Picture: Annette Schiller in the Vineyard (Weingut Kruger-Rumpf) in the Nahe Valley

Dear German Wine Society Members:

This is to invite you to our upcoming tasting and presentation with Annette Schiller (www.ombiasypr.comhttps://ombiasypr.com/), a long–standing member of our chapter.

Please join us Friday, April 11, at 7:30 p.m. for our tasting at the Harbor Square Club Room. Marilyn Scarbrough has graciously reserved this venue in her apartment complex on the waterfront in Southwest Washington, near Arena Stage and Fort McNair.

Annette, who is originally from Germany has been involved in wine since her student days in Mainz, one of the 9 wine capitals of the world. She took classes at the university and later at the oenological school in Geisenheim to gain more knowledge on wine. She organizes wine tours to Germany and France, and wine events in the Washington DC area. Her wide network in the wine community allows her access to top estates and winemakers.

Her presentation will focus on new developments in Germany. She will talk about the new wine regions in eastern Germany, the new VDP classification, and the red wine boom, among other topics.

The tasting list will include wines from the Saale-Unstrut region, red wines, and wines made by the upcoming young generation of winemakers as well as traditional German wines from the Mosel, Nahe and the Rheingau. Annette is still working on the wine list. A detailed list will be included in the next announcement.

The address for our tasting is 500 N St SW, Washington, DC. 20024-4605. It is easy to find and parking will be available inside the complex on a first-come-first-serve basis. Tell the gatehouse guard that you are Marilyn Scarbrough's guest, and they will show you where to park and which elevator to take to the club room.

The price for this tasting is $40 for members and $47 for non-members. The deadline is Monday, April 7. Please send your check with your reservation to ensure a seat is reserved for you.

All Society members and guests are reminded that alcohol consumption can lead to intoxication, and therefore Society members and their guests are expected to drink in moderation at Society events. It is advisable to provide designated drivers or other modes of transit where available, or mostly to taste rather than consume alcohol when such drivers or alternative means of transportation are not available.

Please fill out the form below and send your check to German Wine Society,

5607 Huntington Parkway
Bethesda, Maryland 20814

Please cut the reservation form - do not mail the entire page.
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RESERVATION FORM FOR GERMAN WINE SOCIETY FOR April 11, 2014, Annette Schiller New Developments Tasting
Member(s) Name(s)_______________________________________________
Guest(s) Name(s)_________________________________________________
Total Enclosed_______Day Time Phone Number_________________________ E-Mail_______________________________________________________

Picture: Christian G.E. Schiller and Johannes Selbach in New York City

Johannes Selbach, a German top winemaker and owner of Weingut Selbach-Oster in Zeltingen in the Mosel Valley, has teamed up with Paul Hobbs, a California-based renowned wine maker, with the view of making world-class Riesling in the Finger Lakes region in New York State. Recently, the two winemakers have started to establish a winery on a 27 hectare-estate in New York State, on the southern tip of Seneca Lake. In 2015, Johannes Selbach and Paul Hobbs want to produce their first Riesling vintage, but it will be out of grapes from leased vineyards on Seneca Lake.

This is not the first time that Johannes Selbach will make an American-German wine. In the early days of the Randall Grahm’s Pacific Rim Riesling project, the Pacific Rim Riesling Dry was a wine made out of 80% grapes from California and 20% grapes from the Mosel Valley in Germany, provided by Johannes Selbach. After a few vintages, this practice was discontinued and the wine became a 100% American wine.

See:
German American Wines: (1) Pacific Rim Dry Riesling, (2) Eroica, (3) Woelffer and his Schiller Wine
Pacific Rim Riesling #1 of Wine Enthusiast Top 100 Best Buy List 2011 - Meeting Founder Randall Grahm and Winemakers Nicolas Quille and Steven Sealock

Riesling in the World

Worldwide, there are about 34.000 hectares planted with Riesling. Germany – with 22.400 hectares – accounts for 2/3 of the total. The second largest Riesling producer is Australia, with 4500 hectares. But this is only about 1/10 of the total. Alsace follows with 3500 hectares. Austria, the US with Washington State and New York State as well as New Zealand make up the remainder. But overall Riesling is really a niche wine, accounting for only less than 1 percent of total wine production in the world - but a very special niche wine.

Finger Lakes AVA

The Finger Lakes AVA in upstate New York State encompasses seven glacial lakes, although the majority of plantings are around Canandaigua, Keuka, Seneca, and Cayuga Lakes. Most vineyards are planted on hillsides overlooking the lakes. These deep lakes help to moderate the climate, as stored heat is released from the lakes during the winter, keeping the weather mild (relative to surrounding areas) and preventing early frosts. The reflection of the sun off the lakes during summer extends the growing season. This cool-climate region is often compared to the wine-growing region of Germany, and like Germany, has had special success with Riesling.

Pictures: The Finger Lakes Region in New York State

The Finger Lakes include 4,452 hectares of vineyards, making it New York State's largest wine growing region. New York State is with Washington State the second largest wine producer in the US, with a bit more than 10.000 hectares. Of this, 400 hectares are accounted for by Riesling.

See:
Celebrating the Rieslings of the Finger Lakes Region, New York State, US East Coast
Celebrating the Arrival of the Finger Lakes 2010 Riesling in Washington DC, USA
Celebrating the Release of the Finger Lakes 2011 Riesling in Washington DC, USA
Ranking 12 Rieslings: Finger Lakes (USA) versus Germany

Johannes Selbach

The ancestors of the Selbach family have been cultivating Riesling since 1600. The Selbach family originated from the village "Ürzig" and the Oster family comes from the small village of "Zeltingen" on the opposite side of the river. Today, Johannes Selbach and his wife Barbara are running the winery with passion for the wines and in respect of the long tradition.

Pictures: Johannes Selbach and Paul Grieco

The great-grandfather of Johannes owned a Mosel steamship and shipped his wines in oak barrels down the Mosel and the Rhine to the North Sea ports. These barrels again were made by Matthias Oster, a cooper and the great-grandfather on the paternal side of the family. Therefore, the winery developed in three fields, on one side as a top estate in the region and simultaneously on the other side as a négociant and brokerage firm, making wines from grapes and juice bought from other producers and consolidating the production of smaller producers, offering a broad and comprehensive range of fine German wines.

Hence, there are three companies under one roof:

1. Weingut Selbach-Oster

The Selbach-Oster estate continues the long family tradition producing top quality Riesling. The 20 hectares (49 acres) of the estate are all on the steep slopes of the Mosel in top vineyard sites like Wehlener Sonnenuhr, Zeltinger Sonnenuhr and Graacher Domprobst. The production is 12,000 cases per year.

Quality is the focus in the vineyards, where appropriate pruning and, if necessary, green harvest in early September are used to keep yields low. Picking is done by hand and very selectively. Great care is taken to treat grapes, juice and wine as gentle as possible. In the cellar, traditional winemaking is preferred. The wines undergo a cold, slow fermentation and stay on their own yeast (the lees) for an extended period of time. The traditional 1000 Liter oak barrels called "Fuder" are still used.

2. Weinkellerei J. & H. Selbach (Négociant Firm)

J. & H. Selbach Weinkellerei, a négociant firm, incorporated in 1920, has always been devoted to supplying a broader range of fine, high quality Riesling wines and excellent service. Longterm partnerships are the basis for J. & H. Selbach's grapes, juice and wine purchases, ensuring consistency and quality for these wines.

3. Weinkommission J. & H. Selbach (Brokerage Agency Firm)

As brokers on all major German auctions, J. & H. Selbach provides a full service from wine evaluation to buying, consolidating and shipping top wines from Germany's leading estates.

Paul Hobbs

Katie Kelly Bell (Forbes): The Steve Jobs of Wine is an apt metaphor to describe the ardent exactitude of winemaker and consultant Paul Hobbs. He’s a quality fanatic. Twice named Wine Personality of the Year by Robert Parker, Hobbs was first hired by Robert Mondavi for his expertise in oak aging, he then moved on to Opus One and later Simi Winery. Hobbs is also credited with recognizing, despite the skeptics, the winemaking potential in Argentina, (while we were all distracted and busy swooning over California). His efforts helped bring that region into global focus. Now he’s busy running Paul Hobbs Winery and Vina Cobos in Argentina. He’s also consulting, sharing his knack for finding good dirt with winemakers across the globe.

The Joint Venture

Paul’s brother, David Hobbs, a long-time resident of Rochester, NY, will oversee daily operations of the new venture. The wine brand name has not yet been determined.

The venture combines Hobbs’s talent for working with new and historical sites and regions (Argentina, Armenia, California, Canada, Chile, France, Hungary and Uruguay) with the extensive Riesling expertise of Selbach.

“After an extensive two-year search, I am pleased to have found the right property, and Johannes is the right partner to launch this new brand,” says Hobbs. “Fine German Riesling, more than any other wine, influenced my own interest and love of wine. Selbach is one of the most highly regarded producers of the Mosel, and I believe our synergies will result in a very focused and successful project.”

Hobbs and Selbach first met when Hobbs visited the Selbach-Oster Estate in the Mosel valley in November of 1998. They kept in touch over the years, and discovered they shared a mutual desire to explore the Finger Lakes. “I was immediately interested when Paul approached me with the idea of producing first-rate Rieslings in the Finger Lakes AVA,” Selbach says. “I first visited the area in the 1980s, and have been back a few times since. I see many similarities in Seneca Lake to the Mosel valley, including steep slopes, low-pH soils comprised of shale and slate, and a cool growing season which is moderated by the lake. I believe the combination of California and Mosel knowledge allows tremendous potential for super-premium Rieslings.”

Hobbs grew up in upstate New York on a farm, and prior to moving to California in 1975 to study winemaking, he had planned to return home to build a winery with his father. “After almost 40 years,” states Hobbs, “this feels like a homecoming, and I couldn’t be more thrilled.”

schiller-Wine: Related Postings

1st International Riesling Symposium, Rheingau, Germany

German Spaetlese Wines Can Come in Different Versions - I have Counted Five

How does a Sweet German Riesling Become Sweet?

When Americans Drink German Wine - What They Choose

German Winemakers in the World: Hermann J. Wiemer

German Wine Makers in the World: Dr. Konstantin Frank (USA)

Dr. Frank Wines from Finger Lakes Featured at State Luncheon for Chancellor Merkel in Washington, D.C., USA

Kruger-Rumpf (Germany) and Dr. Frank (USA) Rieslings– The Wines I Brought to the 2011 European Wine Bloggers Conference (#EWBC) Opening BYOB Party

Celebrating the Rieslings of the Finger Lakes Region, New York State, US East Coast

Celebrating the Arrival of the Finger Lakes 2010 Riesling in Washington DC, USA

Celebrating the Release of the Finger Lakes 2011 Riesling in Washington DC, USA

Ranking 12 Rieslings: Finger Lakes (USA) versus Germany

Picture: Annette and Christian G.E. Schiller - "Un Pot" in a Sidewalk Cafe in Bordeaux City

Bordeaux City

The city of Bordeaux is a jewel, with vestiges from the Roman era and medieval town gates. However, the 18th century was its golden age. Victor Hugo once said: “Take Versailles, add Antwerp, and you have Bordeaux.”

Bordeaux is often referred to as "Little Paris". Baron Haussmann, a long-time prefect of Bordeaux, used Bordeaux’s 18th century, big-scale rebuilding as a model when he was asked by Emperor Napoleon III to transform a then still quasimedieval Paris into a “modern” capital that would make France proud.

The city was ruled by the English for a long time, which is why Bordeaux seems to have an "English flair". After the marriage of Henry II to Eleanor of Aquitaine, Bordeaux came under English rule between 1152 and 1453. It was then that the British first developed their taste for Claret, as the red Bordeaux wine is called in the UK.

The city has recently been classified by UNESCO as an “outstanding urban and architectural ensemble”.Bordeaux has a million inhabitants, including a lively university community of over 60,000.

Pictures: Visiting Bordeaux City

Bordeaux is a flat city, built on the left banks of the Garonne. The Garonne merges a dozen kilometers below the city with the Dordogne to form the Gironde, which is biggest estuary in France. The two main entertainment spots are: (1) Formerly inhabited by wine merchant warehouses, the docks (les quais) are now home to gardens, bike and skate paths, boutiques, museums, cafés, bars and restaurants. (2) La Victoire is the other area for entertainment: Historical monuments meet student life and bars. Most of the pubs and bars of the town are here. Virtually, all the shops in the surroundings of this area are bars.

See:
In the Wine Capital of the World: the City of Bordeaux, France
Bordeaux Wine Tour 2013 by ombiasy

Schiller’s Favorite Wine Bars

Le Bar a Vin

3 Cours du 30 Juillet

Le Bar a Vin is located on the ground floor of the Maison du Vin de Bordeaux, diagonally opposite the Grand Théatre. The Maison du Vin is the headquarters of the CIVB (Conseil Interprofessionnel du Vin de Bordeaux), home of all the Bordeaux wine professionals, wine producers, brokers and négociants of the Gironde, the Wine School and the Bar a Vin.

Pictures: Le Bar a Vin

Le Bar a Vin is one of the few wine bars open all day. However, if you are interested in premium Bordeaux wines, this is not the place to go. Le Bar a Vin does not showcase the wines of the perhaps 400 producers people talk about in the world, but the wines of the 15.000 or so other producers that also make excellent wines. Most wines are around Euro 3 per glass including tax and service. The menu - updated every several weeks - includes about 20 Bordeaux wines, all served by the glass only. But Le Bar a Vin also serves one or two premium wines; we had the 4. Cru Classé en 1855 Château Lafon Rochet 2007 at €8. The food menu is plates of charcuterie, and cheeses for Euro 6.

Max Bordeaux Wine Gallery

14 Cours de l'Intendance

Not too far away from Le Bar a Vin is Max Bordeaux Wine Gallery, just the opposite of Le Bar a Vin. The enomatic system contains wines of the 400 producers or so that are known all over the world. For higher-end wines, Max Bordeaux is the place to go. If you have questions, a wall-mounted iPad offers fact sheets and wine critics’ tasting notes about every single wine, in English. However, no casual seating or food is available. Also, Max Bordeaux closes early in the evening (8 pm).

Pictures: Max Bordeaux

Aux Quatres Coins Du Vin

8 Rue de la Devise

Like Max Bordeaux Wine Gallery, wines are also dispensed with the enomatic system and, more like Le Bar a Vin, this cute wine bar offers more affordable wines. Unlike both Le Bar a Vin and Max Bordeaux Wine Gallery, its selection includes also non-Bordeaux wines - 32 different wines: 8 whites, 8 red from Bordeaux, 8 red from other parts of France and 8 red from abroad. In addition, you can always order a bottle from the 130 references wine list. Aux Quatres Coins Du Vin also serves cheese and charcuterie platters, but not a full meal. A hipp, young crowd.

