artists masterfully captured in their paintings, for a very special "savoir vivre", and for the dark red, fruity, spicy wines.

Don’t hesitate to contact me via telephone, WhatsApp or email for any questions you may have. I am happy to speak with you. 

Enjoy the beautiful spring season.

Best
Annette

Wine Tours - Wine Education - Wine Events
Annette Schiller, Diplom-Volkswirt
Washington DC - Frankfurt am Main
USA: Ph and WhatsApp +1 703 459 7513
GER: Ph and WhatsApp +49 -177 337 0281
Office:
6404 Woodsong Ct
McLean, VA 22101 - USA

schiller-wine: Related Postings 

Announcement: 2024 Tours by ombiasy (Annette Schiller) - Loire Valley, German Classic, Rhône

Announcement: Loire Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours (Sunday, June 09 - Thursday June 20, 2024)

Summary: Germany "From Berlin to Frankfurt" 2023 (Saale Unstrut, Sachsen, Franken, Württemberg) by ombiasy WineTours

Summary: From Lyon to Paris - Total Immersion in Burgundy and Champagne 2023 by ombiasy WineTours (July 02 - 13, 2023)

Summary: Austria 2023 by ombiasy WineTours - 12 Days: May 28 - June 08, 2023

Christian Schiller`s SCHILLER-WINE Blog on Corking Wines` Top 101 Wine Writers of 2020 List

The 2023 American Wine Society National Conference in St. Louis/ Missouri/ USA: Seen Through Christian Schiller's Camera Lens 

Maison Guigal in Ampuis, Côte Rôtie, Northern Rhône: Cellar Tour, Tasting and Vineyard Tour - Rhône Valley Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France

Tour and Tasting at Château Haut-Bailly, Graves, Appellation Pessac-Léognan, Grand Cru Classé, with Cellar Master Jean Christoph - Bordeaux Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours, France

2022 Annual Riesling Party at the Schiller Residence in McLean, Virginia, USA 

Massive Tasting of Bordeaux 1982 - the Vintage that made Robert Parker a Star, USA/ France

Kékfrankos - Blaufränkisch - Lemberger: A Grape’s Immigration Story From Central Europe To The US West Coast - Seminar at the 2023 American Wine Society National Conference in St. Louis/ Missouri/ USA led by Annette Schiller

All Sorts of Sparklers: How do the Bubbles get into that Bottle? - Tasting at the American Wine Society (NoVa Chapter) led by Annette Schiller 

The New German Wine Law of 2021 - Tasting at the German Wine Society (Washington DC Chapter), presented by Annette Schiller  

Christian Schiller: Re-elected to the Board of the "Weinfeder", the Association of German Wine Journalists

20 Best Washington DC (USA) Alcohol Blogs + Websites (December 31, 2023): #3 schiller-wine by Christian Schiller 

2024 Annual Meeting of the Weinfreundeskreis Hochheim, a 45 Years Old Wine Brotherhood in the Famous Wine Village Hochheim, Rheingau, Germany, with Annette Schiller, Founding Member, and Christian Schiller

German Wine Society (Capital Chapter) Membership Meeting 2024: Carl Willner Re-elected President and Christian Schiller Re-elected Vice-president, USA/ Germany

Masterclass - The Wines of Germany: Presentation by Annette Schiller at the German Embassy in Washington DC/ Consular Conference March 2024 

The New German Wine Law of 2021 - Shifting from the Sugar Level at Harvest to the Wine's Geographic Origin

Cellar Group Meets to Taste "Rhône-style Wines Not from France", Bristow, Virginia, April 2024

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Organized by Grant Crandall, on April 20, 2024, the Cellar Group met at the home of Al Guber in Bristow, Virginia. Al had selected "Rhône-style Wines Not from France" as theme of the tasting. As usual, everybody brought a bottle of wine and a corresponding dish. There were 14 wines plus 2 bonus wines.

Northern vs Southern Rhône: differences (wine-searcher)

The length of the valley means that Rhône wines are the product of a wide variety of soil types and mesoclimates. The region's wine-producing areas cover such a distance that there is a widely accepted division between its northern and southern parts. Rather neatly, they are separated by a gap of 25 miles (40 km) between the towns of Valance and Montelimar, in which almost no vines are grown.

This division is reflected not only in geography and preferred grape varieties, but also in the quality and quantity of wines produced. The smaller, more quality-driven northern section focuses almost entirely on Syrah for red wines and Viognier, Marsanne and Roussanne for whites, while the larger and more prolific south employs a much longer list of varieties.

The most notable of these are the red varieties Grenache and Mourvèdre, which are combined with Syrah to produce the 'GSM' blend so characteristic of the southern Rhone. While the granite-blessed slopes of the north are paired with a continental climate, the rocky, sandy soils of the flatter south enjoy the warmer winters of a Mediterranean climate.

Prestige is also a key differentiator between the northern and southern areas of the Rhone. The north boasts old and highly respected names, such as Hermitage and Côte Rôtie, but it accounts for only five percent of the valley's total wine production.

The remaining 95 percent is made in the south under often less-prestigious and less region-specific names. The south is not entirely lacking in prestige, however, as it is here that the Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation is located.

Arriving

Social Wines


The Wines we Tasted


14 Rhône-style Wines Not from France

Karen Stokes 2020 Skinner Grenache Blanc, El Dorado, CA 

White bean salad



Stephanie Castelli 2021 Tablas Creek Vineyard, Esprit Blanc de Tablas, Paso Robles 

Cheese

Grant Crandall 2020 Acquiesce Roussanne Lodi 

Chicken liver mousse

Deb Fiola 2017 Vindemia Winery Reggatta de Blanc (Santa Ynez Viognier Roussanne) 

Mushroom/truffle oil 4cheese crostini

Angela Crandall 2020 Straight Out of Paso Rose (44 Syrah, 30 Grenache and 26 Carignan) 

Caponata


Brian Castelli 2022 Tablas Creek Vineyard, Patelin de Tablas, Paso Robles 

Mushroom and leek galette

Rex Bambling 2016 Epoch Estate Blend 58% Syrah, 19% Mourvèdre, 17% Grenache, 6% Tempranillo (Paso Robles) 

Mini beef sausage wellington bite

Al Guber 2021 Linnie Calodo Sticks & Stones 75% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 10% Mouvedre (Paso) 

BBQ Burnt Ends

Joe Fiola 2013 Cline Cashmere (53% Mourvedre, 25% Syrah, 22% Grenache) 

Dry-Rub Pulled Pork


Christian Schiller 2018 McGah Family Vineyards Scarlett Petite Sirah Rutherford Napa Valley 

Root Vegetable Pasta

Jennifer Crafts 2018 Saxum James Berry Vineyard 64% Grenache, 15% Mataro, 14% Syrah, 6% Carignan (Paso Robles Willow Creek District) 

Roasted turkey with sun-dried tomatoes and olives


Dave Barber 2022 Magic Box from Spain, which is 90% Syrah and 10% Grenache

Turkey, Juniper and Peppercorn Terrine

Annette Schiller 2015 Cass Backbone Syrah Paso Robles Geneseo District 

Mousse au Chocolat





Al Guber 2019 Efeste Knight Commander Ciel-du-Cheval (Washington) 

Dark Chocolate




Bonus Wines



schiller-wine: Related Postings 

Announcement: 2024 Tours by ombiasy (Annette Schiller) - Loire Valley, German Classic, Rhône

Announcement: Loire Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours (Sunday, June 09 - Thursday June 20, 2024)

Summary: Germany "From Berlin to Frankfurt" 2023 (Saale Unstrut, Sachsen, Franken, Württemberg) by ombiasy WineTours

Summary: From Lyon to Paris - Total Immersion in Burgundy and Champagne 2023 by ombiasy WineTours (July 02 - 13, 2023)

Summary: Austria 2023 by ombiasy WineTours - 12 Days: May 28 - June 08, 2023

Christian Schiller`s SCHILLER-WINE Blog on Corking Wines` Top 101 Wine Writers of 2020 List

The 2023 American Wine Society National Conference in St. Louis/ Missouri/ USA: Seen Through Christian Schiller's Camera Lens 

Maison Guigal in Ampuis, Côte Rôtie, Northern Rhône: Cellar Tour, Tasting and Vineyard Tour - Rhône Valley Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France

Tour and Tasting at Château Haut-Bailly, Graves, Appellation Pessac-Léognan, Grand Cru Classé, with Cellar Master Jean Christoph - Bordeaux Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours, France

2022 Annual Riesling Party at the Schiller Residence in McLean, Virginia, USA 

Massive Tasting of Bordeaux 1982 - the Vintage that made Robert Parker a Star, USA/ France

Kékfrankos - Blaufränkisch - Lemberger: A Grape’s Immigration Story From Central Europe To The US West Coast - Seminar at the 2023 American Wine Society National Conference in St. Louis/ Missouri/ USA led by Annette Schiller

All Sorts of Sparklers: How do the Bubbles get into that Bottle? - Tasting at the American Wine Society (NoVa Chapter) led by Annette Schiller 

The New German Wine Law of 2021 - Tasting at the German Wine Society (Washington DC Chapter), presented by Annette Schiller  

Christian Schiller: Re-elected to the Board of the "Weinfeder", the Association of German Wine Journalists

20 Best Washington DC (USA) Alcohol Blogs + Websites (December 31, 2023): #3 schiller-wine by Christian Schiller 

2024 Annual Meeting of the Weinfreundeskreis Hochheim, a 45 Years Old Wine Brotherhood in the Famous Wine Village Hochheim, Rheingau, Germany, with Annette Schiller, Founding Member, and Christian Schiller

German Wine Society (Capital Chapter) Membership Meeting 2024: Carl Willner Re-elected President and Christian Schiller Re-elected Vice-president, USA/ Germany

Masterclass - The Wines of Germany: Presentation by Annette Schiller at the German Embassy in Washington DC/ Consular Conference March 2024 

The New German Wine Law of 2021 - Shifting from the Sugar Level at Harvest to the Wine's Geographic Origin 



Loire Valley - France's Garden: Loire Wine Dinner at Bastille Brasserie in Alexandria, Virginia, USA, with Ed Addiss & Barbara Selig of Wine Traditions

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A month ahead of Loire 2024 by ombiasy, organized and led by Annette Schiller, Annette and I attended a fantastic Loire wine dinner at Bastille Brasserie in Alexandria, with the off-the-beaten-track wines of Ed Addiss and Barbara Selig (Wine Traditons) and the traditional French Bistro food of Chefs Christophe and Michelle Poteaux.  

Announcement: Loire Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours (Sunday, June 09 - Thursday June 20, 2024) The tour is almost fully booked. One room is still available.

Bastille Brasserie

Chefs Christophe & Michelle Poteaux opened Bastille in 2006. Christoph and Michelle were both working at the Watergate Hotel before they opened Bastille.

Bringing the flavors and aromas of France to Old Town Alexandria, Bastille Brasserie and Bar is a popular family-owned restaurant which has been pleasing palates since 2006. The restaurant is owned by chefs Christophe and Michelle Poteaux, who bring their own unique twist to traditional French bistro dishes, inspired by whatever is fresh and seasonal. You can choose to dine at an intimate table for two in the dining room or opt to enjoy a lighter meal at the bar.
 
See: Burgundy Dinner at Bastille Brasserie & Bar in Alexandria, VA, with the Food of Chefs Christophe & Michelle Poteaux and the Wines of Ed Addiss and Barbara Selig (Wine Traditions), Washington DC (September 2023)
 
Wine Traditions

Wine Traditions: Created in 1996 by Edward Addiss and Barbara Selig, the philosophy of Wine Traditions is to discover independent winemakers whose passion for their vineyard and mastery of their winemaking craft combine to create a product that is a beautiful expression of the land from which it comes. They believe their portfolio demonstrates that wonderful wines can be found beyond well-known appellations and need not be overpriced. For them, wine is meant to be enjoyed with dinner, every day and at prices that make it an appropriate component of the meal.  

Whenever we meet at wine events, Barbara, Annette, Ed and I alwaysy talk about a most memorable winemaker dinner with 13 of their produces at Buck's Fishing and Camping in 2014: See: 13 French Winemakers Presenting their Wines at a Dinner at Buck’s Fishing and Camping in Washington DC, USA (2014)

Pictures: 13 French Winemakers Presenting their Wines at a Dinner at Buck’s Fishing and Camping in Washington DC, USA (2014) 
 
Loire Valley - France's Garden: Loire Wine Dinner at Bastille Brasserie

ARRIVING



DINNER

Loire Valley - France's Garden with Ed Addiss & Barbara Selig of Wine Traditions 

Thursday, April 25, 2024 | 6:30pm | $119 pp ++ 

Six Wines + Six Courses


6 WINES


WELCOME



APERITIF 

Amuse Gougères au Gruyère 

Christophe Thorigny, Vouvray, Méthode Traditionnelle Brut





PREMIER 

“Salade d’Endives et Poires” 

GF Endive | Pear | Herb-Goat Cheese Mousse | Lemon Vinaigrette 

Domaine de Bel Air, Pouilly-Fumé 2022 





DEUXIÈME 

“Moules et Coques Gratinées” 

Broiled Clams and Mussels | Cream | Breadcrumbs 

Delaunay Vignerons, Muscadet Sevre et Maine Château Thébaud "Nord/Ouest" 2014 




TROISIÈME 

“Petit Sale aux Lentils” 

GF Slow Roasted Brined Pork Loin | Green Lentils 

Verdier-Logel Poycelan, Cotes du Forez, 2022 






QUATRIÈME 

“Bavette au Poivre” 

GF Char-grilled Angus Flat Iron | Peppercorn Sauce Potato Fondante | Forest Mushrooms 

Domaine du Changeon, “Les Passagers”, Bourgueil 2020 






CINQUIÈME 

"Pommes Bonne Femme" 

Baked Apple | Strawberry Oat Filling | Crème Anglaise | Almonds 

Le Pas Saint Martin, "La Vie en Rose" Rosé, Methode Ancestrale 









THANKS

Bye-bye


LOIRE VALLEY: Sunday, June 09 - Thursday June 20, 2024 
 
Annette Schiller: What comes to your mind when you hear ‘Loire Valley’? Of course images of glorious Châteaux pop up in your mind. Yes that is true and we will visit some iconic château and dig deep into France’s history. However, during this wine tour we also discover a magnificent, but often overlooked French wine region and one of the most exciting best kept secrets of excellent, high quality wines at very reasonable prices. The Loire Valley wine region is a vast area and consists of several distinct wine regions, each with its own characteristic grapes, appellations, and wine style. We take you on a journey from the Atlantic Ocean to the Auvergne mountains to explore this unique region. We learn to appreciate “Sancerre”, "Pouilly-Fumé", “Vouvray", “Chinon”, as well as many other not so familiar appellations.

See: Announcement: Loire Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours (Sunday, June 09 - Thursday June 20, 2024) 










  
   

 
Postings on Schiller-wine Related to the Upcoming 2024 Loire Trip by ombiasy WineTours
 
This is the 27th in a series of postings on Schiller-wine related to the 2024 Loire Valley Trip by ombiasy WineTours in June.
 
A Journey Through The Loire Valley - Seminar at the 2023 American Wine Society National Conference in St. Louis/ Missouri/ USA led by Annette Schiller

Plateau des Fruits de Mer and a Muscadet Sèvre et Maine Sur Lie at Historic Brasserie Cigale in Nantes, Loire Valley, France (February 2024)
 
Announcement: Loire Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours (Sunday, June 09 - Thursday June 20, 2024)
 
Salons des Vins - all with a Focus on Natural, Organic, Biodynamic and Low-intervention Producers in the Loire Valley and elsewhere in France and Europe - in February in Angers and Samour, Loire Valley, France (February 2024)
 
 
Announcement: "The Wines of the Loire Valley" presented by Annette Schiller at the American Wine Society/ Northern Virginia Chapter on March 8, 2024
 
Visiting Natural Wine Producer Liv Vincendeau - Domäne Vincendeau in Rochefort sur Loire/ Anjou (February 2024) 
 
 
 
Moon - Monks - Michelin: Overnight stay and 1-star Michelin Dinner at the Abbaye Royale de Fontevraud, with Chef Thibaut Ruggeri (February 2024)
 
Fine de Claire, #3 Oysters from Cancale, the Oyster Capital of Brittany, and a 2022 Domaine Henry Pellé, Menetou-Salon, Saugnon-Blanc in Tours, Loire Valley, France (February 2024)
 