Pictures: Aux Quatres Coins Du Vin

Wine and Soul

23 Rue du Couvent, in the Chartrons district

A cozy and funky wine bar that offers a large selection of wines, good food and music concerts once a week. The ramshackle furnishings belie owner Jeremy Renard’s serious industry connections.

Picture: Wine and Soul (Photo: Wine and Soul)

La Part des Anges

23 Rue des Pilliers de Tutelle

Vicky Wine: This small wine bar with a limited wine list is specialized in Bordeaux Wines but each month you have a focus on 4 regions so you're sure to always get something new. November, Greece and Beaujolais on the menu, and Vicky's wines. The perfect place for an afterwork with a good friend. Bonus: when you buy a bottle you get a saucisson free.

Pictures: At La Part des Anges, with Cecilia Dupuy and Mark J. Dryfoos

Owned and run by Cecilia Dupuy and her mother. Cecilia - who knows a lot about wine - has a number of wines "in tubes", which I found very interesting. Clear focus on Bordeaux wines. No kitchen, only small plates.

Le Wine Bar

19 Rue des Bahutiers, in the historic St. Pierre district

Run and owned by two charming Italians, the large wine list also includes many Italian wines. A cosy, small place. Depending on the time, you may be asked to have a full meal. Le Wine Bar is an excellent location to enjoy a glass on an outdoor terrace.

Pictures: Le Wine Bar

Vinome

13 Bis Rue Montbazon

Showroom and Bar a Vin

Vinome: Dans une ambiance conviviale et chaleureuse, Julien Rouzies convie les amateurs de vin à découvrir au verre toute une gamme de vins de Bordeaux dont de délicieux Sweet Bordeaux ! Le concept est simple et novateur : il vous suffit de recharger votre carte Vinôme pour vous servir librement le verre de Sweet Bordeaux votre choix parmi les bouteilles présentes en vitrine de dégustation. Pour couronner le tout, direction la cuisine pour accompagner votre verre de Sweet Bordeaux par une mise en bouche cuisinée sous vos yeux : toast de chèvre chaud, magret de canard, noix de saint-jacques…

Pictures: Vinome

Vinset

27 Rue des Bahutiers

Recommendation of Cecilia Dupuy from La Part des Anges. Looks very interesting on the web site.

Vinset: Largest choice of Bordeaux Wines by the glass. From 3€ & more. Unbeatable bottle prices. The reference of Bordeaux Wines in Bordeaux. Accompanied by carefully selected local producers of amongst others hams "Jambon de Bayonne" and the famous tasteful cheeses from the Pyrenées "Fromage de Brebis."

Picture: Vinset (Photo: Vinset)

Wine More Time

8 Rue St. James

Wine Shop and Wine Bar

Yelp comment: Calm, kind of groovy space to try some new wine. Sit at the bar, sit on the big sofas, or relax outside and people watch when the weather's right. Various small plates offered: aged ham, cheeses, olives, bread.

L’Univerre

40-42 Rue Lecocq

Bar - Restaurant

Bordeaux expert and Bordeaux City resident Jane Awson recommendation on twitter.

L’Univerre: Après le Verretigo, Fabrice Moisan ouvre l'Univerre à Bordeaux, un bistrot dédié à la découverte des vins. Dans un ancien bistrot de quartier entièrement repensé par LaSuite Atelier, Fabrice Moisan a ouvert début novembre l'Univerre, un lieu où déguster les vins de sa cave prolifique et manger généreusement, façon tapas ou à table. À deux pas de la caserne des pompiers, l'Univerre s'inscrit dans la lignée du Verretigo, dont il fut l'un des fondateurs : une carte des vins rare, curieuse, fournie (1300 références) à des prix d'amis, une cuisine sans chichi mais inspirée qui fait la part belle au produit.

L'Intendant

2 Allées deTourney

Wine Store

Not a wine bar., but an amazing wine store of 4 levels connected by a single spiral staircase, just next to the Grand Hotel. The collection includes over 15,000 bottles.

Pictures: At L'Intendant

Schiller’s Favorites

This posting is part of the Schiller’s favorites series.

Schiller Favorite Wine Bars in Bordeaux City, France

Schiller's Favorite Wine Bars in Berlin, Germany

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

Schiller’s Favorite Wine Bars in New York City, USA

Schiller’s Favorite Wine Bars in Seattle, USA

Schiller's Favorite Wine Bars in Washington DC, USA

Schiller’s Favorite Restaurants, Brasseries, Bistros, Cafes and Wine Bars in Paris, France

Schiller’s Favorite Crab Houses in the Washington DC Region, USA

Schiller’s Favorite Wine Bars in Frankfurt am Main, Germany

Schiller’s Favorite Wine Bars in New York City, USA

Schiller’s Favorite Wine Bars in Charleston, South Carolina, USA

Schiller’s Favorite Wine Bars in London, UK

Schiller's Favorite Wine Bars and Other Wine Spots in Vienna, Austria

Schiller’s Favorite Wine Bars in San Francisco, USA

Schiller's Favorite Wine Bars in Bordeaux (City), France (2012)

Schiller's Favorite Wine Bars in Budapest, Hungary

Schiller’s 12 Favorite Restaurants of Antananarivo, the Capital of Madagascar

Schiller's Favorite Apple Wine Taverns in Frankfurt am Main, Germany

Schiller’s Favorite Spots to Drink Wine in Vienna, Austria (2011)

Schiller’s Favorite Wine Taverns in Mainz, Germany

Schiller's Favorite Wine Bars and Other Places Where You Can Have a Glass of Wine in Healdsburg, California

schiller-wine: Related Posting (Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy PR and WineTours 2013)

Ombiasy Wine Tours: Bordeaux Trip Coming up in September 2013

Bordeaux Wine Tour 2013 by ombiasy

An Afternoon at Château Pape-Clément (in 2013), Appellation Pessac-Léognan, Bordeaux

Visiting a “Holy” Construction Site: Château Angélus in Saint-Emilion, France

Dinner at Château Canon La Gaffeliere, Appellation Saint-Emilion, Premier Grand Cru Classé, France

Tour, Tasting and Lunch at Organic Château Beausejour in AOC Puisseguin-St.Emilion, France

Lunch at Château Le Bon Pasteur with Winemaker/Owner Dany Rolland, Pomerol, France

Visit of an Ultra-premium Non-mainstream Bordeaux Producer: Tertre Rôteboeuf, with Owner and Winemaker François Mitjavile

Visiting and Tasting at Château Climens, with Owner Bérénice Lurton, Bordeaux, France

Lunch, Tour and Tasting with Owner Catherine Thibault d'Halluin (nee Boyer) and Winemaker Julien Noel - Château du Cros, Château Mayne du Cros, Château Courbon and Clos Bourbon, Bordeaux, France

Visiting an Oyster Farm at Arcachon Bay, Bordeaux: Raphael Doerfler at Earl Ostrea Chanca , France

Tour, Tasting and Lunch at Château Léoville-Poyferré, with Didier Cuvelier and Anne Cuvelier, France   

Tour and Tasting at Château Pontet-Canet, with Owner Alfred Tesseron, Bordeaux

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

A Tour and Tasting at Château Coufran, Haut-Médoc, with Co-owner Frédéric Vicaire, France

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

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

Wine Dinner at Château Haut-Bailly, Cru Classé de Graves, France

Schiller's Favorite Wine Bars in Bordeaux City, France

Schiller's Favorite Seafood Places in Bordeaux City, France

Picture: With Dany Rolland at Château Le Bon Pasteur in Pomerol during the 2013 Bordeaux Wine Tour by ombiasy

From September 22 – October 02, 2014, we will travel to the Bordeaux wine region. For the exact itinerary, prices and other questions, visit the ombiasy Public Realtions website:
ombiasy Public Relations.

This tour is one of 3 tours by ombiasyPR coming up in 2014, see:
3 Wine Tours by ombiasy Coming up in 2014: Germany-North, Germany-South and Bordeaux

For last year's tour, see:
Bordeaux Wine Tour 2013 by ombiasy

Bordeaux Immersion

We will visit a total of 18 Châteaux (15 are classified) in Saint-Emilion, Pomerol, Entre-Deux-Mer, Sauternes, Pessac-Léognan, Médoc, Saint-Estèphe, Pauillac, Saint-Julien, Margaux.

We will get intimate insights into the world of Bordeaux and many top Bordeaux producers.

We will explore Bassin d’Arcachon off the Atlantic Ocean coast, visit an oyster farmer to learn what it entails to grow delicious oysters, and have an oyster tasting.

We will visit a top-notch, family-run cooperage to witness the fascinating art of making a barrique barrel from A to Z, so important to the quality of the wine.

We will visit a wine merchant to learn how the market for Bordeaux wines – La Place de Bordeaux- functions.

We will experience French hospitality and culinary art at the highest level. Every day we will have an exquisite, gourmet wine pairing luncheon or dinner in an intimate setting at different Chateaux which we share with the proprietors and/or winemakers.

Pictures: Tasting in the Cellar at Tertre Rôteboeuf in Saint Emilion with Cult Winemaker Francois Mitjavile

Our way of traveling really allows wine lovers to fully experience authentic Bordeaux. Drawing on our love and deep knowledge of the region and close personal ties to many of the Château owners/ managers/ winemakers, our small group visits many of the hidden gems that other tours pass by, but which are essential to comprehend what Bordeaux is all about.

The tour follows closely the Bordeaux Wine Tour 2013 by ombiasy, with a few estates changed. In 2014, we will visit: Pape-Clément, Domaine de Chevalier, Angélus, Canon La Gaffelière, Beauséjour, Figeac, Le Bon Pasteur, Tertre-Rôteboeuf, de Fargues, du Cros, Millésima, Earl Ostrea Chanca oyster farm, Le Reysse, Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalande, Léoville Poyferré, Phélan Ségur, Lafon-Rochet, Latour, Cooperage Berger and Fils, Brane-Cantenac, Haut-Bailly.

Related Postings on schiller-wine

Many of the 2013 Bordeaux Wine Tour highlights were covered by postings on schiller-wine.

See for an overview:

Bordeaux Wine Tour 2013 by ombiasy

See for individual events:

An Afternoon at Château Pape-Clément (in 2013), Appellation Pessac-Léognan, Bordeaux

Dinner at Château Canon La Gaffeliere, Appellation Saint-Emilion, Premier Grand Cru Classé, France

Visiting a “Holy” Construction Site: Château Angélus in Saint-Emilion, France

Lunch at Château Le Bon Pasteur with Winemaker/Owner Dany Rolland, Pomerol, France

Tour, Tasting and Lunch at Château Beausejour in AOC Puisseguin-St.Emilion, France

Visit of an Ultra-premium Non-mainstream Bordeaux Producer: Tertre Rôteboeuf, with Owner and Winemaker François Mitjavile

Visiting and Tasting at Château Climens, with Owner Bérénice Lurton, Bordeaux, France 

Lunch, Tour and Tasting with Owner Catherine Thibault d'Halluin (nee Boyer) and Winemaker Julien Noel - Château du Cros, Château Mayne du Cros, Château Courbon and Clos Bourbon, Bordeaux, France

Visiting an Oyster Farm at Arcachon Bay, Bordeaux: Raphael Doerfler at Earl Ostrea Chanca , France

Tour and Tasting at Château Pontet-Canet, with Owner Alfred Tesseron, Bordeaux

Tour, Tasting and Lunch at Château Léoville-Poyferré, with Didier Cuvelier and Anne Cuvelier, France  

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

A Tour and Tasting at Château Coufran, Haut-Médoc, with Co-owner Frédéric Vicaire, France

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

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

Wine Dinner at Château Haut-Bailly, Cru Classé de Graves, France 

Picture: Christian G.E. Schiller with Dr. Manfred Pruem, Weingut J.J. Pruem in Germany

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

Germany’s leading business newspaper „Handelsblatt“ published a list of the 20 best German wine estates to invest in, established by the Swiss Wine-Stocks company.

Germany’s wine producers were not ranked according to the quality of their wines, but according to wine investment points. “On the basis of these data, we get an overall wine investment points total. The larger the total, the larger is the likelihood that this winery would be a good investment” says Wine-Stocks CEO Freund.

7 indicators were used: Performance of the most traded wines of a winery over a longer period, the average price of all traded wines of a winery, performance of all traded wines over the last twelve months, performance of all traded wines over a longer period, the volume of traded wines, number of wines of a winery with significant commercial quantities and the maximum price of the most expensive wine of the winery. All data used come from auctions worldwide.

For more information, see here (in German).

Here is the listing, with the Wine Investment Points in paranthesis.

1. J.J. Prüm, Mosel (26.680)

Picture: Annette Schiller, Ombiasy PR and WineTours, with Manfred Pruem, Weingut JJ Pruem.

See:
German Wine and Culture Tour by ombiasy, 2013
3 Wine Tours by ombiasy Coming up in 2014: Germany-North, Germany-South and Bordeaux

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

2. H. Dönnhoff, Nahe (23.064)

Picture: Christian G.E. Schiller and Helmut Doennhoff, Weingut Doennhoff, Nahe Valley, at Weingut Doennhoff

See:
An Afternoon with Riesling Star Winemaker Helmut Doennhoff at Weingut Doennhoff in Oberhausen in the Nahe Valley, Germany

3. Weingut Keller, Rheinhessen (20.389)
4. Egon Müller, Mosel (19.956)
5. Schloss Lieser, Mosel (16.956)
6. J. Strub, Rheinhessen (16.634)
7. J.J. Christoffel, Mosel (15.807)
8. Robert Weil, Rheingau (15.082)

Picture: Christian G.E.Schiller, Martina Weil, Annette Schiller, Wilhelm Weil at the 2013 Rheingau Riesling Gala

See:
German Riesling and International Grape Varieties – Top Wine Makers Wilhelm Weil and Markus Schneider at Kai Buhrfeindt’s Grand Cru in Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Visiting Wilhelm Weil at his Weingut Robert Weil in Kiedrich, Germany
Tasting with Wilhelm Weil the 2010 Weingut Weil Wines in Kiedrich, Germany

9. Müller-Catoir, Pfalz (14.309)
10. Selbach-Oster, Mosel (14.146)

Picture: Christian G.E. Schiller and Johannes Selbach in New York

See:
Johannes Selbach, Weingut Selbach-Oster, teams up with Paul Hobbs to make Riesling in the Finger Lakes Region in New York State, USA/Germany

11. Fritz Haag, Mosel

Picture: Christian G.E. Schiller and German Winemaker Oliver Haag, Weingut Fritz Haag, in Seattle

See:
The German Winemakers at the 4th Riesling Rendezvous in Seattle, USA

12. Karthauserhof, Mosel

Picture: Christian G.E. Schiller with Dr. Manfred Pruem, Weingut J.J. Pruem in Germany

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

Germany’s leading business newspaper „Handelsblatt“ published a list of the 20 best German wine estates to invest in, established by the Swiss Wine-Stocks company.