At Château de Pray, a Loire Château from the 12th Century and a Michelin Star: Overnight Stay and High-end Dinner in an Historic Setting (February 2024)
 
A Journey through the Loire Valley - Tasting at the American Wine Society (Northern Virginia Chapter), led by Annette Schiller (March 2024)
 
Château de Chambord - Not only a Famous Loire Palace, but also an AOC Cheverny Wine Producer
 
 
Dinner at Au P'tit Goûter - a Friendly Little Bistro right in the Middle of Chavignol, Sancerre, Loire Valley - with Front-of-the-house Jérémy, Chef Jérôme Germain and Tuscany (February 2024)
 
 
A Journey through the Vineyards of the Loire Valley - Tasting at the Washington Wine and Cheese Seminar, led by Annette Schiller (March 2024)
 
Announcement: Wines from the Loire Valley - Tasting at the NoLoCo (Northern Loudoun County) Chapter of the American Wine Society on April 14, 2024, led by Annette Schiller
 
 
German and Austria Winemakers (Clemens Busch, Kühn, Meinklang, Frank John) at the Salons des Vins - all with a Focus on Natural, Organic, Biodynamic and Low-intervention Producers - in February in Angers and Saumur, Loire Valley, France (February 2024)
 
Loire Winemaker Dinner with Clément Berthier, Sancerre, at Bastille Brasserie in Alexandria, Virginia, USA
 
Loire Wine Dinner at The Elkridge Furnace Inn (Greater Baltimore Area) with Chef Dan Wecker
 
Wines from the Loire Valley - Tasting at the NoLoCo (Northern Loudoun County) Chapter of the American Wine Society on April 14, 2024, led by Annette Schiller


Maison Louis Jadot Burgundy Tasting and Six-course Wine Dinner with Thibaut Marquis, Export Director, and Chef Jacques at L’ Auberge Chez François, Greater Washington DC Area

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Annette Schiller and I enjoyed a wonderful Bourgogne wine dinner with the wines of Maison Louis Jadot, presented by Thibaut Marquis, Export Director for Maison Louis Jadot and a 6-course menu, prepared by Chef/ Owner Jacques Haeringer at L’Auberge Chez François in Great Falls, in the greater Washington DC area. 

We met Thibaut 2 years ago at a similar dinner at L’Auberge Chez François. Since then, Annette and Thibaut have jointly presented twice the wines of Louis Jadot, at the Washington Wine and Cheese Seminar in Washington DC and at the National Convention of the American Wine Society in St. Louis, Missouri. Also, Thibault gave us the tour of Maison Lousi Jadot, when Annette and her group visited Burgundy on a WineTour by ombiasy. Finally, Thibaut presented the wines of Louis Jadot at the John Marshall Chapter of the American Wine Society late last year. 

Invitation

Please join us for an exquisite event at L’Auberge Chez François as we are delighted to host an evening of guiding tastings and wine dinner experience highlighting the finest highly sought-after Burgundy wines of Maison Louis Jadot. We welcome very special guest, Thibaut Marquis, Export Director for Maison Louis Jadot, to guide us through the rich history of the winery and featured six wines.

From the tip of Chablis to the toe of Beaujolais, from regional, villages, 1er Cru and Grand Cru appellations, Louis Jadot produces wines that celebrate Burgundy’s diversity, reflecting the natural differences of soil, aspect and climate. The familiar Bacchus head label has become the reliable stamp of quality and consistency.

Maison Louis Jadot is one of the most trusted and revered wine houses in Burgundy’s Côte d’Or. Frédéric Barnier, Jadot’s esteemed winemaker, and his team balance tradition and technology, focusing on the purest expression of each wine’s terroir. These principles of vinification take the lightest possible hand in winemaking, and produce the essence of fine Burgundy. Founded in 1859, the house now owns 528 acres of vineyards, including 280 acres of the Cote d’Or’s most prestigious Premier and Grand Cru plots.

The Jadot tasting will be followed by Chef Jacques and Team’s delectable dinner experience expertly paired with two additional outstanding wines from the Louis Jadot portfolio.

We will take you on a journey that defines Louis Jadot’s 165 years of know-how and expertise in the Burgundy region paired with Chef Jacques’ historical dishes which have strengthened the French and American friendship over the years.

A fantastic evening and experience not to be missed! Merci beaucoup and see you there!

Arriving


Welcome











Maison Louis Jadot Burgundy Wine Tasting & Six-Course Wine Dinner



6 Wines


First Course

Chef’s Seasonal Canapés
Maison Louis Jadot Rully Blanc 2021





Pre-Dinner Jadot Tasting Flight:

· Maison Louis Jadot, Meursault 2021
· Maison Louis Jadot, Beaune 1er Cru Celebration 2020
· Maison Louis Jadot, Chassagne-Montrachet Morgeot Clos de la Chapelle 1er Cru ROUGE 2017



Corbeille de Pain (Bread Course)

Basket Multi Grain & Sourdough Breads, Local Butter

Third Course

Gateau of Bay Scallops Roasted Shitake Mushroom Gratin
Chablis 1er Cru Montée de Tonnerre 2019 



Fourth Course

Salade de Maison, Housemade Vinaigrette

Meyer Lemon-Infused Sorbet

Fifth Course

Marcho Farms Veal Chop, Wilted Garden Spinach, Seasonal Vegetables,
Truffle Sauce
Maison Louis Jadot Chateau des Jacques Moulin-a-Vent Clos de Rochegrès 2021





Dessert Course

Chef Pascal’s Classic Napoleon Mille-Feuille
Julius Meinl Coffee, Selection of Harney & Sons Fine Teas


Bye-bye

September 2023: Tasting at John Marshall Chapter of the American Wine Society

Tasting the Wines of Louis Jadot with Thibaut Marquis, the US Representative for Louis Jadot, at the John Marshall Chapter of the American Wine Society, September 2023




2023 American Wine Society National Conference in St. Louis/ Missouri/ USA

Dive Deep Into Burgundy With Louis Jadot - Seminar at the 2023 American Wine Society National Conference in St. Louis/ Missouri/ USA led by Thibaut Marquis, North America Export Manager, Louis Jadot, with Annette Schiller 
 





April 2023: Washington Wine and Cheese Seminar

A Journey through Bourgogne with Louis Jadot - Tasting at the Washington Wine and Cheese Seminar Presented by Annette Schiller, ombiasy WineTours, and Thibaud Marquis, Louis Jadot







From Lyon to Paris: Total Immersion in Burgundy and Champagne 2023 by ombiasy WineTours

Cellar Tour and Tasting at Louis Jadot in Beaune with Thibaud Marquis, US Representative of Louis Jadot - From Lyon to Paris: Total Immersion in Burgundy and Champagne 2023 by ombiasy WineTours












November 2022: Louis Jadot, Bourgogne, Wine Dinner at L’Auberge Chez François, Virginia, with Thibaut Marquis of Louis Jadot and Chef Jacques, USA/ France 

Louis Jadot, Bourgogne, Wine Dinner at L’Auberge Chez François, Virginia, with Thibaut Marquis of Louis Jadot and Chef Jacques, USA/ France


schiller-wine: Related Postings 

Announcement: 2024 Tours by ombiasy (Annette Schiller) - Loire Valley, German Classic, Rhône

Announcement: Loire Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours (Sunday, June 09 - Thursday June 20, 2024)

Summary: Germany "From Berlin to Frankfurt" 2023 (Saale Unstrut, Sachsen, Franken, Württemberg) by ombiasy WineTours

Summary: From Lyon to Paris - Total Immersion in Burgundy and Champagne 2023 by ombiasy WineTours (July 02 - 13, 2023)

Summary: Austria 2023 by ombiasy WineTours - 12 Days: May 28 - June 08, 2023

Christian Schiller`s SCHILLER-WINE Blog on Corking Wines` Top 101 Wine Writers of 2020 List

The 2023 American Wine Society National Conference in St. Louis/ Missouri/ USA: Seen Through Christian Schiller's Camera Lens 

Maison Guigal in Ampuis, Côte Rôtie, Northern Rhône: Cellar Tour, Tasting and Vineyard Tour - Rhône Valley Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France

Tour and Tasting at Château Haut-Bailly, Graves, Appellation Pessac-Léognan, Grand Cru Classé, with Cellar Master Jean Christoph - Bordeaux Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours, France

2022 Annual Riesling Party at the Schiller Residence in McLean, Virginia, USA 

Massive Tasting of Bordeaux 1982 - the Vintage that made Robert Parker a Star, USA/ France

Kékfrankos - Blaufränkisch - Lemberger: A Grape’s Immigration Story From Central Europe To The US West Coast - Seminar at the 2023 American Wine Society National Conference in St. Louis/ Missouri/ USA led by Annette Schiller

All Sorts of Sparklers: How do the Bubbles get into that Bottle? - Tasting at the American Wine Society (NoVa Chapter) led by Annette Schiller 

The New German Wine Law of 2021 - Tasting at the German Wine Society (Washington DC Chapter), presented by Annette Schiller  

Christian Schiller: Re-elected to the Board of the "Weinfeder", the Association of German Wine Journalists

20 Best Washington DC (USA) Alcohol Blogs + Websites (December 31, 2023): #3 schiller-wine by Christian Schiller 

2024 Annual Meeting of the Weinfreundeskreis Hochheim, a 45 Years Old Wine Brotherhood in the Famous Wine Village Hochheim, Rheingau, Germany, with Annette Schiller, Founding Member, and Christian Schiller

German Wine Society (Capital Chapter) Membership Meeting 2024: Carl Willner Re-elected President and Christian Schiller Re-elected Vice-president, USA/ Germany

Masterclass - The Wines of Germany: Presentation by Annette Schiller at the German Embassy in Washington DC/ Consular Conference March 2024 

The New German Wine Law of 2021 - Shifting from the Sugar Level at Harvest to the Wine's Geographic Origin 

"Spargel Fest 2024" of the German Wine Society (Washington DC Chapter) at the German Embassy in Washington DC, USA, with 9 German Wines - Sparkling and Still, White and Red, Bone-dry and Fruity-sweet - and the Food of Chef Mikko

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Back at the German Embassy in Washington DC. For the "Spargel Fest 2024", we were back at the German Embassy. The asparagus-centered food was prepared by Chef Mikko from the German Embassy. We served 9 German wines, sparkling and still, white and red, dry and fruity-sweet. With 64 sign-ups we were sold out. We were honored by the presence of Bill Stefan, (National) President of the American Wine Society, which has about 8000 members nationwide.

Invitation by the German Wine Society (Washington DC Chapter)

It is a pleasure to announce that the German Embassy has invited us once again to hold an event  at the German Embassy House!  And for this event, our asparagus-themed Spring Festival dinner, we will also have the opportunity to enjoy once again the cuisine of the German Embassy’s new chef, Mikko Kosenen of Mikko Nordic Fine Foods.  Chef Mikko also operates a restaurant in Washington, D.C., and was formerly executive chef for the Ambassador of Finland.  Please plan to join us to share our love of German wine paired with asparagus dishes, at the German Embassy where the German Wine Society began.

Spring in Washington announces itself with cherry blossoms, migrating songbirds, and tasty ramps at farmers’ markets.  In Germany, nothing epitomizes Spring like the revered white stalks of Spargel (asparagus)!  The green variety is more popular in North America and tends to be available in supermarkets year-round.  Germans, however, prefer the white variety that is harvested from mid-April to near the end of June (St. John’s Day), and often is harder to find in the United States.  The Germans have given this harvest season its own name - Spargelzeit - and celebrate it with passion.  


Rich in nutrients and very low in calories, asparagus has become a culinary status symbol for many Germans.  To produce white asparagus, soil is piled up into knee-high banks, which give the fields their characteristic appearance.  White asparagus grows entirely surrounded by earth, which protects the slender stalks from sunlight exposure and keeps them from turning green.  This also affects the subtle flavor of it.  The popular vegetable is cultivated in almost all federal states as well as in neighboring countries.  In fact, Germans consume more white asparagus than their country produces, so it is necessary to import it.


Please join the German Wine Society’s Capital Chapter on the evening of Friday, May 3, 2024, from 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm, for a four-course asparagus-themed dinner in the German Embassy House, plus an outdoor reception with served hors d’oeuvres on the Embassy House patio (weather permitting).  Our Spring Festival dinner will feature not only the elegant vegetable in both its green and white versions, but also fine German wines, including Silvaner, known for its affinity with asparagus.  We will have seven whites including two containing Silvaner grapes, a red, and a sparkling wine, representing five of Germany’s wine regions.  It has been a tradition of the German Wine Society to hold Spargelfest dinners at this time of year at various locations, including the German Embassy House, Cafe Mozart (now regrettably closed), and Cafe Berlin last year.  We look forward to our return to the Embassy where our Society began 47 years ago, in 1977.

 






Pictures: German Wine Society (Washington DC Chapter)

Report by Carl Willner, President of the GWS
  
Fellow German Wine Society Capital Chapter Board Members,

On the evening of May 3, 2024, our GWS Capital Chapter held its Spring Festival at the German Embassy House, from 5:30 pm to about 9:30 pm.  Fortunately, even the weather cooperated with our event, and we enjoyed a beautiful evening, warm but not hot and free of rain, so that we could share sparkling wine and ample hors d'oeuvres on the patio before heading inside for dinner.  Considering that the next several days are all expected to be rainy, we were very lucky with the timing of the Spring Festival.  I served as organizer for this event, and delivered opening remarks on the patio along with Astrid Jakobs de Padua of the German Embassy.  Chef Mikko, the German Embassy’s new chef, was there in person to oversee the rest of his staff and prepare our dinner, so everyone got to meet him and ask questions at the end.

...Overall turnout for the event was very good, with 64 registered (including 40 members, 21 non-members, and 3 Embassy guests) and 63 actually attending, putting us at the maximum for event registrations that we were allowed. 

...Overall, this event was very well received by our members and guests, and I have received several compliments on it both at the event and afterward.  The seated dinner, though more expensive for us, avoided any complaints about some people not getting their favored dishes on a buffet, and some guests said that they preferred the seated dinner to the buffet approach.  Guests appeared quite satisfied with both the quality and quantity of the food available from Chef Mikko and his staff (“very yummy and plentiful” as Maria So put it)...

Based on this year’s experience, I think we could safely rely on Chef Mikko to provide us with another successful Spring Festival/Spargelfest should we get invited again to the German Embassy House next year!
 
Maureen Bluhm on facebook

Enjoyed a beautiful “Springfest” Dinner this evening celebrating asparagus delicacy with German weins at the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany. We began the evening on the terrace under beautiful blue skies sampling Dr. Loosen’s Sparkling #Riesling🥂 Sekt paired w/ asparagus frittata, curry wurst on toast and asparagus shrimp skewers. Delish & delightful!
 
So About Last Night…
The German Wine Society - Washington DC#GWS co-hosted with the German Embassy the annual “Springfest” last night with a four course wein pairing dinner featuring the spring delicacy of asparagus. It was delicious pairing with each course being paired with 2 German weins. 
 
After a delightful opening reception, we dined on 🤌🏻🤌🏻🤌🏻Aspargus soup 🤌🏻🤌🏻🤌🏻, green salad w/ blanched aspargus, dates and goat cheese, the rare treat of grilled white aspargus topped with extremely rich hollandaise sauce, a duo entrée featuring beef w/ mushroom au jus (and a miso crusted monkfish that MoWino skipped) & ending with/ a decadent dessert trio. It was specatuclar menu prepared by Chef Mikko Catering with a “WOW” wein pairing. Of note, the asparagus soup was an absolute 🫳🏻🎤 course.
Best sip in show and wein tidbits will be featured on MoWino social so make sure to tune in! Prost!
 
Roland Young on facebook 
 
Tickie and I attended the Washington DC Chapter of the German Wine Society’s Spargelfest/Springfest at the German Embassy last Friday. About 64 attended including our friends Christian and Annette Schiller and Bill Stefan and his wife. Christian is the Chapter Vice President and Bill is the President of the National American Wine Society. Bill and I attended a couple of Military financial management courses together back in the early 1980’s when we were both young financial managers. 
 
The event started out with a meet and greet on the patio with a nice German Sekt and four nice passed canapés. We then moved inside for a “five” course dinner with two wines for each course ranging from bone dry to sweet dessert white wines including a Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir) with the main course. Mostly green asparagus with only one odd white asparagus dish that was not traditionally done. The Chef was Finnish and not German. Great food but not traditionally German for the season. The event was delightful as well as our dining companions. 
 