Germany’s wine producers were not ranked according to the quality of their wines, but according to wine investment points. “On the basis of these data, we get an overall wine investment points total. The larger the total, the larger is the likelihood that this winery would be a good investment” says Wine-Stocks CEO Freund.

7 indicators were used: Performance of the most traded wines of a winery over a longer period, the average price of all traded wines of a winery, performance of all traded wines over the last twelve months, performance of all traded wines over a longer period, the volume of traded wines, number of wines of a winery with significant commercial quantities and the maximum price of the most expensive wine of the winery. All data used come from auctions worldwide.

For more information, see here (in German).

Here is the listing, with the Wine Investment Points in paranthesis.

1. J.J. Prüm, Mosel (26.680)

Picture: Annette Schiller, Ombiasy PR and WineTours, with Manfred Pruem, Weingut JJ Pruem.

See:
German Wine and Culture Tour by ombiasy, 2013
3 Wine Tours by ombiasy Coming up in 2014: Germany-North, Germany-South and Bordeaux

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

2. H. Dönnhoff, Nahe (23.064)

Picture: Christian G.E. Schiller and Helmut Doennhoff, Weingut Doennhoff, Nahe Valley, at Weingut Doennhoff

See:
An Afternoon with Riesling Star Winemaker Helmut Doennhoff at Weingut Doennhoff in Oberhausen in the Nahe Valley, Germany

3. Weingut Keller, Rheinhessen (20.389)
4. Egon Müller, Mosel (19.956)
5. Schloss Lieser, Mosel (16.956)
6. J. Strub, Rheinhessen (16.634)
7. J.J. Christoffel, Mosel (15.807)
8. Robert Weil, Rheingau (15.082)

Picture: Christian G.E.Schiller, Martina Weil, Annette Schiller, Wilhelm Weil at the 2013 Rheingau Riesling Gala

See:
German Riesling and International Grape Varieties – Top Wine Makers Wilhelm Weil and Markus Schneider at Kai Buhrfeindt’s Grand Cru in Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Visiting Wilhelm Weil at his Weingut Robert Weil in Kiedrich, Germany
Tasting with Wilhelm Weil the 2010 Weingut Weil Wines in Kiedrich, Germany

9. Müller-Catoir, Pfalz (14.309)
10. Selbach-Oster, Mosel (14.146)

Picture: Christian G.E. Schiller and Johannes Selbach in New York

See:
Johannes Selbach, Weingut Selbach-Oster, teams up with Paul Hobbs to make Riesling in the Finger Lakes Region in New York State, USA/Germany

11. Fritz Haag, Mosel

Picture: Christian G.E. Schiller and German Winemaker Oliver Haag, Weingut Fritz Haag, in Seattle

See:
The German Winemakers at the 4th Riesling Rendezvous in Seattle, USA

12. Karthauserhof, Mosel

Picture: Tasting in the Courtyard of Weingut Weegmueller, Pfalz

From September 14 – September 20, 2014, we will explore three wine regions (Baden, Pfalz, southern Rheinhessen) in the south of Germany and will experience the German red wine revolution. For the exact itinerary, prices and other questions, visit the ombiasy Public Realtions website:
ombiasy Public Relations.

This tour is one of 3 tours by ombiasyPR coming up in 2014:
3 Wine Tours by ombiasy Coming up in 2014: Germany-North, Germany-South and Bordeaux

The Sun-kissed German South (Germany-South)

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

We will get intimate insights into a selection of Germany’s best of the best wineries, normally not open to visitors.

We will learn how to read the label on German wine bottles.

We will get to know the classification of German wines including the new VDP classification.

We will explore why wine from the same vineyard can be sweet or dry.

We will experience the German red wine revolution and discover the German Pinot Noir country.

We will enjoy gourmet meals in the south of Germany very much influenced by the culinary traditions in neighboring France, just a hop across the Rhine River away.

We will travel through quietly beautiful sun-kissed rolling hills planted with vines as far as the eye can see.

See:
The Wines Chancelor Merkel Served President Obama and Michelle Obama in Berlin (and the Wines she did not Serve), Germany 

Germany with its roughly 250,000 acres under vine belongs today to one of the smaller wine producing countries in the world. However, viticulture in Germany has a long tradition, going back to Roman times. In the 15th century, the area under vine was four times larger than it is today. Wars, subsequent loss of territory, diseases, overproduction, and competition from beer brewing resulted in land turned over to other agricultural uses. In the 19th century, concentration on terroir and technological progress fostered a tremendous improvement of quality and of the prestige of German wines. In 1987 German red wine accounted for only 15 percent of German wine output. Today, close to 40 percent of German wine is red. Soil conditions in the South were always conducive Pinot Noir and other red grape varieties, and with the climate changing more and more red varieties, in particular Pinot Noir, were planted. Today Germany makes stunning Pinot Noirs on par with the best of Burgundy.

Our way of traveling really allows wine lovers to fully experience authentic Germany. Drawing on our love and deep knowledge of Germany and close personal ties to many personalities in the wine scene, our small group visits many of the hidden gems that other tours pass by, but which are essential to comprehend what German wine is all about.

Wineries

This is a new tour, with a large number of southern producers of ultra-premium German wine included:

Schloss Neuweier

Karl H. Johner
Visiting Winemaker and Web 2.0 Guru Patrick Johner - Weingut Karl Heinz Johner and Johner Estate - in Baden, Germany
German Wine Makers in the World: Karl Heinz Johner in New Zealand

Freiherr von Gleichenstein
In the Glass: A 2007 Pinot Noir from the Gault Millau Shooting Star of the Year - Estate of Baron Gleichenstein

Fritz Keller

Huber
One of the Fathers of the German Red Wine Revolution: Weingut Huber in Baden

Dr. Heger
Joachim Heger, Weingut Dr. Heger: Winemaker of the Year, Gault Millau WeinGuide Deutschland 2013, Germany

Zaehringer

Maison Trimbach
A Feast with Jean Trimbach, Maison Trimbach in Alsace, and Chef Bart M. Vandaele at B Too in Washington DC, USA/France
Back in the Washington DC Area: Jean Trimbach Presented Maison Trimbach Wines at a Winemaker Dinner at Open Kitchen, USA (2013)
Visiting Jean Trimbach at Maison Trimbach in Ribeauville in Alsace (2011)
With Jean Trimbach from Domaine Trimbach, Alsace, at Bart M. Vandaele’s Belga Café in Washington DC (2011)
Jean Trimbach and the Wines of Maison Trimbach in Washington DC (2010)
Friederich Becker
5 Top Wine Makers at Premier Cru Wein Bistro in Frankfurt am Main, Germany

Rebholz

Bassermann-Jordan

Christmann
The German Winemakers at the 4th Riesling Rendezvous in Seattle, USA
Steffen Christmann (Weingut A. Christmann) and Wilhelm Weil (Weingut Robert Weil) Presented the New Wine Classification of the VDP, Germany

Weegmueller
The World Meets at Weingut Weegmueller, Pfalz, Germany

Markus Schneider
The Wines Chancelor Merkel Served President Obama and Michelle Obama in Berlin (and the Wines she did not Serve), Germany
German Riesling and International Grape Varieties – Top Wine Makers Wilhelm Weil and Markus Schneider at Kai Buhrfeindt’s Grand Cru in Frankfurt am Main, Germany

Wittmann
Germany's Top 16 Winemakers - Feinschmecker WeinGuide 2012

Klaus Peter Keller
Germany's Top 16 Winemakers - Feinschmecker WeinGuide 2012

Gunderloch
Visiting Agnes and Fritz Hasselbach at their Weingut Gunderloch in Nackenheim, Rheinhessen, Germany 

Picture: Philipp Wittmann, Weingut Wittmann, and Wilhelm Weil, Weingut Weil

Der Feinschmecker, the leading German wine and food journal, presented its new ranking of the German wine scene in the Der Feinschmecker WeinGuide 2014.

The Der Feinschmecker Weinguide 2014 includes the 900 top winemakers of Germany; 19 of them are in the top category of 5 F’s. The Der Feinschmecker uses a scale of 1 to 5 F’s.

For previous years see:
Germany's Top 18 Winemakers - Feinschmecker WeinGuide 2013
Germany's Top 16 Winemakers - Feinschmecker WeinGuide 2012 
Germany's Top 16 Winemakers - Feinschmecker WeinGuide 2011
Germany's 15 Top Winemakers - The Feinschmecker WeinGuide 2010

Promotions and Demotions

1 winemaker was promoted to 5 F's: Weingut Meyer Näkel in the Nahe Valley. Nobody was demoted.

19 Top Winemakers

Here are those winemakers that got in the Feinschmecker Weinguide 2014 the maximum number of 5 F's, grouped by wine region.

Ahr

Weingut Meyer Näkel

Weingut Meyer Näkel was established by the marriage of Paula Meyer and Willibald Näkel. Although Willibald Näkel only cultivated 1.5 hectares of vines he was already a pioneer for the then rather unusual dry red wines from the Ahr valley. Today’s 15 hectares estate is managed by his son Werner Näkel, his wife Claudia and their daughters Meike and Dőrte.

Pictures: Doerte Naekel and Christian G.E. Schiller at a Dinner in Hattenheim, Rheingau

See:
Kuenstler, Meyer-Naekel, Wirsching – Winemaker Dinner at Kronenschlösschen in Hattenheim, Rheingau, Germany

Baden

None

Franken

Rudolf Fuerst

Weingut Rudolf Fuerst has the reputation of being a specialist for red wines, Spaetburgunder and Fruehburgunder, which account for 60% of the production; but brilliant dry wines are also produced. 18.6 hectares.

Horst Sauer

Weingut Horst Sauer is well known for his noble-sweet wines, but the Sauers also produces top dry wines, from Silvaner and Riesling. 16.5 hectares.

Hessische Bergstrasse

None

Mittelrhein

None

Mosel

Fritz Haag

Weingut Fritz Haag produces a broad range of styles, from dry to lusciously noble sweet wines. Weingut Fritz Haag is owned and run by Oliver Haag. In the US, it is available through Loosen Bros. (Ernst Loosen). 16.5 hectares.

Picture: Christian G.E. Schiller and German Winemaker Oliver Haag, Weingut Fritz Haag, in Seattle

See:
The German Winemakers at the 4th Riesling Rendezvous in Seattle, USA

Kartaeuserhof

A wine estate in the Ruwer Valley, with a long tradition and an exciting history, now led by Christoph Tyrell; he has focused on carefully crafted dry wines. 19 hectares. A couple of months ago, a press release indicated that Christoph Tyrell, who has no children and who is on his mid-60s, has arranged the succession of the Karthaeuserhof with his cousin Albert Behler. Albert Behler lives in New York City, where he is President and CEO of the Paramount Group, one of the largest privately-owned real estate companies in New York City. 19 hectares.

Picture: Christian G.E. Schiller with Christoph Tyrell, Karthäuserhof, in Mainz, Germany.

For more, see:
The Karthäuserhof in the Mosel Valley: An Eventful History – From Grenoble in France to New York City in the US

Dr. Loosen

Run and owned by one of the most entrepreneurial German winemakers, Ernst Loosen; in addition to producing outstanding wines in Germany, he makes the famous Eroica in Washington State (jointly with Chateau Ste. Michelle) and has started to produce wine, notably Pinot Noir, in Oregon. 22 hectares.

Pictures: Ernst Loosen, Annette Schiller and Christian G.E.Schiller at the Tasting at Weingut Dr. Loosen

See:
Riesling from Germany and Pinot Noir from Oregon: A Winemaker Dinner with Ernst Loosen, Weingut Dr. Loosen and J.Christopher Wines, at Black Salt in Washington DC.
Riesling, Pinot Noir and Indian Cuisine: A tête-à-tête Dinner with Winemaker Ernst Loosen, Weingut Dr. Loosen, at Rasika in Washington DC, USA
Ernst Loosen and Dr. L. Riesling - His Hugely Popular Entry-level Wine Sold Throughout the World;
The Doctor Made a House Call - A Tasting with Ernst Loosen, Weingut Dr. Loosen, at MacArthur Beverages in Washington DC, USA
A Riesling Guru and a Killer Guitarist cum Cult Winemaker: Ernst Loosen and Jay Somers and their J. Christopher Winery in Newberg, Oregon
Wine ratings: Two American/German wines - Eroica and Poet's Leap - on Top 100 Wines from Washington State list for 2009
German American Wines: (1) Pacific Rim Riesling (2) Eroica and (3) Woelffer's Schillerwein
The German Winemakers at the 4th Riesling Rendezvous in Seattle, USA

Egon Mueller - Scharzhof

The legendary Scharzhof lies on the Saar River. Egon Mueller’s fruity sweet and noble sweet, low alcohol wines are a legend. 16 hectares.

Joh. Jos. Pruem

For decades now, one of the really exceptional winemakers in Germany. The aging potential of the Weingut J.J. Pruem wines is legendary. Katharina Pruem is in the process of taking over from her father Manfred Pruem. 21 hectares.

I met Manfred's daughter Katharina Pruem in Washington DC recently and wrote about Weingut JJ Pruem: JJ Pruem Goes Supermarket: Meeting Katharina Pruem and Tasting the Incredible JJ Pruem Wines at Wegmans

Picture: Annette Schiller, Ombiasy PR and WineTours, with Manfred Pruem, Weingut JJ Pruem.

See:
German Wine and Culture Tour by ombiasy, 2013
3 Wine Tours by ombiasy Coming up in 2014: Germany-North, Germany-South and Bordeaux

Sankt Urbans Hof

A rather young wine estate that was established about 50 years ago. It is now owned and run by the founder’s grandson, Nik Weis. Most of the elegant, fine and light wines are exported. 33 hectares.

Picture: Christian G.E. Schiller and Nik Weis in Berlin: Germany’s VDP Wine Estates Celebrate 100th Anniversary in Berlin - Overview

Maximin Gruenhaus - Von Schubert

The historic Maximin Grünhaus estate lies at the foot of a long, steep south-facing slope on the left bank of the Ruwer river and is divided into three separate but contiguous vineyards: Abtsberg, Herrenberg, and Bruderberg. The estate belongs to the family of Carl von Schubert. The estate was first documented in 966. The Schubert family purchased it in 1882.

Picture: Christian G.E. Schiller and Carl von Schubert in Washington DC

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

Schloss Lieser

The village Lieser is located next to Bernkastel-Kues. The village’s landmark is the mighty castle “Schloss Lieser”, built in 1875 and inhabited by the Baron of Schorlemer. In 1904 the winery of Schloss Lieser was constructed. Over the years, several changes of ownership led to a decline in quality. In 1992, Thomas Haag, son of Wilhelm Haag, former proprietor of Weingut Fritz Haag, became the General Manager, bought the estate in 1997 and brought the estate of Schloss Lieser back to the top of the Riesling estates in Germany. 10 hectares.