This was the first time since before Covid that this was held at the embassy and it was great to be back! We had to make a decision whether to attend this event or the Louis Jadot French Burgundy wines tasting at the May AWS meeting. Tough decision but I’m glad with the choice we made! 

Arriving
 




Pre-event Consultation with Chef Mikko
 


 
"Spargel" Dinner
 

 
 Sekt Reception 

Blackened Trout Salad Wraps
Grilled Asparagus Frittata with Chive Sauce
Grilled Shrimp and Asparagus Skewers
Curry Wurst on Toast with Curry Ketchup

These hors d’oeuvres will be accompanied by the following sparkling wine:
Nv Dr. Loosen Sparkling Riesling Dr. L Mosel 
 












 

 
 
 
 
 
Welcome Speeches 







Seated Dinner

First (Soup) Course
Asparagus Soup with Lemon and Chive

Served with the following white wines:
2022 Kruger Rumpf Munsterer Rheinberg Kabinett Riesling Nahe (JS 91)
2021 Selbach Oster Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Kabinett Riesling Mosel (WA 93-94)
 





Second (Salad) Course
Charred Asparagus, Dates, Goat Cheese Salad

Served with the following dry white wines:
2021 Hofgut Falkenstein Niedermenniger Herrenberg Weissburgunder Trocken Mosel
2022 Weingut Keller vom Muscheligen Kalk Rheinhessen (a white Pinot Blanc/Chardonnay/Silvaner blend)
 





Third (Main) Course
Grilled White Asparagus with Hollandaise Sauce
Crispy Miso-Butter Crusted White Fish
        Beef Striploin with Roasted Spring Vegetables/Potato Salad
       
Served with the following white and red wines:
2021 Max Müller Silvaner Trocken Franken
2017 Weingut Schnaitmann Steinwiege Pinot Noir Württemberg (WE 92)
 








 
 Dessert Course
 Rhubarb Sour Cream Cake
Strawberry Salad with Sabayon
Chocolate Mousse on Tart Shells

Served with the following sweet white wines:
2022 Carl Loewen Thornicher Ritsch Auslese Riesling Mosel (JS 96)
2020 J.J. Prüm Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Spätlese Riesling Mosel (WA 93)
 

 
 Coffee and Tea service at end, with bottled still and sparkling water provided at tables
 
Chef Mikko 






The Wines







Bye-bye


schiller-wine: Related Postings 

Announcement: 2024 Tours by ombiasy (Annette Schiller) - Loire Valley, German Classic, Rhône

Announcement: Loire Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours (Sunday, June 09 - Thursday June 20, 2024)

Summary: Germany "From Berlin to Frankfurt" 2023 (Saale Unstrut, Sachsen, Franken, Württemberg) by ombiasy WineTours

Summary: From Lyon to Paris - Total Immersion in Burgundy and Champagne 2023 by ombiasy WineTours (July 02 - 13, 2023)

Summary: Austria 2023 by ombiasy WineTours - 12 Days: May 28 - June 08, 2023

Christian Schiller`s SCHILLER-WINE Blog on Corking Wines` Top 101 Wine Writers of 2020 List

The 2023 American Wine Society National Conference in St. Louis/ Missouri/ USA: Seen Through Christian Schiller's Camera Lens 

Maison Guigal in Ampuis, Côte Rôtie, Northern Rhône: Cellar Tour, Tasting and Vineyard Tour - Rhône Valley Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France

Tour and Tasting at Château Haut-Bailly, Graves, Appellation Pessac-Léognan, Grand Cru Classé, with Cellar Master Jean Christoph - Bordeaux Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours, France

2022 Annual Riesling Party at the Schiller Residence in McLean, Virginia, USA 

Massive Tasting of Bordeaux 1982 - the Vintage that made Robert Parker a Star, USA/ France

Kékfrankos - Blaufränkisch - Lemberger: A Grape’s Immigration Story From Central Europe To The US West Coast - Seminar at the 2023 American Wine Society National Conference in St. Louis/ Missouri/ USA led by Annette Schiller

All Sorts of Sparklers: How do the Bubbles get into that Bottle? - Tasting at the American Wine Society (NoVa Chapter) led by Annette Schiller 

The New German Wine Law of 2021 - Tasting at the German Wine Society (Washington DC Chapter), presented by Annette Schiller  

Christian Schiller: Re-elected to the Board of the "Weinfeder", the Association of German Wine Journalists

20 Best Washington DC (USA) Alcohol Blogs + Websites (December 31, 2023): #3 schiller-wine by Christian Schiller 

2024 Annual Meeting of the Weinfreundeskreis Hochheim, a 45 Years Old Wine Brotherhood in the Famous Wine Village Hochheim, Rheingau, Germany, with Annette Schiller, Founding Member, and Christian Schiller

German Wine Society (Capital Chapter) Membership Meeting 2024: Carl Willner Re-elected President and Christian Schiller Re-elected Vice-president, USA/ Germany

Masterclass - The Wines of Germany: Presentation by Annette Schiller at the German Embassy in Washington DC/ Consular Conference March 2024 

The New German Wine Law of 2021 - Shifting from the Sugar Level at Harvest to the Wine's Geographic Origin 

Springtime for Riesling & Germany: May 2024 Terroir by the Glass Special Monthly Offer - with 8 Sparkling, Dry and Fruity-sweet Rieslings from Germany - at La Fromagerie Cheese and Wine Bistro in Alexandria, Virginia

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"Springtime for Riesling & Germany" is the theme of the May 2024 "Terroir by the Glass" special monthly offer of La Fromagerie, a wine and cheese bistroin Alexandria, Virginia, on Upper King Street, comprising 8 excellent wines from Germany, with the line up (1 sparkling, 4 bone dry and 3 fruity-sweet wine(s)) put together by Ben Kuna, Owner/ General Manager of the sister Le Vintage Wine Shop, which is right next door.

Annette and I went to La Fromagerie in early Mayfor the Springtime for Riesling & Germany and combined it with the Sunday afternoon tasting of German wines at Le Vintage Wine Shop. While the La Fromagerie line-up was Riesling only - sparkling, dry and sweet - except for one, none of the wines at Le Vintage Wine Shop were Rieslings (all from the portfolio of the German Wine Collection, a leading importer of premium German wines).  

La Fromagerie 

Chef/Owner Sebastien Tavel: The perfect place to enjoy lovingly prepared dishes, cheese and meat boards, natural wine and craft beer in a relaxed atmosphere. We offer an always changing wine list of over 40 wines available by the glass, bottle or flight.

Chef/Owner Sebastien Tavel - a native of Lyon - bases his cuisine fare around fresh seasonal food available from local farmers, particularly the heirloom and forageable produce that help support the biodiversity of our area. 




La Fromagerie brings a "farm to table" approach by purchasing directly from farmers or  trusted suppliers. We believe in sustainable and responsible methods of farming, and are proud to support American artisan cheese making. 

La Fromagerie's extensive wine program focuses on natural, sustainable methods of production with an emphasis on organice and biodynamic practices when possible. We feature over 40 wines by the glass.

May 2024 Terroir by the Glass Offer: Springtime for Riesling&Germany

The theme of this month's "Terroir by the Glass" special offer of La Fromagerie is "Springtime for Riesling & Germany", comprising 8 excellent and carefully selected wines from Germany. 
 
The line-up comprises a Weingut Günther Steinmetz Sekt Brut, 4 Trocken wines, all from relatively unknown winemakers in Wuerttemberg, Baden, Rheinhessen, Rheingau and 3 fruity-sweet wines, Kabinett, Spaetlese, Auslese, from the #worldclass producers Weingut Koehler-Ruprecht,Weingut Emrich-Schönleber and Weingut Clemens Busch.
 
The outstanding line-up of German Rieslings was put together by Ben Kuna, Owner and General Manager of the sister Le Vintage Wine Shop, which is right next door on Upper King Street.  
 





Auslese: Weingut Clemens Busch


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

Pictures: Annette Schiller, Christian Schiller and Clemens Busch at Panda Gourmet, Washington DC. See: Wine-pairing Dinner with Clemens Busch, Weingut Clemens Busch, Mosel, at Panda Gourmet in Washington DC, USA

Picture: Annette and Christian Schiller at the Rieslingfeier 2017 in New York City with Clemens Busch. See: The Annual "Slaughterhouse" Riesling Feast in New York: Rieslingfeier 2017, USA

Pictures: Annette Schiller, Clemens Busch and Christian Schiller in Washington DC, USA in 2014. See: German Star Winemaker Clemens Busch, Weingut Clemens Busch in the Mosel Valley, in Washington DC, USA

Picture: Gernot Kollmann, Weingut Immich-Batterieberg, Annette Schiller, ombiasy WineTours, Dominik Sona and Franzi Schmitt, Weingut Koehler-Ruprecht and Clemens Busch, Weingut Clemens Busch, at Bart Vandaele's BToo in Washington DC. 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: In Seattle, Washington State, in 2013, during the 4th Riesling Rendezvous: Clemens Busch, Christian Schiller and Hermann Wiemer, founder of Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyards in the Finger Lakes Region in New York State. See: The World of Riesling in Seattle - Fourth Riesling Rendezvous in Washington State, USA

Dinner
 
La Fromagerie is a quaint, top-notch restaurant in terms of the food and wine selection.  However, if you want table cloths and an elegant restaurant flaire then this is not your place. Simple wooden tables and chairs. And outstanding food and wines. The source farms are listed. "La Fromagerie brings a "farm to table" approach by purchasing directly from farmers or  trusted suppliers. We believe in sustainable and responsible methods of farming, and are proud to support American artisan cheese making."

Sebastien Tavel started out with a wine and cheese shop in 2009. From there he took it to what he calls a wine and chees bistro with a French accent, coupled with a wine store next door. The bistro and the wine store are a pair. Both are dedicated to sustainable, biodynamic, natural producers. 
 




Le Vintage Wine Shop 

Ben Kuna, Owner and Manager: Le Vintage is a wine and beer shop owned and run by Sommeliers with the intent of making the entire world of wine accessible to everyone while supporting growers who are engaged in ethically and ecologically responsible farming and business practices. 





We select our wines based on three criteria:

- Farming: Must be sustainable at minimum; preference for biodynamic, bioregenerative, and holistic practices. Unless it is impossible, wines must be fermented using native yeasts.

- Distribution: We only purchase from locally owned wholesalers, no national distributors

- Quality: We taste everything and must agree that it’s good enough for our customers

Our beers are selected with an eye to balancing classic examples with domestic artisan beers.  As much as possible, we adhere to the same farming and business criteria we apply to our wine selections. 

Cheeses and charcuterie from domestic, local when possible, artisan producers are curated and constantly rotated based on availability.  We are actively seeking local, artisan makers for accoutrements, meats and cheeses.  

German Wine Tasting
 
Ben Kuna presented 5 German wines - 4 white wines (all dry, from Rheinhessen, Pfalz and Franken) and 1 red wine from the Pfalz. The wines belong to the portfolio of The German Wine Collection (formerly Rudi Wiest) in California, a leading importer of premium German wines. 


What we Bought: Landwein and Ultra-premium Sekt
 
We bought 4 wines, including two classified as "Landwein" and a high-end Sekt of Weingut Frank John in the Pfalz (vintage 2017, degorgement date on the lable, August 2021, 36 months on the lees). 
 
Even in Germany, the Weingut Florian Fauth 2021, the Weingut 2 Naturkinder 2019 Fledermaus Deutscher Landwein and the Weingut roterfaden 2019 Schwäbischer Landwein are rare and difficult to get. With his selection, Ben Kuna is focusing on this kind of wines. They are a hard sell in a neighborhood like McLean, were Annette and I live, but in Aleandria there is a lot of interest in non-mainstream wines.
 






Tasting in the Courtyard and Cellar Tour with Frank John at Weingut Frank John in Neustadt an der Weinstraße, Pfalz - Germany-South and Alsace 2022 by ombiasy WineTours 
 
Frank John is a very small, family owned and run wine manufactury, producing ultra-premium wines according to biodynamic principles. 
 
See: Tasting in the Courtyard and Cellar Tour with Frank John at Weingut Frank John in Neustadt an der Weinstraße, Pfalz - Germany-South and Alsace 2022 by ombiasy WineTours

schiller-wine: Related Postings 

Announcement: 2024 Tours by ombiasy (Annette Schiller) - Loire Valley, German Classic, Rhône

Announcement: Loire Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours (Sunday, June 09 - Thursday June 20, 2024)

Summary: Germany "From Berlin to Frankfurt" 2023 (Saale Unstrut, Sachsen, Franken, Württemberg) by ombiasy WineTours

Summary: From Lyon to Paris - Total Immersion in Burgundy and Champagne 2023 by ombiasy WineTours (July 02 - 13, 2023)

Summary: Austria 2023 by ombiasy WineTours - 12 Days: May 28 - June 08, 2023

Christian Schiller`s SCHILLER-WINE Blog on Corking Wines` Top 101 Wine Writers of 2020 List

The 2023 American Wine Society National Conference in St. Louis/ Missouri/ USA: Seen Through Christian Schiller's Camera Lens 

Maison Guigal in Ampuis, Côte Rôtie, Northern Rhône: Cellar Tour, Tasting and Vineyard Tour - Rhône Valley Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France

Tour and Tasting at Château Haut-Bailly, Graves, Appellation Pessac-Léognan, Grand Cru Classé, with Cellar Master Jean Christoph - Bordeaux Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours, France

2022 Annual Riesling Party at the Schiller Residence in McLean, Virginia, USA 

Massive Tasting of Bordeaux 1982 - the Vintage that made Robert Parker a Star, USA/ France

Kékfrankos - Blaufränkisch - Lemberger: A Grape’s Immigration Story From Central Europe To The US West Coast - Seminar at the 2023 American Wine Society National Conference in St. Louis/ Missouri/ USA led by Annette Schiller

All Sorts of Sparklers: How do the Bubbles get into that Bottle? - Tasting at the American Wine Society (NoVa Chapter) led by Annette Schiller 

The New German Wine Law of 2021 - Tasting at the German Wine Society (Washington DC Chapter), presented by Annette Schiller  

Christian Schiller: Re-elected to the Board of the "Weinfeder", the Association of German Wine Journalists

20 Best Washington DC (USA) Alcohol Blogs + Websites (December 31, 2023): #3 schiller-wine by Christian Schiller 

2024 Annual Meeting of the Weinfreundeskreis Hochheim, a 45 Years Old Wine Brotherhood in the Famous Wine Village Hochheim, Rheingau, Germany, with Annette Schiller, Founding Member, and Christian Schiller

German Wine Society (Capital Chapter) Membership Meeting 2024: Carl Willner Re-elected President and Christian Schiller Re-elected Vice-president, USA/ Germany

Masterclass - The Wines of Germany: Presentation by Annette Schiller at the German Embassy in Washington DC/ Consular Conference March 2024 

The New German Wine Law of 2021 - Shifting from the Sugar Level at Harvest to the Wine's Geographic Origin 

 

Producer Spotlight: Eva Steininger, Weingut Steininger, Kamptal, Austria, Presents Grüner, Riesling, Rosé & Bubbles at Chain Bridge Cellars in McLean, Virginia

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Eva Steininger of Weingut Steininger in Langenlois, Kamptal, Austria was in the Washington DC area for a week or so and Annette and I were able to catch her at Chain Bridge Cellars in McLean, which is a few blocks away from where we live in the USA. We saw Eva the last time during Austria 2023 by ombiasy WineTours.

Austria 2023 by ombiasy WineTours took place from Sunday, May 28 - Thursday, June 08, 2023. We toured Austria for 12 days, starting and ending in Vienna: Wien, Wagram, Carnuntum, Burgenland, Steiermark, Wachau, Kamptal, Kremstal, Traisental, Wien.

We stayed one night at Loisium Langenlois Wine & Spa Resort. When we arrived in the late afternoon at the hotel coming from Graz and the Steiermark, Eva Steininger and Klaus Wittauer, who happened to be in Lagenlois at the same time, surpised us with a Sekt Reception with Steininger Sekt in the entrance hall of  the Loisium Langenlois Wine & Spa Resort.

After the surpise Sekt Reception, we went to a: 

Wine-pairing Dinner at Heurigenhof Bründlmayer (14.5/20 Points Gault Millau) - Austria 2023 by ombiasy WineTours 

We visited Weingut Steininger the following day in the morning. Brigitta Steininger was our host. She showed us the ancient wine making cellar and led a seated tasting of still and sparkling wines.