Nahe

Herrmann Doennhoff

Owner and winemaker Helmut Doennhoff is a Grand Seigneur of German wine. His son Cornelius is in the process of taking over. 25 hectares.

Picture: Tasting with Helmut Doennhoff

See:
An Afternoon with Riesling Star Winemaker Helmut Doennhoff at Weingut Doennhoff in Oberhausen in the Nahe Valley, Germany

Emrich-Schoenleber

Werner Schoenleber has invested a great deal of personal dedication and his promotion to the top rank is definitely warranted. His wines are known to be rich in character and highly esteemed worldwide. 17 hectares.

Picture: Christian G.E. Schiller and Werner Schoenleber, Weingut Emrich-Schoenleber at the 2013 Riesling Gala at Kloster Eberbach, Germany

Schaefer- Fröhlich

Tim Fröhlich took over Weingut Schäfer-Fröhlich in 1995 and has since then impressed the wine world with his dry, fruity -sweet and noble sweet white wines. 15 hectares.

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

Pfalz

Knipser

A world class producer of both dry white and red wines. Werner Knipser has been experimenting with international red grape varieties for some years. Virtually all wines are fermented in a dry style. 57 hectares.

Rheingau

Kuenstler

As a founding member of the Weinfreundeskreis Hochheim, I have watched Weingut Kuenstler in Hochheim ising from a small winery to one of the world leaders of German wine. The wine growing tradition of the Künstler family can be traced back to Southern Moravia in 1648. I remember very well the small row house in Hochheim that was the initial home of the Kuenstler winery in Hochheim. 42 hectares.

Picture: Christian G.E. Schiller with Gunter Kuenstler at Schloss Johnnisberg. Weingut Kuenstler was founded by my the late Franz Kuenstler. We were both founding members of the Weinfreundeskreis Hochheim: The Wines of Franz Kuenstler from Hochheim, Rheingau, Germany

See:
Kuenstler, Meyer-Naekel, Wirsching – Winemaker Dinner at Kronenschlösschen in Hattenheim, Rheingau, Germany

Robert Weil

A top producer of Riesling wines, in particular fruity sweet and noble sweet wines, well presented in the major wine markets in the world. Now co-owned by the Japanese Suntory company and General Manager Wilhelm Weil, the fourth generation of the founding family. 80 hectares.

Picture: Christian G.E.Schiller, Martina Weil, Annette Schiller, Wilhelm Weil at the 2013 Rheingau Riesling Gala

See:
German Riesling and International Grape Varieties – Top Wine Makers Wilhelm Weil and Markus Schneider at Kai Buhrfeindt’s Grand Cru in Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Visiting Wilhelm Weil at his Weingut Robert Weil in Kiedrich, Germany
Tasting with Wilhelm Weil the 2010 Weingut Weil Wines in Kiedrich, Germany

Rheinhessen

Keller

Leader of the Rheinhessen wine renaissance. Has a broad wine portfolio with 60 % accounted for by Riesling and also including the lesser known autochthon Silvaner as well as Spaetburgunder. 15 hectares.

Wittmann

Leader of the Rheinhessen wine renaissance. Since 2003 only biodynamic wine growing. A broad portfolio with 60% Riesling and also Silvaner and Spaetburgunder. Known for his outstanding dry wines. 25 hectares.

Picture: Christian G.E. Schiller and Philipp Wittmann in Mainz

Saale-Unstrut

None

Sachsen

None

Wuerttemberg

None

Postings - 2013 German Wine and Culture Tour by ombiasy

3 Wine Tours by ombiasy Coming up in 2014: Germany-North, Germany-South and Bordeaux

German Wine and Culture Tour by ombiasy, 2013

Weingut Pawis in the Saale Unstrut Region - A Profile, Germany

Tasting at Weingut Balthasar Ress, Hattenheim, Rheingau, with Stefan Ress, Germany

Impromptu Winetasting with Alexander Jung, Weingut Jakob Jung, Erbach, Rheingau, Germany

A Tasting at Weingut Peter Jakob Kühn, Rheingau, with Angela and Peter Jakob Kühn, Germany

Tasting with Rita Busch at Weingut Clemens Busch in the Mosel Valley, Germany 

Ernst Loosen Presented his Wines at Weingut Dr. Loosen, Bernkastel-Kues, Mosel Valley, Germany

Cellar Tour, Vineyard Tour, Tasting and Lunch with Georg Rumpf, Weingut Kruger-Rumpf, Nahe Valley, Germany

An Afternoon with Riesling Star Winemaker Helmut Doennhoff at Weingut Doennhoff in Oberhausen in the Nahe Valley, Germany

The World Meets at Weingut Weegmueller, Pfalz, Germany

Tasting with Johannes and Christoph Thoerle, Weingut Thoerle in Saulheim, Rheinhessen, Germany

Impressions from the Mainz Wine Market 2013, Germany

Picture: Annette Schiller, Ombiasy PR and WineTours, Presenting in Philadelphia

At the invitation of Beth C. Sheligo, President of the German Wine Society in the USA and President of the Philadelphia/South Jersey Chapter, Annette Schiller, Ombiasy PR and WineTours, gave a presentation and led a tasting at Café Aldo Lamberti, 2011 Marlton Pike West, Cherry Hill, New Jersey.

Picture: Café Aldo Lamberti

Annette talked about “New Developments in German Wine”, including the emerging new wine regions in the eastern part of Germany, the German red wine boom, and the new German Wine Classification, which is being pushed by the VDP, the association of about 200 German elite winemakers. She also briefly talked about the 2 wine tours coming up to Germany that she is organizing and leading.

We tasted 8 German wines from 8 different regions and had some good Italian food.

The Saale Unstrut Wine Region

The Saale Unstrut wine region is Germany’s most northern wine region, in the valleys of the Saale and Unstrut rivers, around Freyburg and Naumburg. With 730 hectares of vineyard area, it is one of the smaller wine regions in Germany. The oldest record of viticulture dates back to the year 998 during the reign of Emperor Otto III.

Located in the area of the former German Democratic Republic (GDR), Saale-Unstrut has become a thriving emerging wine region after the Berlin Wall came down in 1989 (as Sachsen, the other wine region in the area of the former GDR; Sachsen is half of the size of Saale Unstrut).

Pictures: In the Saale Unstrut region

The vineyards are located on the hillsides lining the Saale and Unstrut rivers. It all looks very attractive, with steep terraces, dry stone walls and century-old vineyard cottages, interspersed with meadows, floodplains. High above, are defiant castles and palaces. Saale Unstrut is located in a region that was the intellectual and cultural center of Germany (Heiliges Roemisches Reich Deutscher Nationen) for many centuries. The second German university (after Prague) was the University of Leipzig, which is just 50 km away from Saale Unstrut. Schiller and Goethe, to name just 2, lived here. Culture, history, nature and wine are combined here perfectly.

Picture: Germany's Wine Regions

Saale-Unstrut exports almost no wine and sells very little in the western part of Germany. Most of it is consumed in East Germany. The quality price ratio is not very favorable, so Saale Unstrut wines have a hard time to compete with the wines in West Germany. But the Saale Unstrut wine makers have no problems at all to sell their wine, as the Saale Unstrut wine is very popular with the locals and the tourists visiting East Germany, including the Baltic Sea. Of course, when you visit Weimar, Erfurth or Leipzig, to name a few of the many very historic towns of the eastern part of Germany, you want to drink local – either Saale Unstrut or Sachsen wines.

White grape varieties make up 75% of Saale-Unstrut's plantations. The most common grape varieties are the white varieties Müller-Thurgau and Weißburgunder (Pinot Blanc). The wines tend to be vinified dry and have a refreshing acidity.

The German Red Wine Boom

There is a red wine boom in Germany. The share of red wines in terms of production has increased from 10 percent in the 1980s to about 35 percent now in Germany. Of course, given its location, the German red wines tend to be not like the fruity red wines we know from warmer countries, but lean and more elegant, with a lot of finesse. 30 years ago, in the international scene, people would not talk about German red wine. But this has changed. Germany now produces red wines that can compete with the best of the world.

Picture: Annette Schiller Presenting in Philadelphia

4 Approaches to Classifying German Wine

Although many people think that there is only one wine classification system in Germany – the classification system of the Law of 1971 – this is not correct. There are four approaches to classifying wine in Germany. True, the classification system of the Law of 1971 with its pyramid of ripeness of the grapes at harvest (Qualitaetswein, Kabinett, Spaetlese, Auslese …) at the center is the standard classification system in Germany and the vast majority of winemakers in Germany use this approach. A large number of winemakers, however, have moved away from the standard, in particular the powerful group of German elite winemakers, the VDP (Verband Deutscher Praedikatswein Produzenten), which has conceived its own classification system. Other winemakers moved to a zero classification system – no classification, an approach very familiar in the New World. Finally, there is a fourth group of winemakers that have designed their own classification system.

Pictures: Annette Schiller Presenting in Philadelphia

The VDP Classification

In sharp contrast with the standard classification system, the VDP classification system is based on the terroir principle. The pyramid of ripeness of the grapes at harvest (which dominates the standard German wine classification of 1971) has moved to the backburner in the VDP system. Instead, following Bourgogne, the terroir principle has taken center stage. And here, the VDP has moved from a 3 tiers quality ladder to a 4 tiers quality ladder in its recent modifications, effective with the 2012 harvest. The VDP has added an additional layer to its classification system, which consists now of the following 4 layers. (In brackets, the equivalent quality classes in the classification system of the Bourgogne):

• VDP.Grosse Lage (Grand Cru in Burgundy)
• VDP.Erste Lage (Premier Cru in Burgundy)
• VDP.Ortswein (Village level in Burgundy)
• VDP.Gutswein (Bourgogne régional in Burgundy)

Note that for some legal reasons, the VDP has started to use the terms Grosse Lage, Erste Lage, Ortswein and Gutswein with the pre-fix VDP.

Picture: Annette Schiller with Wilhelm Weil, Weingut Weil, and Ernst Loosen, Weingut Dr. Loosen, at Kloster Eberbach, Germany

Germany Wine Tours by ombiasy in 2014

As in previous years, the husband and wife team Annette and Christian Schiller will personally guide the tours throughout the trip. Through our friendships with many winemaker and owners, the tours are a very intimate, personal experience for everyone in the small group (10 people maximum) traveling with us.

Quintessential German Whites (Germany-North): From September 04 – September 13, 2014, we will explore six (Saale-Unstrut, Franken, Rheingau, northern Rheinhessen, Mosel, Nahe) German wine regions with visits to 19 top wineries and cultural gems.

The Sun-kissed German South (Germany-South): From September 14 – September 20, 2014, we will explore three wine regions (Baden, Pfalz, southern Rheinhessen) in the south of Germany and will experience the German red wine revolution.

For the exact itinerary, prices and other questions, visit the ombiasy Public Realtions website:
ombiasy Public Relations.

The Germany tours are 2 of 3 tours by ombiasy coming up in 2014:
3 Wine Tours by ombiasy Coming up in 2014: Germany-North, Germany-South and Bordeaux

For a summary of the 2013 German Wine and Culture Tour by ombiasy, see:
German Wine and Culture Tour by ombiasy, 2013

Picture: Tasting in the Courtyard of Weingut Weegmueller, Pfalz, during the 2013 Germany Wine and Culture Tour by ombiasy

What we Tasted

Reds:
2011 Spatburgunder, Affentaler Cooperative– Baden
2011 Spatburgunder, A. Christmann – Pfalz

Pictures: The Wines we Tasted

Whites:
2012 Muller Thurgau pur mineral, Furst – Franconia
2010 Foster Mariengarten Riesling Kabinett, Eugen Muller – Pfalz
2011 Rudeshiemer Klosterlay Riesling Kabinett, Josef Leitz – Rheingau
2011 Niersteiner Brucken Riesling Kabinett, Strub – Rheinhessen
2011 Ockfener Bockstein Riesling Kabinett, St. Urbans-Hof, Mosel
2011 Niederhauser Hermannshohle Riesling Spatlese, Jakob Schneider, Nahe

Pio Boffa and Pio Cesare

Café Aldo Lamberti was packed that night. Of course, Annette contributed to it. The private room reserved for the German Wine Society was solidly filled.

But the star of the evening was Pio Boffa from the famous Pio Cesare winery in Italia. A winemaker dinner with Pio took place at the same time as Annette’s event. Pio drew a crowd of 170 people, compared with 22 people listening to Annette.

Pictures: Annette Schiller and Pio Boffa in Philadelphia

Annette and I recently attended a Pio Cesare winemaker dinner in Virginia, lead by Pio’s nephew Cesare Benvenuto and we had the pleasure to spend an evening with Pio Boffa in 2010 in Washington DC.

See:
The Wines of Pio Cesare with Owner Cesare Benvenuto and the Food of Patrick Bazin at Bazin’s on Church in Northern Virginia, Italy/USA
Pio Boffa and the Wines of Pio Cesare, Piedmont, Italy

schiller-wine: Related Postings

3 Wine Tours by ombiasy Coming up in 2014: Germany-North, Germany-South and Bordeaux

German Wine and Culture Tour by ombiasy, 2013

Weingut Pawis in the Saale Unstrut Region - A Profile, Germany

Tasting at Weingut Balthasar Ress, Hattenheim, Rheingau, with Stefan Ress, Germany

Impromptu Winetasting with Alexander Jung, Weingut Jakob Jung, Erbach, Rheingau, Germany

A Tasting at Weingut Peter Jakob Kühn, Rheingau, with Angela and Peter Jakob Kühn, Germany

Tasting with Rita Busch at Weingut Clemens Busch in the Mosel Valley, Germany

Ernst Loosen Presented his Wines at Weingut Dr. Loosen, Bernkastel-Kues, Mosel Valley, Germany

Cellar Tour, Vineyard Tour, Tasting and Lunch with Georg Rumpf, Weingut Kruger-Rumpf, Nahe Valley, Germany

An Afternoon with Riesling Star Winemaker Helmut Doennhoff at Weingut Doennhoff in Oberhausen in the Nahe Valley, Germany

The World Meets at Weingut Weegmueller, Pfalz, Germany

Tasting with Johannes and Christoph Thoerle, Weingut Thoerle in Saulheim, Rheinhessen, Germany

Picture: Johannes Hasselbach, Alwin Jurtschitsch and Max von Kunow in Washington DC

“Wurzelwerk und Winzers Beitrag” (Root Work and Winemaker’s Contribution) is a fascinating and much talked about project of 4 winemaker friends/relatives from 3 world class wineries in Germany and in Austria.