We were now in Grüner Veltliner country, the flagship white grape variety in the northern part of Austria’s wine landscape, Niederösterreich – Lower Austria.
 
See: Tour and Tasting at Weingut Steininger, Kamptal, with Brigitta Steininger - Austria 2023 by ombiasy WineTours

Invitation Chain Bridge Cellars: Eva Steininger Presents Grüner, Riesling, Rosé & Bubbles
 
You buy a lot of Austrian wine from us and more of it comes from the Steininger Family than any other producer.  Why?  Because founding husband/wife team Karl and Brigita and daughter Eva Steininger and her husband, Peter, grow and make terrific wine and the price it very competitively indeed!  As you’ll taste for yourself when you join us on Tuesday, May 7, from 5-7:30 and let Eva tell you her family’s story and share six terrific wines.

Karl and Brigita started their winery in 1989 in Langenlois in Austria’s Kamptal region.  Their passion is sparkling wines (they make more than a dozen!) and you’ll get to taste one of our favorites, a unique Sauvignon Blanc fizz.  They farm with care, pick by hand, and skillfully use a mixture of stainless steel and large Austrian oak casks to create vivid, delicious, wines.

While you meet and chat with Eva, you’ll taste:

Steininger Sauvignon Blanc Sekt
Steininger Cabernet Sauvignon Rosé 2023
Steininger Grüner Veltliner Kamptal 2023
Steininger Grüner Veltiner Loisium 2022
Steininger Grüner Veltliner Grand Grü 2022
Steininger Riesling Reid Steinhaus 2022






It’s a delicious line-up!  As usual there’s no charge for our Producer Spotlight tastings held upstairs around the tasting table, but we do ask that you reserve one of the five 30 minute sessions from 5pm to 7:30pm so we can make sure everyone has plenty of time to enjoy and appreciate the wines.  Come meet Eva and enjoy some classic and classy Austrian wines!

Arriving






Tasting







At Loisium Wine & Spa Resort Langenlois, Kamptal: Impromptu Steininger Sekt Reception with Eva Steininger and Klaus Wittauer - Austria 2023 by ombiasy WineTours 

See: At Loisium Wine & Spa Resort Langenlois, Kamptal: Impromptu Steininger Sekt Reception with Eva Steininger and Klaus Wittauer - Austria 2023 by ombiasy WineTours 







Tour and Tasting at Weingut Steininger, Kamptal, with Brigitta Steininger - Austria 2023 by ombiasy WineTours 

We visited Weingut Steininger the following day in the morning. Brigitta Steininger was our host. She showed us the ancient wine making cellar and led a seated tasting of still and sparkling wines.

We were now in Grüner Veltliner country, the flagship white grape variety in the northern part of Austria’s wine landscape, Niederösterreich – Lower Austria.
 
See: Tour and Tasting at Weingut Steininger, Kamptal, with Brigitta Steininger - Austria 2023 by ombiasy WineTours






schiller-wine: Related Postings 

Announcement: 2024 Tours by ombiasy (Annette Schiller) - Loire Valley, German Classic, Rhône

Announcement: Loire Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours (Sunday, June 09 - Thursday June 20, 2024)

Summary: Germany "From Berlin to Frankfurt" 2023 (Saale Unstrut, Sachsen, Franken, Württemberg) by ombiasy WineTours

Summary: From Lyon to Paris - Total Immersion in Burgundy and Champagne 2023 by ombiasy WineTours (July 02 - 13, 2023)

Summary: Austria 2023 by ombiasy WineTours - 12 Days: May 28 - June 08, 2023

Christian Schiller`s SCHILLER-WINE Blog on Corking Wines` Top 101 Wine Writers of 2020 List

The 2023 American Wine Society National Conference in St. Louis/ Missouri/ USA: Seen Through Christian Schiller's Camera Lens 

Maison Guigal in Ampuis, Côte Rôtie, Northern Rhône: Cellar Tour, Tasting and Vineyard Tour - Rhône Valley Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France

Tour and Tasting at Château Haut-Bailly, Graves, Appellation Pessac-Léognan, Grand Cru Classé, with Cellar Master Jean Christoph - Bordeaux Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours, France

2022 Annual Riesling Party at the Schiller Residence in McLean, Virginia, USA 

Massive Tasting of Bordeaux 1982 - the Vintage that made Robert Parker a Star, USA/ France

Kékfrankos - Blaufränkisch - Lemberger: A Grape’s Immigration Story From Central Europe To The US West Coast - Seminar at the 2023 American Wine Society National Conference in St. Louis/ Missouri/ USA led by Annette Schiller

All Sorts of Sparklers: How do the Bubbles get into that Bottle? - Tasting at the American Wine Society (NoVa Chapter) led by Annette Schiller 

The New German Wine Law of 2021 - Tasting at the German Wine Society (Washington DC Chapter), presented by Annette Schiller  

Christian Schiller: Re-elected to the Board of the "Weinfeder", the Association of German Wine Journalists

20 Best Washington DC (USA) Alcohol Blogs + Websites (December 31, 2023): #3 schiller-wine by Christian Schiller 

2024 Annual Meeting of the Weinfreundeskreis Hochheim, a 45 Years Old Wine Brotherhood in the Famous Wine Village Hochheim, Rheingau, Germany, with Annette Schiller, Founding Member, and Christian Schiller

German Wine Society (Capital Chapter) Membership Meeting 2024: Carl Willner Re-elected President and Christian Schiller Re-elected Vice-president, USA/ Germany

Masterclass - The Wines of Germany: Presentation by Annette Schiller at the German Embassy in Washington DC/ Consular Conference March 2024 

The New German Wine Law of 2021 - Shifting from the Sugar Level at Harvest to the Wine's Geographic Origin 

Château Brane Cantenac, Deuxieme Grand Cru Classe en 1855, Margaux: Winemaker Dinner with Owner Henri Lurton at The Henri in Washington DC, led by Panos Kakaviatos

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Panos Kakaviatos was in town (Washington DC) to lead 2 winemaker dinners, one with Château Brane Cantenac and one with Château Malartic Lagravière, both #worldclass Bordeaux producers. Annette and I attended both dinners.
 
Henri and Annette+Christian go back many years. 
 
An article about Henri Lurton and his wines - based on a tasting of Henri Lurton at MacArthur Beverages in Washington DC - was one of my first postings on schiller wine, relased in 2010. I remember, I had just retired from the IMF and we talked a lot about Dominique Strauss-Kahn (DSK), my former boss at the IMF, and the favorite to win the 2012 French Presidential elections until a sex scandale forced him out of the race.  
 
A year later, Henri was in town (Washington DC) for 24 hours and invited a small group of wine writers/bloggers/officials to have dinner with him at CityZen: Karen Taylor (France Magazine), Michael Besche (Commanderie de Bordeaux), and Lou Marmon (GrapeLines), Aaron Nix-Gomez (Hogshead) and myself.

The first wine tour Annette organized was a tour with members of the Wine Brotherhood Hochheim, to Bordeaux, from September 2 to 10, 2012. One of the estates we visited was Château Brane-Cantenac. Henri was our host.
 
We went back to Château Brane-Cantenac during Bordeaux 2017 by ombiasy WineTours. 
 
Now, a very special dinner with Henri at The Henri in Washington DC. 
 
Picture: Henri Lurton and Christian Schiller in 2010
 
Invitation by Panos Kakaviatos: Part One: Château Brane Cantenac, Margaux with owner Henri Lurton, on Thursday 9 May in Washington D.C. at The Henri Restaurant, private room. 

First off, Château Brane Cantenac, a second growth in Margaux, whose perfumed aromatics are as good as one can get short of Château Margaux itself. 

More importantly, the estate has improved quality in recent years by crafting its first wine only from top vines grown in what is called the "Clos" of the vineyards, the heart of the vines and thus there is a sense of greater concentration and depth, while remaining gorgeously fragrant. Their second wine, Baron de Brane is no longer a pale image of the first, as it too comes from specific vineyard plots. I think that they are daring in proposing the 2010 with the ... 2021 of that second wine, but let's see. 

Some old timers may be dismissive of Brane, and I recall tasting some from the 1960s that left me perplexed, but at least since the 1986, the wine began to reflect its original second growth status, hitting its stride between 1996 and 2005 and reaching a top notch level by the mid 2010s. 