Max von Kunow (Weingut von Hövel, Saar, Germany), Johannes Hasselbach (Weingut Gunderloch, Rheinhessen, Germany) and Alwin + Stefanie Jurtschitsch (Weingut, Jurtschitsch, Kamptal, Austria) shared a portion of their 2012 Riesling grapes with the other 2 wineries and vinified the own portion as well as the 2 portions from the other 2 wineries into 3 separate wines. Thus, they made a total of 9 different wines.

Picture: The Wurzelwerk Team (Stefanie Jurtschitsch, nee Hasselbach, was not be able to join us in Washington DC)

In March 2014, they (except for Stefanie Jurtschitsch – expecting a baby) came for about a week to the US. The main reason was the New York City presentation of their estates at the David Bowler Portfolio tasting. They used the trip to present their Wurzelwerk project to the American public. The March 18 tasting in Washington DC, organized by Rudi Wiest Selections and ombiasy PR and WineTours, was the central event in the US.

See:
Special Wine Event on March 18, 2014, in Washington DC with "Wurzelwerk": 3 Terroirs, 3 Winemakers and 9 Wines

Pictures: Wurzelwerk went Underground. The Tasting took Place in the Basement (Domaine Wine Cellars)

This posting is the second posting in a mini-series covering Wurzelwerk and the 3 contributing wineries:

Special Wine Event on March 18, 2014, in Washington DC with "Wurzelwerk": 3 Terroirs, 3 Winemakers and 9 Wines
"Wurzelwerk" Goes America: 3 Vineyards, 3 Winemakers and 9 Wines
Weingut Gunderloch – The New Generation: Owner Johannes Hasselbach in Washington DC, US
The Wines of Stefanie and Alwin Jurtschitsch, Weingut Jurtschitsch, Kamptal, Austria
Weingut von Hoevel – The New Generation: Max von Kunow in Washington DC, US

4 Winemakers and 3 Wineries

Stefanie and Alwin Jurtschitsch - Weingut Jurtschitsch

David Bowler (US Importer of Weingut Jurtschitsch): Over the past generation, the Jurtschitsch winery in Langenlois, Kamptal, has grown into one of the most prominent top wineries in Austria. Having being run by the three brothers Edwin, Paul and Karl Jurtschitsch, the family-owned winery has now been passed on to the younger generation, to Alwin Jurtschitsch and his partner Stefanie Hasselbach.

This family business succession has been prepared thoroughly. The couple travelled around the world, gathering experience in New Zealand and Australia. Working as interns in famed wineries in France, they got to know the French school of the Old Wine World. “It was a wonderful time and we learnt a lot. Now, we can put the ideas and the experience we have gained into practice back home in the Kamptal”, explains Alwin Jurtschitsch.

Pictures: The 3 of them getting ready

A first step was the change-over to an organic cultivation of the family-owned vineyards. It was followed by a reduction of the wine-growing sites so that they could concentrate of the first-class appellations of the Kamp Tal. And all this went smoothly and with a great deal of sensitivity and respect for tradition.

The wine philosophy also underwent a transformation: “Our wine style became more ‘polarising‘, characterised by the idea of terroirs without compromise”, says Stefanie Hasselbach.

They produce wines which let the vineyards and soils speak for themselves, even about the winegrower who cares for them. “Yes, we are farmers”, Alwin Jurtschitsch stresses, “this is our work, our tradition and handcraft in the best sense of the word.” In the cellar, all this is turned into a work of art. The wines shine in multi-faceted elegance, offering drinking pleasure at highest level without being baroque and heavy. The Grüner Veltliner wines interpret the Kamp Valley’s spiciness at its finest, while the Rieslings impress with their crystalline minerality. The renowned Gault Millau wine guide most recently called the Jurtschitsch winery “the most exciting one in Langenlois at present”!

Pictures: Small talk before the tasting

Max von Kunow - Weingut von Hoevel

David Bowler (US Importer of Weingut von Hoevel): Baron Eberhard “Adt” von Kunow is the owner and proprietor of the small but wonderful von Hovel estate. He made the wines there from 1973 to 2010; however, after a debilitating stroke (from which we are pleased to report he has largely recovered), his son Maximilian (the 7th generation) took charge of the winemaking. Max runs the estate along increasingly organic methods, and like many in his generation, also seeks to create great dry wines. But von Hovel remains a haven for the hauntingly delicate style of fruity Rieslings unique to the Saar river valley, the coolest growing area in Germany. These are crystalline, low alcohol wines from the “old school,” teeming with minerals and flowers in their youth, and often petrolly in their later years. They represent some of the finest values in the Rudi Wiest portfolio.

Picture: Presenting the Wurzelwerk Project - Johannes Hasselbach, Molly Sweeny (Rudi Wiest Selections), Alwin Jurtschitsch, Max von Kunow and Annette Schiller (Ombiasy PR and WineTours)

The von Hövel estate has ownership in the following vineyards; all planted 100% to Riesling:

Oberemmeler Hütte – (17.5 Acres) a monopole of the estate – very light soil, weathered slate, it produces some of the most delicate, subtle, yet steely Rieslings in Germany.

Scharzhofberg – (7.5 acres) deeper, heavier soil, strong weathered grey slate with high proportion of rocks and gravel (70%), it produces more masculine wines

Oberemmeler Rosenberg – the estate owns over 6 acres of the “filet” piece also known as the Rosenkamm, which has many old vine scattered throughout. For example, the 2011 Riesling Estate Spätlese “R” was selected from only those old vines with a yield of only 10hl/ha!

Kanzemer Hörecker – (barely 1 acre) monopole – one of the smallest yet greatest vineyards in the Saar, grey green slate with a proportion clay and red soil.

The estate also owns small portions of the heavy soiled Oberemmeler Karlsberg.

The von Hövel estate produces 5,000 cs and is a founding member of the Mosel VDP. Adt von Kunow was for many years the auctioneer for the annual VDP auction in Trier.

The upcoming Germany (North) tour by ombiasy will visit Max von Kunow and his winery.

See here:
3 Wine Tours by ombiasy Coming up in 2014: Germany-North, Germany-South and Bordeaux 

Johannes Hasselbach - Weingut Gunderloch

It all started in 1890, when the banker Carl Gunderloch purchased the Gunderloch manor house in Nackenheim. As the story goes, he used to trek from Gundersblum, his place of birth, to his bank in Mainz. On these journeys he carefully observed how the sun played off the hills along the Rhein Terrace. Based on these observations he purchased vineyard property that appeared to collect sunlight most efficiently and founded the Gunderloch Estate. Today, the Estate is still in the hands of the Gunderloch family.

Pictures: Listening

The Gunderloch Estate also has an interesting tie to the German dramatist Carl Zuckmaier. Zuckmaier, who became a Hollywood screenwriter, was born in Nackenheim and a friend of Carl Gunderloch. Zuckmaier not only wrote the screenplay for the film "The Blue Angel", but also the plays "The Captain from Koepenick" and "The Devils General". He also used the Gunderloch estate for the setting, and Carl Gunderloch as the main character for his very first play "Der froehliche Weinberg" (the jolly vineyard). In this play Zuckmaier renamed Carl Gunderloch "Jean Baptiste" which is where the brand name used on the Gunderloch "Jean Baptiste" Kabinett is borrowed from.

The Estate has over 18 hectares of vineyards. In Nackenheim, there are holdings in the Rothenberg (Riesling), the Engelsberg (Riesling, Silvaner, Ruländer and Gewürztraminer) and the Schmitts Kapellchen (Scheurebe and Müller-Thurgau). In Nierstein, there are holdings in the Pettenthal and Hipping both planted with Riesling and the Paterberg with Ruländer and Müller-Thurgau.

Overall the vines on the estate have an average age of 25 years, and Riesling predominates as all but 20% of Gunderloch's vines are of this variety. The remainder is mainly Pinot Blanc (5%) and Pinot Gris (5%).

Vineyard practices include hand cultivation, hand harvesting and low yields with an average of 50 hl/ha for the estate as a whole. Once the fruit reaches the winery it is crushed gently without destemming, and then fed by gravity to the vats where it sees a slow, temperature-controlled fermentation to preserve the fruit character of the wines.

Picture: Presenting

The property and vineyards have remained in family ownership since the days of Carl Gunderloch, who died in 1935, the estate passing first to Gunderloch's granddaughter Elizabeth Usinger and her husband. They remained at the helm until 1965, when their son Carl Otto took on the management of the estate. Until recently, his eldest daughter, Agnes Hasselbach-Usinger and her husband, Fritz Hasselbach, were in charge. Today, Johannes Hasselbach is at the helm of Weingut Gunderloch.

For more, see:
Visiting Agnes and Fritz Hasselbach at their Weingut Gunderloch in Nackenheim, Rheinhessen, Germany

The upcoming Germany (South) tour by ombiasy will visit Johannes Hasselbach and his winery.

See here:
3 Wine Tours by ombiasy Coming up in 2014: Germany-North, Germany-South and Bordeaux 

Background

The Jurtschitsch couple met and studied togather at the Geisenheim University in Germany. When Alwin and Stefanie got married, Max von Kunow, who had studied with them at the Geisenheim University, was their best man. Through Stefanie Jurtschitsch (nee Hasselbach), Johannes Hasselbach was introduced to Alwin Jurtschitsch and Max von Kunow. Before taking over their respective wineries, each traveled and interned at wineries from Australia and New Zealand to Canada.

The Idea

The idea is simple: Each of them harvests on the same day 1500 kg of grapes from a top vineyard. Each of them shares 500 kg of the grapes with the others and keeps 500 kg. Each of them vinifies the 3 batches separately in his/her cellar.

Pictures: Tasting and Discussing

The Implementation

The implementation was a bit more complicated: To start with, the 4 winemakers had to find 3 parcels where the grapes were expected to be ripe at about the same time and could be harvested the same day. The harvest date had to be shiften several times for several reasons. After harvest, the grapes were allowed to macerate for 13 hours. 2/3 of the grapes underwent maceration on a truck, while being transported to the other wineries. Upon arrival at the wineries, the grapes were pressed and fermented with ambient yeast in 330 liter stainless steel tanks. Each winery produced 3 times 300 half liter bottles. Total: 2700 bottles.

The Vineyards

The grapes come from 3 of the best Riesling vineyards in the world: (1) Scharzhofberg at Weingut von Hövel (gray slate); (2) Nackenheimer Rothenberg at Weingut Gunderloch (red shale); and (3) Zöbinger Heiligenstein at Weingut Jurtschitsch (sandstone).

Pictures: Tasting and Discussing

Maximum Standardization

When I heard about the project for the first time, I tought that Max von Kunow had made his wines in a typical low alcohol, fruity-sweet style, Alwin and Steffi in a bone dry style and that Johannes perhaps could have experimented with fermentation in barrique. But this turned out not to be the case. By contrast, to the extent possible, they all did the same in the cellar. They all fermented in stainless-steel tanks, they all fermented the wines in a bone-dry style. The all used the same yeast – indigineus yeasts from the vineyard. The wines are what some people would call “natural” wines - minimal intervention wines.

The Tasting

We tasted the wines in 3 different flights: First, the 3 Scharzhofberg (Saar) wines, then the 3 Nackenheimer Rothenberg (Rheinhessen) wines and finally the 3 Heiligenstein (Kamptal) wines. Within each flight, the Weingut von Hoevel wine was the first wine, the Weingut Gunderloch wine the second wine and the Weingut Jurtschitsch wine the last wine.

Picture: The 9 Wines

As noted earlier, the difference in the wines was much less than I had expected due to the massive standardization of the fermentation process. At the same time, given that massive standardization, the differences in the wines were quite amazing.

The first flight - the 3 Scharzhofberg wines - was the leanest, with a tight acidity structure. The 3 Rothenberg wines were broader and more powerful, fruitier. The third flight – the 3 Heiligenstein wines – was the most mineral flight.

The second wine in each flight - the wines fermented in the Gunderloch wine cellar – all had a touch of sweetness and were the most opulent wines, while those fermented in the von Hoevel wine cellar – the first wine in each flight - came across as more filgran, bone dry and stealy. The wines fermented in the Jurtschitsch cellar – the last wine in each flight - were the most closed wines, with herbal, wet wood notes.

Overall, the wines showed more a wine cellar touch than a vineyard touch. This may change over time.

Pictures: Tasting and Discussing

Classification Issues

With the grapes being grown in one country and fermented in another one, all kinds of labeling issues came up. The wines had to be classified as European Table Wine. The famous vineyard names could not be utilized; instead, fantasy names appear on the label. Finally, the grape variety (Riesling) does not appear on the label. While all this indicates that you have a cheap wine in the bottle, the Wurzelwerk case with 9 0.5 liter bottles is not at all cheap. It sells for Euro 300 in Germany and Austria and was offered for $630 at the Washington DC tasting (by MacArthur Beverages).

Bye-bye

Thanks, Alwin, Johannes and Max, for a great evening.

Pictures: Bye-bye and Good Night

schiller-wine: Related Postings

3 Wine Tours by ombiasy Coming up in 2014: Germany-North, Germany-South and Bordeaux

German Wine and Culture Tour by ombiasy, 2013

Special Wine Event on March 18, 2014, in Washington DC with "Wurzelwerk": 3 Terroirs, 3 Winemakers and 9 Wines 

Visiting Agnes and Fritz Hasselbach at their Weingut Gunderloch in Nackenheim, Rheinhessen, German

Weingut Pawis in the Saale Unstrut Region - A Profile, Germany

Tasting at Weingut Balthasar Ress, Hattenheim, Rheingau, with Stefan Ress, Germany

Impromptu Winetasting with Alexander Jung, Weingut Jakob Jung, Erbach, Rheingau, Germany

A Tasting at Weingut Peter Jakob Kühn, Rheingau, with Angela and Peter Jakob Kühn, Germany

Tasting with Rita Busch at Weingut Clemens Busch in the Mosel Valley, Germany

Ernst Loosen Presented his Wines at Weingut Dr. Loosen, Bernkastel-Kues, Mosel Valley, Germany

Cellar Tour, Vineyard Tour, Tasting and Lunch with Georg Rumpf, Weingut Kruger-Rumpf, Nahe Valley, Germany

An Afternoon with Riesling Star Winemaker Helmut Doennhoff at Weingut Doennhoff in Oberhausen in the Nahe Valley, Germany

The World Meets at Weingut Weegmueller, Pfalz, Germany

Tasting with Johannes and Christoph Thoerle, Weingut Thoerle in Saulheim, Rheinhessen, Germany

Picture: Johannes Hasselbach and Christian G.E. Schiller in Washington DC

Johannes Hasselbach from Weingut Gunderloch in Rheinhessen, Germany, was in town (Washington DC). He came with Alwin Jurtschitsch, Weingut Jurtschitsch in the Kamptal region, Austria and Max von Kunow, Weingut von Hoevel, Germany, to (1) present his winery and his wines to a selected group of sommeliers and wine writers over lunch and (2) to present with Johannes and Max their Wurzelwerk project. The lunch took place at B Too, the up and coming restaurant of Bart M. Vandaele.

Picture: BToo

Both events were organized by Rudi Wiest Selections and Annette Schiller, ombiasy PR and WineTours. The upcoming Germany South Tour by ombiasy will include a visit of Johannes Hasselbach and Weingut Gunderloch in the Rheinhessen region. For more information, see:

3 Wine Tours by ombiasy Coming up in 2014: Germany-North, Germany-South and Bordeaux
ombiasy Public Relations

Picture: Annette Schiller, Ombiasy PR and WineTours, Max von Kunow and Johannes Hasselbach

This is the third posting in a mini-series of postings covering Wurzelwerk and the 3 wineries behind the project:

Special Wine Event on March 18, 2014, in Washington DC with "Wurzelwerk": 3 Terroirs, 3 Winemakers and 9 Wines
"Wurzelwerk" Goes America: 3 Vineyards, 3 Winemakers and 9 Wines
Weingut Gunderloch – The New Generation: Owner Johannes Hasselbach in Washington DC, US
The Wines of Stefanie and Alwin Jurtschitsch, Weingut Jurtschitsch, Kamptal, Austria
Weingut von Hoevel – The New Generation: Max von Kunow in Washington DC, US

Johannes Hasselbach and Weingut Gunderloch

It all started in 1890, when the banker Carl Gunderloch purchased the Gunderloch manor house in Nackenheim. As the story goes, he used to trek from Gundersblum, his place of birth, to his bank in Mainz. On these journeys he carefully observed how the sun played off the hills along the Rhein Terrace. Based on these observations he purchased vineyard property that appeared to collect sunlight most efficiently and founded the Gunderloch Estate. Today, the Estate is still in the hands of the Gunderloch family, with Johannes Hasselbach in charge. He just took over from his parents Agnes Hasselbach-Usinger, a descendent of Carl Gunderloch, and her winemaker husband Fritz Hasselbach.

Pictures: Johannes Hasselbach at BToo

The Gunderloch Estate also has an interesting tie to the German dramatist Carl Zuckmaier. Zuckmaier, who became a Hollywood screenwriter, was born in Nackenheim and a friend of Carl Gunderloch. Zuckmaier not only wrote the screenplay for the film "The Blue Angel", but also the plays "The Captain from Koepenick" and "The Devils General". He also used the Gunderloch estate for the setting, and Carl Gunderloch as the main character for his very first play "Der froehliche Weinberg" (the jolly vineyard). In this play Zuckmaier renamed Carl Gunderloch "Jean Baptiste" which is where the brand name used on the Gunderloch "Jean Baptiste" Kabinett is borrowed from.

The Estate has over 18 hectares of vineyards. In Nackenheim, there are holdings in the Rothenberg (Riesling), the Engelsberg (Riesling, Silvaner, Ruländer and Gewürztraminer) and the Schmitts Kapellchen (Scheurebe and Müller-Thurgau). In Nierstein, there are holdings in the Pettenthal and Hipping both planted with Riesling and the Paterberg with Ruländer and Müller-Thurgau.

Picture: Lunch and Tasting at BToo

Overall the vines on the estate have an average age of 25 years, and Riesling predominates as all but 20% of Gunderloch's vines are of this variety. The remainder is mainly Pinot Blanc (5%) and Pinot Gris (5%).

Weingut Gunderloch is very export-oriented and well known in the US, with more than 50% of the production sold abroad. “We use screw caps now from ordinary table wine to super premium noble sweet wines” says Fritz Hasselbach. The Gunderloch Estate is a member of the Rheinhessen VDP.

Picture: Andrew Myers, Sommelier, CityZen, Kathy Morgan, MS, Consultant and Johannes Hasselbach

The property and vineyards have remained in family ownership since the days of Carl Gunderloch, who died in 1935, the estate passing first to Gunderloch's granddaughter Elizabeth Usinger and her husband. They remained at the helm until 1965, when their son Carl Otto took on the management of the estate. Until very recently, his eldest daughter, Agnes Hasselbach-Usinger and her husband, Fritz Hasselbach, a highly accredited winemaker, were in charge. Now, their only son Johannes is at the helm.

See also:
Visiting Agnes and Fritz Hasselbach at their Weingut Gunderloch in Nackenheim, Rheinhessen, German
Riesling Lounge Goes Lomo, Germany

Picture: Weingut Gunderloch in Nackenheim

Chef Bart M. Vandaele, Belga Café and B Too

With his European flare, Belgium native Bart M. Vandaele has taken Washington DC by storm since opening his Belga Café in the historical Barracks Row area near the Capitol a few years ago. Now he has opened a second restaurant, B Too on 14th Street NW. It is much larger and bit more casual than the Belga Café, but the food is also excellent and the set-up also very appealing.

Picture: Chef Bart M. Vandaele

What We Ate

Oyster on the Half Shell


Lobster Waffle
Bisque oil/ arugula/ tomato

Or

Steak Tartare
Capers/ crispy onions/ frisee


Josper Grilled Hanger Steak
Roasted vegetables/ Belgian frites/ garlic butter

Or

Potato Crusted Salmon Filet
Quince puree/ yoghurt/ lime/ salsify


Cheese Plate


The Gunderloch Wines

2012 Estate Dry Riesling

Johannes Hasselbach: Created from exclusively first rate red slate stone sites, this represents an extraordinary value and demonstrates precisely what a dry German Riesling should be. The aromas show the red chalky iron slate soil and citrus, herb and smoked nuts. The clarity and length of flavors on the palate, vivid smoky mineral notes and sappy juicy citrus and peach fruit on the palate are quite impressive and refreshing.


2012 Gunderloch Riesling Dry GG, Pettenthal

One of Weingut Gunderloch’s flagship dry wines. Notes of ripe yellow fruits, coupled with some herbal notes on the nose, dense, with a racy acidity on the palate, very long and enjoyable finish.

Picture: Annette Schiller, Ombiasy PR and WineTours, Max von Kunow, Johannes Hasselbach, Alwin Jurtschitsch and Christian G.E. Schiller at BToo

Todd M. Godbout (Wine Compass Blog): We then moved to the two Rieslings from Gunderloch, with Johannes describing the winery's three vineyards sites situated above the Rhine river and the 120 year family history operating the winery. An interesting story is that the harvest help has traditionally come from Poland, and as that country has become wealthier, the Polish workers still arrive for harvest, now using their vacation time to pick grapes.

The first Riesling was the "entry" level 2012 Estate Dry Riesling ($15), but there was nothing entry level about this wine. It's a blend of grapes from the three vineyard sites and starts with green apples finishing in firm acidity. Very tasty and refreshing. The second wine was my favorite of the lunch, the 2012 Gunderloch Riesling Dry GG, Pettenthal ($42). The Pettenthal is the only site on the Rhine with red clay soil and this single vineyard wine is equally fruity and acidic. But it's the creamy texture that allows the wine to melt in your mouth.

schiller-wine: Related Postings

3 Wine Tours by ombiasy Coming up in 2014: Germany-North, Germany-South and Bordeaux

German Wine and Culture Tour by ombiasy, 2013

Special Wine Event on March 18, 2014, in Washington DC with "Wurzelwerk": 3 Terroirs, 3 Winemakers and 9 Wines 

Visiting Agnes and Fritz Hasselbach at their Weingut Gunderloch in Nackenheim, Rheinhessen, German

Riesling Lounge Goes Lomo, Germany

Weingut Pawis in the Saale Unstrut Region - A Profile, Germany

Tasting at Weingut Balthasar Ress, Hattenheim, Rheingau, with Stefan Ress, Germany

Impromptu Winetasting with Alexander Jung, Weingut Jakob Jung, Erbach, Rheingau, Germany

A Tasting at Weingut Peter Jakob Kühn, Rheingau, with Angela and Peter Jakob Kühn, Germany

Tasting with Rita Busch at Weingut Clemens Busch in the Mosel Valley, Germany

Ernst Loosen Presented his Wines at Weingut Dr. Loosen, Bernkastel-Kues, Mosel Valley, Germany

Cellar Tour, Vineyard Tour, Tasting and Lunch with Georg Rumpf, Weingut Kruger-Rumpf, Nahe Valley, Germany

An Afternoon with Riesling Star Winemaker Helmut Doennhoff at Weingut Doennhoff in Oberhausen in the Nahe Valley, Germany

The World Meets at Weingut Weegmueller, Pfalz, Germany

Tasting with Johannes and Christoph Thoerle, Weingut Thoerle in Saulheim, Rheinhessen, Germany

Picture: Christian G.E. Schiller and Alwin Jurtschitsch at BToo in Washington DC, USA

Alwin Jurtschitsch from Weingut Jurtschitsch in Austria was in town (Washington DC). He came with Johannes Hasselbach, Weingut Gunderloch, Germany and Max von Kunow, Weingut von Hoevel, Germany, to (1) present Weingut Jurtschitsch and his wines to a small group of sommeliers and wine writers over lunch and (2) to present with Johannes and Max their Wurzelwerk project. The lunch took place at BToo, the up and coming restaurant of Bart. Both events were organized by Rudi Wiest Selections and Annette Schiller, ombiasy PR and WineTours.

Picture: BToo in Washington DC

This posting is the fourth posting in a mini-series covering Wurzelwerk and the 3 contributing wineries:

Special Wine Event on March 18, 2014, in Washington DC with "Wurzelwerk": 3 Terroirs, 3 Winemakers and 9 Wines
"Wurzelwerk" Goes America: 3 Vineyards, 3 Winemakers and 9 Wines
Weingut Gunderloch– The New Generation: Owner Johannes Hasselbach in Washington DC, US
The Wines of Stefanie and Alwin Jurtschitsch, Weingut Jurtschitsch, Kamptal, Austria
Weingut von Hoevel – The New Generation: Max von Kunow in Washington DC, US

Weingut Jurtschitsch

Weingut Jurtschitsch in the Kamptal town of Langenlois is one of Austria's oldest wineries. Dating back more than 700 years, the winery was originally operated by the nearby Franciscan monastery. The Jurtschitsch family purchased the estate in 1868, and it has been run by family members ever since.

Picture: Stefanie and Alwin Jurtschitsch in the Vineyard (Source: Weingut Jurtschitsch Web Site)

Until Alwin and Stefanie took over, the three brothers Edwin, Paul and Karl Jurtschitsch were in charge. Edwin tended the vineyards, Paul oversaw winemaking (along with oenologist Steffen Roll) and Karl directed sales and marketing.

Pictures: Alwin Jurtschitsch at BToo

David Bowler (US importer for Weingut Jurtschitsch): Over the past generation, the Jurtschitsch winery in Langenlois / Kamptal has grown into one of the most prominent top wineries in Austria. Having being run by the three brothers Edwin, Paul and Karl Jurtschitsch, the family-owned winery has now been passed on to the younger generation, to Alwin Jurtschitsch and his partner Stefanie Hasselbach.

Picture: Tasting and Eating

This family business succession has been prepared thoroughly. The couple travelled around the world, gathering experience in New Zealand and Australia. Working as interns in famed wineries in France, they got to know the French school of the Old Wine World. “It was a wonderful time and we learnt a lot. Now, we can put the ideas and the experience we have gained into practice back home in the Kamptal”, explains Alwin Jurtschitsch.

Picture: Wine Writer (I Drink on the Job) and Event Organizer (TasteDC) Charlie Adler, Annette Schiller, ombiasy PR and WineTours, and Alwin Jurtschitsch

A first step was the change-over to an organic cultivation of the family-owned vineyards. It was followed by a reduction of the wine-growing sites so that they could concentrate of the first-class appellations of the Kamp Tal. And all this went smoothly and with a great deal of sensitivity and respect for tradition.

The wine philosophy also underwent a transformation: “Our wine style became more ‘polarising‘, characterised by the idea of terroirs without compromise”, says Stefanie Hasselbach.

Picture: Andrew Myers, Sommelier, CityZen and Katha Morgan, MS, Consultant

They produce wines which let the vineyards and soils speak for themselves, even about the winegrower who cares for them. “Yes, we are farmers”, Alwin Jurtschitsch stresses, “this is our work, our tradition and handcraft in the best sense of the word.” In the cellar, all this is turned into a work of art. The wines shine in multi-faceted elegance, offering drinking pleasure at highest level without being baroque and heavy. The Grüner Veltliner wines interpret the Kamp Valley’s spiciness at its finest, while the Rieslings impress with their crystalline minerality. The renowned Gault Millau wine guide most recently called the Jurtschitsch winery “the most exciting one in Langenlois at present”!

Picture: Alwin Jurtschitsch, Todd M. Godbout (Wine Compass Blog), Chef Bart M. Vandaele and Max von Kunow

Chef Bart M. Vandaele, Belga Café and B Too

With his European flare, Belgium native Bart M. Vandaele has taken Washington DC by storm since opening his Belga Café in the historical Barracks Row area near the Capitol a few years ago. Now he has opened a second restaurant, B Too on 14th Street NW. It is much larger and bit more casual than the Belga Café, but the food is also excellent and the set-up also very appealing.

Picture: Chef Bart M. Vandaele

What We Ate

Oyster on the Half-Shell


Lobster Waffle
Bisque oil/ arugula/ tomato

Or

Steak Tartare
Capers/ crispy onions/ frisee


Josper Grilled Hanger Steak
Roasted vegetables/ Belgian frites/ garlic butter

Or

Potato Crusted Salmon Filet
Quince puree/ yoghurt/ lime/ salsify


Cheese Plate

The Jurtschitsch Wines

Grüner Veltliner Loiserberg 2012 Kamptal, Erste Lage

Alwin Jurtschitsch: Grüner Veltliner Loiserberg is our highest and coolest vineyard site. The cold winds from the northwest chill down this hill as soon the sun goes down and so the fine fruit aromas in the berries are preserved. The combination of microclimate and soil creates a wine with a crystalline structure and pure fruit. The grapes are harvested according to taste – not by analysis. It is only a short time between not yet ripe and over ripe maturity. If the grapes are too ripe, you lose minerality. 100% spontaneous fermentation in 2000 liter barrels (local oak, old barrels). 6 months on full lees before bottling. All single vineyard wines are 100% botrytis free.


Vineyard: Loiserberg, Erste Lage (Premiere Cru classified) High Altitude (400m) South-east exposed. Terrace style. 30+ years of vines, family vineyard, organic certified since 2009

Soil type: Glimmer slate with little loess on top

Riesling Zobinger Heiligenstein Alte Reben Erste Lage 2011

Alwin Jurtschitsch: Heiligenstein means “holy stone” and is one of the most historical single vineyards of the Kamptal. The soil type is unique and only found on this special hill. It was formed during the period of Perm, 270 billion years ago. A very high content of Quartz leads to intensely mineral wines. Heiligenstein is mostly planted with Riesling. A special flora and fauna is found in this natural reserve. During the day the hillside is influenced by the warm pannonian climate form the south and at night the cool temeratures from the highlands chill down the area. This big change in temperature between the night and day leads to the unique fruity Riesling style. Riesling of Heiligenstein is normally fermented very dry. The high acidity levels in 2010 are well balanced with about 7 gram of residual sugar.