As most know, it favors a clear majority of Cabernet Sauvignon, whereas some from the appellation have larger percentages of Merlot. So, while the famous Château Palmer - a great example - has a significant amount of Merlot, Brane follows more the example of the First Growth Château Margaux. 

As much as I love Palmer, Brane in recent years has approached its level of quality, while the price remains competitive. 

As with other estates in the Médoc, Brane has recently been making dry white wines. They count among the Médoc's best, and we will have one for the dinner, which will be at The Henri in Washington D.C. on Thursday evening 9 May, starting at 6:30 pm.  

Vintages as follows: 

First course to begin with the second wine Baron de Brane 2010 and 2021
Second and third courses with Château Brane-Cantenac 2000, 2004, 2005, 2010, 2016 and 2020
Fourth course with Brane-Cantenac Blanc 2021

The owner, Henri Lurton, will host. 

We would begin with participants bringing Champagne for the meet and greet, along with canapes, before sitting down for a four-course meal likely to end with cheese for the dry white. 

Price: $250 per person. 
 
Panos Kakaviatos on facebook 
 
The wine of the evening was the 2009, closely followed by the classy 2016.

Dimitri Galanis on facebook
 
Bordeaux-🇫🇷-Washington DC🇺🇸- @thehenridc - @chateau_branecantenac - nine vintages. Basically I am in wine heaven😉🍷. Superb dinner with fellow wine lovers, hosted by the man himself, Henri Lurton. Many thanks to my friend @panos_kakaviatos for organizing such a memorable event. 

Kathy Lanf Wiedemann on facebook
 
About last night….
Last night, Rich and I attended this incredible event at The Henri Restaurant in DC. The wines were presented by Henri Lurton himself of Château Brane-Cantenac. Yes, we got double ‘Henri’d if you will.
It isn’t often that you get invited to attend a fantastic Bordeaux tasting and dinner of vintages from 2000 to 2022.
We all started with Champagne because - duh - Champagne. Our contribution was the Champagne Laherte Petit Meslier, that we picked up in Champagne at our fantastic visit at the house and hosted by Aurelien Laherte. I can tell you that many of last night’s guests were wowed by this Champagne.
Each course of the meal was paired with 2-3 of the various vintages.
It was an incredible evening. Thank you to the wonderful bon vivant Panos Kakaviatos for the gracious invitation. We were honored to attend.
Cheers!

Arriving




6:30 PM Meet and Greet 
 
Participants Bring Champagne 
Duo of Welcome Snacks
 















Around 7:30 PM we sit down for four courses 
 






First Course
CAULIFLOWER STRUDEL
Celery custard, sumac butter
Baron de Brane 2010 and 2021
 




Second Course
LEEK PARMANTIER
Truffle dressing, toasted reusti potatoes
Château Brane-Cantenac 2000, 2004, 2005
 






Third Course
LAMB SHANK
Scallion jus, savoy cabbage confit
Château Brane-Cantenac 2010, 2016, 2020
 


 
Extra Wine: Château Brane-Cantenac 2009
 

 


Fourth Course

Cheese plate
Brane-Cantenac Blanc 2021
 




Extra Wine

1961 Château Coutet, Sauternes-Barsac, Premier Cru Classé (brought by a guest)

Leaving


Surprise

After the dinner I bumped into Kinou Cazes-Hachemian of the Cazes family, owner of Lynch-Bages and Château Ormes de Pez#worldclass. She also had hosted a winemaker dinner at The Henri.

Good night

Henri Lurton: 2010 to Today

2010: With Henri Lurton at MacArthur Beverages in Washington DC

An article about Henri Lurton and his wines - based on a tasting of Henri Lurton at MacArthur Beverages in Washington DC - was one of my first postings on schiller wine, relased in 2010. I remember, I had just retired from the IMF and we talked a lot about Dominique Strauss-Kahn (DSK), my former boss at the IMF, and the favorite to win the 2012 French Presidential elections until a sex scandale forced him out of the race.  
 
See: Henri Lurton and his Chateau Brane Cantenac Wines
 
September 2012: An Afternoon with Owner Henri Lurton at Château Brane-Cantenac, a Deuxieme Grand Cru Classe en 1855, in Margaux, France 
 
The first wine tour Annette organized was a tour with wine aficionados, all members of the Wine Brotherhood Hochheim, to Bordeaux, from September 2 to 10, 2012. One of the estates we visited was Château Brane-Cantenac.
 
An Afternoon with Owner Henri Lurton at Château Brane-Cantenac, a Deuxieme Grand Cru Classe en 1855, in Margaux, France 




May 2013: Tête-à-tête Dinner with Henri Lurton, Owner of Château Brane-Cantenac, a Deuxieme Grand Cru Classe en 1855 in Margaux, at CityZen in Washington DC, USA 
 
Henri Lurton of Château Brane-Cantenac was in town (Washington DC) for 24 hours and invited a small group of wine writers/bloggers/officials to have dinner with him at CityZen: Karen Taylor (France Magazine), Michael Besche (Commanderie de Bordeaux), and Lou Marmon (GrapeLines), Aaron Nix-Gomez (Hogshead) and myself.
 
See: Tête-à-tête Dinner with Henri Lurton, Owner of Château Brane-Cantenac, a Deuxieme Grand Cru Classe en 1855 in Margaux, at CityZen in Washington DC, USA 
 
 
2017: Vineyard Tour, Cellar Tour and Tasting at Château Brane-Cantenac with Henri Lurton, Owner - Bordeaux Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours, France 
 
See: Vineyard Tour, Cellar Tour and Tasting at Château Brane-Cantenac with Henri Lurton, Owner - Bordeaux Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours, France
















schiller-wine: Related Postings 

Announcement: 2024 Tours by ombiasy (Annette Schiller) - Loire Valley, German Classic, Rhône

Announcement: Loire Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours (Sunday, June 09 - Thursday June 20, 2024)

Summary: Germany "From Berlin to Frankfurt" 2023 (Saale Unstrut, Sachsen, Franken, Württemberg) by ombiasy WineTours

Summary: From Lyon to Paris - Total Immersion in Burgundy and Champagne 2023 by ombiasy WineTours (July 02 - 13, 2023)

Summary: Austria 2023 by ombiasy WineTours - 12 Days: May 28 - June 08, 2023

Christian Schiller`s SCHILLER-WINE Blog on Corking Wines` Top 101 Wine Writers of 2020 List

The 2023 American Wine Society National Conference in St. Louis/ Missouri/ USA: Seen Through Christian Schiller's Camera Lens 

Maison Guigal in Ampuis, Côte Rôtie, Northern Rhône: Cellar Tour, Tasting and Vineyard Tour - Rhône Valley Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France

Tour and Tasting at Château Haut-Bailly, Graves, Appellation Pessac-Léognan, Grand Cru Classé, with Cellar Master Jean Christoph - Bordeaux Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours, France

2022 Annual Riesling Party at the Schiller Residence in McLean, Virginia, USA 

Massive Tasting of Bordeaux 1982 - the Vintage that made Robert Parker a Star, USA/ France

Kékfrankos - Blaufränkisch - Lemberger: A Grape’s Immigration Story From Central Europe To The US West Coast - Seminar at the 2023 American Wine Society National Conference in St. Louis/ Missouri/ USA led by Annette Schiller

All Sorts of Sparklers: How do the Bubbles get into that Bottle? - Tasting at the American Wine Society (NoVa Chapter) led by Annette Schiller 

The New German Wine Law of 2021 - Tasting at the German Wine Society (Washington DC Chapter), presented by Annette Schiller  

Christian Schiller: Re-elected to the Board of the "Weinfeder", the Association of German Wine Journalists

20 Best Washington DC (USA) Alcohol Blogs + Websites (December 31, 2023): #3 schiller-wine by Christian Schiller 

2024 Annual Meeting of the Weinfreundeskreis Hochheim, a 45 Years Old Wine Brotherhood in the Famous Wine Village Hochheim, Rheingau, Germany, with Annette Schiller, Founding Member, and Christian Schiller

German Wine Society (Capital Chapter) Membership Meeting 2024: Carl Willner Re-elected President and Christian Schiller Re-elected Vice-president, USA/ Germany

Masterclass - The Wines of Germany: Presentation by Annette Schiller at the German Embassy in Washington DC/ Consular Conference March 2024 

The New German Wine Law of 2021 - Shifting from the Sugar Level at Harvest to the Wine's Geographic Origin 


 

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