60 year-old vines are planted on steep, desert sandstone terraces. The wines are macerated for 12 hours and fermentation starts spontaneously in 1100 liter barrels. The wines spent 6 months on the lees and batonnage is done.

Picture: Picture: Annette Schiller, Ombiasy PR and WineTours, Max von Kunow, Johannes Hasselbach, Alwin Jurtschitsch and Christian G.E. Schiller at BToo

Todd M. Godbout (Wine Compass Blog): We started the lunch with the Jurtschitsch Grüner Veltliner Loiserberg 2012 Kamptal DAC Reserve, Erste Lage and 2011 Zobinger Heiligenstein Kamptal Reserve Riesling, with Alwin introducing us to their 150 year old winery. The winery itself includes a 700 year old cellar and is located in the Kamptal DAC, northwest of Vienna and west of. The steep hills of Heiligenstein ("holy rock") contain a unique blend of desert sandstone and volcanic soil which adds a salty minerality to the Riesling - a perfect match with our oysters appetizer. The Riesling also possessed a green apple flavor with plenty of acidity accumulated from the cool nights. The Grüner Veltliner has a more floral aroma, with a silky texture after being fermented in neutral oak and spending 10 months on its lees. These are two delicious wines.

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Picture: Christian G.E. Schiller and Max von Kunow, Weingut von Hoevel, Saar, at BToo in Washington DC

Winemaker Max von Kunow from the famous Weingut von Hoevel in the Saar Valley in Germany was in town (Washington DC). He came with Johannes Hasselbach, Weingut Gunderloch, Germany and Alwin Jurtschitsch, Weingut Jurtschitsch, Kamptal, Austria, to (1) present his Weingut and wines to a small group of sommeliers and wine writers over lunch and (2) to present with Johannes and Max their Wurzelwerk project. The lunch took place at BToo, the up and coming restaurant of Bart.

Picture: BToo in Washington DC

Both events were organized by Rudi Wiest Selections and Annette Schiller, ombiasy PR and WineTours. The upcoming Germany North Tour by ombiasy will include a visit ofMax von Kunow and Weingut von Hoevel. For more information, see:

3 Wine Tours by ombiasy Coming up in 2014: Germany-North, Germany-South and Bordeaux
ombiasy Public Relations

Picture: Annette Schiller, Ombiasy PR and WineTours, Max von Kunow and Johannes Hasselbach

This posting is the last posting in a mini-series covering Wurzelwerk and the 3 contributing wineries:

Special Wine Event on March 18, 2014, in Washington DC with "Wurzelwerk": 3 Terroirs, 3 Winemakers and 9 Wines
"Wurzelwerk" Goes America: 3 Vineyards, 3 Winemakers and 9 Wines
Weingut Gunderloch– The New Generation: Owner Johannes Hasselbach in Washington DC, US
The Wines of Stefanie and Alwin Jurtschitsch, Weingut Jurtschitsch, Kamptal, Austria
Weingut von Hoevel – The New Generation: Max von Kunow in Washington DC, US

Max von Kunow and Weingut von Hoevel

Rudi Wiest (US Importer of Weingut von Hoevel): Eberhard von Kunow was the proprietor of the von Hövel estate from 1973 until 2010 when his son Maximilian von Kunow (the 7th generation) took charge. Already in the first year, Max achieved great success in the Gault-Millau/German Wine Guide producing one of the top three Kabinetts (Oberemmeler Hütte) and the top Feinherb Riesling from the Scharzhofberg both from the 2010 vintage. He also started the estate on the road of organic production. While his father produced mostly fruity style wines, Max wants to produce more dry styled Rieslings. His 2011 Scharzhofberger Grosses Gewächs, (93 points), was one of the highest scored dry wines in the Wein-Plus, a German newsletter.

Pictures: Max von Kunow Explaining

Johannes E. Grach, an ancestor, purchased the estate in 1806 after secularization forced the church to give up the property. He also, at the same time, acquired the Kanzemer Hörecker (also under the control of the estate) and Wawerner Herrenberg, (both monopoles), and the latter under the direction of Günther Jauch (also 7th generation). Mr. Jauch is a well known TV personality in Germany moderating “The Millionaire” show. The manor house, completed in the 12th century, was initially an abbey retreat for the famous wine monastery of St. Maximin in Trier. The old cellar is today as it was over 800 years ago.

Picture: Andrew Myers, Sommelier, CityZen and Kathy Morgan, MS, Consultant

The von Hövel estate has ownership in the following vineyards; all planted 100% to Riesling:

Oberemmeler Hütte – (17.5 Acres) a monopole of the estate – very light soil, weathered slate, it produces some of the most delicate, subtle, yet steely Rieslings in Germany.

Scharzhofberg – (7.5 acres) deeper, heavier soil, strong weathered grey slate with high proportion of rocks and gravel (70%), it produces more masculine wines.

Picture: Todd M. Godbout (Wine Compass Blog), Wine Writer (I Drink on the Job) and Event Organizer (TasteDC) Charlie Adler, Max von Kunow, Weingut von Hoevel and Annette Schiller, ombiasy PR and WineTours

Oberemmeler Rosenberg – the estate owns over 6 acres of the “filet” piece also known as the Rosenkamm, which has many old vine scattered throughout. For example, the 2011 Riesling Estate Spätlese “R” was selected from only those old vines with a yield of only 10hl/ha!

Kanzemer Hörecker – (barely 1 acre) monopole – one of the smallest yet greatest vineyards in the Saar, grey green slate with a proportion clay and red soil.

The estate also owns small portions of the heavy soiled Oberemmeler Karlsberg.

The von Hövel estate produces 5,000 cs and is a founding member of the Mosel VDP. Max’s father Eberhard was for many years the auctioneer for the annual VDP auction in Trier.

Picture: Alwin Jurtschitsch, Weingut Jurtschitsch, Todd M. Godbout (Wine Compass Blog), Chef Bart M. Vandaele and Max von Kunow

Chef Bart M. Vandaele, Belga Café and B Too

With his European flare, Belgium native Bart M. Vandaele has taken Washington DC by storm since opening his Belga Café in the historical Barracks Row area near the Capitol a few years ago. Now he has opened a second restaurant, B Too on 14th Street NW. It is much larger and bit more casual than the Belga Café, but the food is also excellent and the set-up also very appealing.

Picture: Chef Bart M. Vandaele

What We Ate

Oyster on the Half-Shell


Lobster Waffle
Bisque oil/ arugula/ tomato

Or

Steak Tartare
Capers/ crispy onions/ frisee


Josper Grilled Hanger Steak
Roasted vegetables/ Belgian frites/ garlic butter

Or

Potato Crusted Salmon Filet
Quince puree/ yoghurt/ lime/ salsify


Cheese Plate


What we Tasted

Kabinett Scharzhofberger 2008
Spätlese Oberemmeler Huette, 2011
Spätlese Dry "R" 2012

Kabinett Scharzhofberger 2008 - David Bowler: Heavier soils than found in the Hutte make von Hovel’s Scharzhofberg bottlings typically more fruity and rounded with a flashier style. That works out great in a cool, acid-driven year like 2008—the wine is really showing beautifully now that it has shed some of its baby fat. The minerality here is subtle but layered clearly beneath the fruit. A beautiful lobster wine or pairing for any intense, buttery, flavorsome fish.

Spätlese Oberemmeler Huette, 2011 - Max von Hoevel: The aromatics reveal classic Saar pear and apple fruit. This Spätlese was selected from 35 year old vines, and has been fermented with wild yeast. The palate offers fine slate details which mix nicely with the wine’s vivid acid structure, helping delineate the ripe white peach, pear, and hint of red raspberry fruit. Great to enjoy on its own, but also great with salads and spicy dishes including fusion cuisine.

Picture: Tasting Weingut von Hoevel Wines

Spätlese Dry "R" 2012 - David Bowler: A connoisseur’s choice. One risks sounding pompous saying that, but the fact is, this is a big, crunchy, bone-dry wine in a developing stage, teeming with perfumey aromatics like rose hips and talcum, and structured in a clean and refreshing style like cold mineral water with a slice of lemon. The giveaway of the terroir is the incredibly dense, almost tactile sense of slate that coats the mouth at the finish—and JUST WON’T LET GO! An attention-grabbing wine that displays Max von Kunow’s promise as a young winemaker who wants to explore the potential of dry wines at his estate. There are only 7cs of this wine total for New York and New Jersey.

Picture: Annette Schiller, Ombiasy PR and WineTours, Max von Kunow, Johannes Hasselbach, Alwin Jurtschitsch and Christian G.E. Schiller at BToo

Todd M. Godbout (Wine Compass Blog):  The final presentation was given by Max von Kunow who brought along one von Hövel produced by his father and a second of his. The von Hovel estate was a acquired from Napoleon Bonaparte in 1806 (a mini Louisiana Mosel Purchase) and Max is the 7th generation wine maker. Before Bonaparte confiscated the land, the manor house and cellar was the retreat for St. Maximin and are over 800 years old. The elder Kunow's wine was the 2008 von Hoevel Riesling Kabinett, Scharzhofberger ($15) and has a peachy-apricot flavor, followed by a creamy mid and a refreshing acidic finish. The younger Kunow's 2012 von Hoevel Riesling Spatlese Dry, Estate ($35) is all tropical fruit, again a creamy mid, with balanced acidity. Pretty amazing.

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Picture: Christian G.E. Schiller with a Chateau Le Crock, Cru Bourgeois du Médoc, in Pauillac, one of the Decanter's Favorites

Four years ago, Cru Bourgeois du Médoc became an annual label, awarded annually to any winemaker that met the conditions for the Cru Bourgeois label.

In September 2013, the 2011 labels were announced: 256 Crus Bourgeois du Médoc make up the new Official Selection for the 2011 vintage. See here for a complete listing of the 256 Crus Bourgeois du Médoc for the 2011 vintage.

The Best 58  Crus Bourgeois du Médoc (2011) - Decanter's Selection 

Half a year later, the British Wine Magazine Decanter presented a list of 58 2011 Crus Bourgeois du Médoc, which it considers as the top Cru Bourgeois wines of the 2011 vintage. Here is the list, presented in a slide-show.

The Cru Bourgeois Classification of 1932

From 1932 to the end of the 1900s, the Cru Bourgeois du Medoc system was a classification system set in stone. The first Cru Bourgeois list was drawn up by the Bordeaux Chamber of Commerce and Chamber of Agriculture in 1932, selecting 444 estates from the Medoc for the classification. These were wines that were not included in the 1855 Classification of Crus Classes, but still of high quality.

Picture: Annette Schiller, ombiasy PR and WineTours, with a 2012 Chateau Le Crock, Cru Bourgeois, and a 2012 Chateau Leoville Poyferre, a Classified Growth, both owned by the Cuvelier Family

For the 2014 Wine Tours by ombiasy, including to Bordeaux, see:
3 Wine Tours by ombiasy Coming up in 2014: Germany-North, Germany-South and Bordeaux  

Cru Bourgeois du Médoc Today: A Label Awarded Annually

Today, the Cru Bourgeois du Medoc is a wine label that is awarded annually, on the basis of an assessment of both production methods and the wine. Any property in the Médoc may apply. Chateaus’ production methods are periodically inspected and their wines are submitted to an independent panel for annual tasting. The first vintage that came under the current system, is the 2008 vintage, announced in 2010.

Picture: The Cru Bourgeois Label

Note that some highly regarded wines outside the 1855 classification such as Château Gloria and Château Sociando-Mallet do not submit their wines for the Cru Bourgeois du Medoc classification. Thus, there is a sizable number of top producers in the Medoc today that are neither in the 1855 classification nor in the Cru Bourgeois du Medoc classification.

Picture: Christian G.E. Schiller and Vincent Faure, Directeur Technique, Chateau Sociando Mallet, at Restaurant Le Peyrat in Saint-Estèphe, where we met by accident during the Bordeaux Tour 2013 by ombiasy, organized and led by Annette Schiller

The Cru Bourgeois Classification of 2003 (Annulled)

In between the current annual classification system and the 1932 classification system set in stone, there was a new classification introduced in 2003 that was subject to a lot of controversy and later annulled. Of the 490 châteaux that applied to be included in the classification of 2003, only 247 were included, a significant contraction of the original listing made in 1932 (444 estates).

The 2003 Cru Bourgeois classification classified the 247 properties in three tiers: Exceptionnel (9 properties), Supérieurs (87 properties) and straight Bourgeois (151 properties).

In February 2007, the 2003 was annulled. At this point, the 1932 classification was briefly reinstated, with its single tier and 444 estates.

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Picture: VDP President and Winemaker Steffen Christmann, Weingut A. Christmann, Wine Journalist Stuart Pigott, and VDP Vice-President and Winemaker Wilhelm Weil, Weingut Weil, Presenting the new VDP Classification at the 4th Riesling Rendezvous in Seattle

See:
Steffen Christmann (Weingut A. Christmann) and Wilhelm Weil (Weingut Robert Weil) Presented the New Wine Classification of the VDP, Germany

Although many people think that there is only one wine classification system in Germany – the classification system of the Law of 1971 – this is not correct. True, the classification system of the Law of 1971 is the standard classification system in Germany and the vast majority of winemakers in Germany use this approach. A large number of winemakers, however, have moved away from the standard, in particular the producers of premium and ultra-premium wines. Importantly, the powerful group of German elite winemakers – the VDP – has conceived its own classification system. Other winemakers moved to a zero classification system – no classification, an approach very familiar in the New World. Finally, many winemakers have developed their own classification system.

This posting attempts to provide an overview of what is out there in the German wine market.

A. The Standard Classification System: The Law of 1971 – A Pyramid of Ripeness at the Center

The Ripeness at Harvest

The basic wine classification system in Germany is the classification system of the wine law of 1971. At the center of it is the sugar content of the fruit at the point of harvest. The higher the sugar content in the grapes at the point of harvest, the higher the classification of the wine.

The Germans use the Oechsle scale to measure the sugar in the grapes. Based on the Oechsle scale, German wine is classified into nine quality groups, ranging from Tafelwein with the minimum Oechsle degree of 44 to Trockenebeerenauslese with a minimum Oechsle degree of 150. The minimum Oechsle degrees differ somewhat between Germany’s wine regions and between red and white wine. The numbers indicated below are those for the white wines from the Mosel valley.

Tafelwein (Table wine) - the lowest German quality class; has to have at least 44 degrees of Oechsle in the vineyard.

Landwein (Country wine) - 47 degrees of Oechsle at the minimum.

Less than 5% of wine produced in Germany is classified as Tafelwein and Landwein

Qualitaetswein bestimmter Anbaugebiete (QbA wine) means a quality wine from one of the thirteen specified German wine regions; close to 50% of German wine is QbA wine - 50 degrees Ochsle.

Importantly, these 3 groups of wines can be chaptalized (Chaptalization: sugar is added to the juice before fermentation to increase the alcohol level after fermentation, commonly used in all wine producing regions of the world). The chaptalization adds body to these otherwise lighter wines and makes them great simple food wines. The EU wine law limits the amount of additional alcohol that can be achieved through this cellar technique to between 3.5% by volume (28 grams of alcohol per liter) and 2.5% by volume (20 grams of alcohol per liter), depending on the region.

Kabinett - 67 degrees Oechsle.

Spaetlese means late harvest but this are simply wines made from grapes with a higher level of Oechsle - 76 degrees - and not necessarily wine made with grapes harvested late in the season.

Auslese - 83 degrees of Oechsle.

Beerenauslese - 110 degrees of Oechsle.

Eiswein - icewine, the same minimum level of 110 degrees of Oechsle.

Trockenbeerenauslese - 150 degrees of Oechsle.

Picture: Christian G.E. Schiller and Carl von Schubert from the Maximin Gruenhaus Estate in Washington DC. Carl von Schubert belongs to the Group of German World Class Winemakers who are not Members of the VDP

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

Sugar in the Grape and Sweetness of the Finished Wine

In contrast to a widespread believe, these 9 quality categories do not reflect the sweetness in the finished wines. Except for the noble-sweet wines, German wine, ranging from Tafelwein to Auslese, can be either sweet or dry. Why is that so?

A bit of background: The fermentation of grape must is a process in which sugars, naturally present in grape juice, are transformed into alcohol and carbon dioxide by the action of yeasts. During fermentation, the sugar content of the must declines, while the alcohol content increases and the CO2 disappears. This process stops automatically when the alcohol level in the wine has reached around 13 to 15 percent of the volume.

There is a straightforward link between the sugar content in the fruit and the resulting alcohol level in the wine.

For a wine with 13.0 percent alcohol, for example, one needs grapes at the 90 degrees Oechsle level. This would be a dry wine, without any remaining sweetness. 90 degrees Oechsle is well beyond the Spaetlese category and high up in the Auslese category. Thus, all of Germany’s Spaetlese wines and most Auslese wines, if left to Mother Nature only, should be dry. You have to go beyond that - say 110 degrees Oechsle - for the fermentation to stop naturally and sugar to remain in the wine. This is the case with the group of noble-sweet wines (Beerenauslese, Trockenbeerenauslese, Eiswein). All German wines up to the Auslese category are potentially bone-dry.

Fruity-Sweet Kabinett, Spaetlese and Auslese Wines - How?

In reality there is plenty of sweet-style German wine at the Kabinett, Spaetlese and Auslese levels, and very popular in particular in Germany’s export markets. How do winemakers achieve this? There are two methods used by German winemakers to generate residual sugar in such wine:

First, stopping the fermentation; this is typically done through a skillful manipulation of the fermentation process with sulfur and temperature control. The winemaker needs to follow closely the fermentation process and must make sure that it comes to a stop at the desired level of sweetness.

Second, the other technique is to let the wine first fully ferment and then add to the dry and fully fermented wine sterilized grape juice (called in German "Suessreserve"). Here the winemakers lets the wine fully ferment to produce a dry wine and then experiments with different amounts of Suessreserve to achieve the desired level of sweetness in the final product. Ideally, the Suessreserve comes from the same wine. It needs to be sterilized so it does not begin to ferment after it is added to the wine.

The Noble Sweet Wines

Noble sweet wines, however, is a different story. The fruit has such a high sugar level at harvest that there is nothing you can do preventing the wine to remain sweet. These noble-sweet wines are produced either from botrytised grapes or grapes that were harvested during frost, more specifically,

First, the fog in the autumn mornings at German river banks produces a fungal infection, botrytis cineria (noble rot), which removes the water in the grapes and adds a unique flavor to the grape; and

Second, the frost late in the year, which also removes the water in the grapes when the temperatures fall (but does not produce the botrytis taste).

In both cases, the sugar content of the grape is exceptionally high at the time of the harvest and mother nature is unable to ferment all the sugar. These are the famous sweet dessert wines in Germany: Beerenauslese, Trockenbeerenauslese, Eiswein.

Vineyard: Einzellage and Grosslage

The 1971 wine law also has elements of a terroir concept, but this is on the backburner. There are Grosslagen (collective vineyards) and Einzellagen (single vineyards). For the average consumer, Grosslage sites became virtually indistinguishable from Einzellage sites. Only few experts would know, for example, that Hochheimer Daubhaus is a Grosslage and Hochheimer Hoelle a Einzellage. Would you?

B. The VDP Classification – The German Elite Winemakers: The Burgundian Approach with the Terroir Concept at the Center

VDP winemaker and President of the Rheingau VDP Wilhelm Weil: “The new VDP Wine Classification System is basically a matrix classification.”

On one achse you find the different quality levels of the wines, along the Burgundian terroir approach, with estate wines, village wines, first growth (premier cru) wines and great growth (grand cru) wines.

Following their colleagues in the Bourgogne, the terroir principle has taken center stage in the VDP classification. Effective with the 2012 harvest, the VDP classification has the following 4 quality layers (In brackets, the equivalent quality classes in the classification system of the Bourgogne):

• VDP.Grosse Lage (Grand Cru in Burgundy)
• VDP.Erste Lage (Premier Cru in Burgundy)
• VDP.Ortswein (Village level in Burgundy)
• VDP.Gutswein (Bourgogne régional in Burgundy)

Note that for some legal reasons, the VDP has started to use the terms Grosse Lage, Erste Lage, Ortswein and Gutswein with the pre-fix VDP.

On the other achse, you find the sweetness levels: Trocken, Kabinett, Spaetlese, Auslese, Beerenauslese and Trockenbeerenauslese as well as Eiswein. Please note that in the new VDP classification system the Prädikats have lost their critical importance that they have in the traditional classification system of 1971 and that they have changed their meaning. In the VDP classification system, they have become an indicator for the sweetness range of the finished wine, while in the traditional classification they are an indicator of the sugar content of the grapes at harvest. Generally, in the new VDP classification system, the Prädikats are to be used exclusively for wines with residual sweetness, “thereby enabling the Prädikats to resume their traditional meaning”, as stated by the VDP.

Picture: The Winners: Graf Adelmann, Peter H. Mueller,  Marc Josten and Torsten Klein, Markus Molitor (All Fotos: Weinkaiser)

For the fourth time, the Falstaff Trophies Deutschland were awarded. The wine/food/travel journal Falstaff has been around for a number of years, issued in Vienna, Austria, and reporting about wine, food and travel from an Austrian perspective, for Austria-based readers. About four years ago, Falstaff expanded into the German wine and food scene and started to issue a German version of Falstaff in addition to the well established Austrian version. As part of its expansion, Falstaff has created the annual Falstaff Deutschland Wine Trophies, to be awarded to 4 German wine personalities.

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

Markus Molitor, Weingut Markus Molitor (Mosel) is Winemaker of the Year

Falstaff (translated into English by me): Does he make wines or miracles? Both. Markus Molitor is one of the doyens of German viticulture. From his base wines to his grand cru wines, he regularly produces stunning wines. Year after year, he presents a wine portfolio with tremendous diversity and outstanding wines, because Molitor gives his wines space and believes in their character.

Picture: Markus Woehrle, Markus Molitor, Bernhard Pawis

The Runners-up were Bernhard Pawis, Weingut Pawis, and Weingut Stadt Lahr (Fam. Wöhrle)

Christian G.E.Schiller with Bernhard Pawis at Weingut Pawis in the Saale Unstrut Region

See:
Weingut Pawis in the Saale Unstrut Region - A Profile, Germany

Marc Josten and Torsten Klein (Ahr/Mittelrhein) are Newcomers of the Year

Falstaff: Marc Josten and Torsten Klein, one of them “Weinbautechniker” (viticulture technician) and the other “Weinbauingeneur” (viticulture engineer), are “Gratwanderer” (tightrope walkers): They grow wine in the Mittelrhein Valley and in the Ahr Valley and do this with utmost care and passion. 2012 was only their second vintage, which they mastered brilliantly. They produced outstanding Riesling and Pinot Noir. Their motto "sua sponte" - of their own volition - is to be understood literally.

The Runners-up were Emil Bauer + Söhne and Tim Strasser (Rothes Gut).

Picture: Marc Josten and Torsten Klein

Peter H. Müller, »Gourmetrestaurant Lerbach – Nils Henkel«, Bergisch-Gladbach, is Sommelier of the Year

Mueller lived his "Sturm und Drang time" (storm and stress time) in Australia, where he was able to experience all the pros and cons of absolute freedom. There, he made his living as a harvest helper, including of course of grapes. After studying English literature for 3 years at the University of Augsburg, he dropped out of university and surrendered to the enjoyment. Since then, wine is an integral part of his life.

The Runners-up: Sybille Herbst and Ronny Weber

Picture: Ronny Weber, Peter H. Mueller, Sybille Herbst

Lifetime Achievement: Michael Graf Adelmann

Falstaff: Michael Count Adelmann is a lawyer by training. He was at the helm of the family winery for almost 35 years – from 1978 to 2012. The rich-in-tradition winery at Castle Schaubeck can be traced back to the year 950. The initially revolutionary act of the use of oak barrels and half-barrel pieces, the planting of new grape varieties, developed by the Weinsberg school which were stronger in terms of color, and finally the classification of the best vineyard sites: All of this Adelmann has helped shape.

Picture: Michael Graf Adelmann

schiller-wine: Related Postings

3 Wine Tours by ombiasy Coming up in 2014: Germany-North, Germany-South and Bordeaux

German Wine and Culture Tour by ombiasy, 2013

Weingut Pawis in the Saale Unstrut Region - A Profile, Germany

Tasting at Weingut Balthasar Ress, Hattenheim, Rheingau, with Stefan Ress, Germany

Impromptu Winetasting with Alexander Jung, Weingut Jakob Jung, Erbach, Rheingau, Germany

A Tasting at Weingut Peter Jakob Kühn, Rheingau, with Angela and Peter Jakob Kühn, Germany

Tasting with Rita Busch at Weingut Clemens Busch in the Mosel Valley, Germany 

Ernst Loosen Presented his Wines at Weingut Dr. Loosen, Bernkastel-Kues, Mosel Valley, Germany

Cellar Tour, Vineyard Tour, Tasting and Lunch with Georg Rumpf, Weingut Kruger-Rumpf, Nahe Valley, Germany

An Afternoon with Riesling Star Winemaker Helmut Doennhoff at Weingut Doennhoff in Oberhausen in the Nahe Valley, Germany

The World Meets at Weingut Weegmueller, Pfalz, Germany

Tasting with Johannes and Christoph Thoerle, Weingut Thoerle in Saulheim, Rheinhessen, Germany

Impressions from the Mainz Wine Market 2013, Germany

Picture: Christian G.E. Schiller, Michael Stoeckl and Andreas Schneider at 2014 Apfelwein Weltweit

Frankfurt am Main is definitely the apple wine capital of Germany and some say of the whole world. Apple wine is a German variant of (hard) cider, which is made all over the world, in same regions sparkling, in others sweet. In Frankfurt, you are typically served a tart, dry apple wine with around 6 percent alcohol, in one of the many apple wine taverns.

Apfelwein Weltweit 2014

Apfelwein Weltweit, previously Apfelwein im Römer, is an annual event in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, that brings together cider producers from all over the world. Until last year, the event took place at the Römer - the historical mayor’s office in the center of Frankfurt – and was called Apfelwein im Roemer. This year, it moved to a new location, the Palmengarten (a botanic park in the Westend district of Frankfurt) and was renamed Apfelwein Weltweit.

Apfelwein Sommelier Michael Stoeckl and Apfelwein Producer Andreas Schneider are the founders and driving force behind Apfelwein Weltweit.

This year, more than 90 producers presented about 200 Apfelwein, (hard) cider, apple juice and other apple specialties, from Germany and abroad, in including from the Czech Republic, Denmark, Spain, France and Austria.

Special Guest

This year’s special guest was the Mostviertel in Austria.

Pictures: Mostviertel Guests

Making Apple Wine (Hard Cider)

Just as wine making begins in the vineyard, cider making begins in the orchard. Tree ripened fruit, picked at maximum flavor and sweetness is the best starting point for cider. But there is one big difference between cider and wine: Apples must be ground before pressing. The entire apple is ground to a pulp called pommace. The pulp is almost always pressed immediately. The next step is the fermentation. Generally, there is less sugar to ferment in apples than in grapes. Therefore, cider tends to have lower alcohol content than wine.

Pictures: 2014 Apfelwein Weltweit at the Palmengarten in Frankfurt am Main, Germany

In the cellar, cider makers have as many options for managing fermentation as winemakers — chaptalisation, wild yeast, temperature control, adding sterilized juice, malolactic fermentation, stopping fermentation before dryness to achieve a naturally sweetened cider, to name a few issues.

Like wine made from grapes, the flavor of cider can vary from dry to sweet. Like sparkling and still wine, both sparkling and still ciders are made. Sometimes the cider is cloudy with sediment and sometimes completely clear. The color can range from light yellow through orange to brown. The variations in clarity and color are mostly due to filtering between pressing and fermentation. In terms of alcohol content, cider can vary from 2% to 8.5%. Generally, apples grown for consumption are suitable for cider making, although there are also special cider apples.

Pictures: Tasting Apples and Apple Wine

For sparkling cider, basically the same methods are available as for sparkling wine. Higher quality ciders can be made the same way as Champagne is produced. A few producers in Quebec, inspired ice wine, have developed cidre de glace - ice cider. Calvados from Normandy is distilled from cider. Cider may also be used to make vinegar.

Cider in the World and Apple Wine in Frankfurt am Main

Apple wine is a German variant of cider, which is made all over the world. The French cidre is produced in Normandy and Brittany. It comes as cidre doux, cidre demi-sec and cidre brut, but most French cidre is sweet. Typically, French ciders are sparkling. Higher quality French cider is sold in champagne-style bottles (cidre bouché). German cider has a tart, sour taste. In the UK, cider is available in sweet, medium and dry varieties. In the US during colonial times, apple cider was the main beverage, but after prohibition the word cider came to mean unfiltered apple juice. Alcoholic cider is called hard cider in the US. German apple wine typically has an alcohol content of 4%–9% and a tart, sour taste. Traditionally, it is not bubbly.

Cider was already known to the ancient Greeks and Romans. In the 11th century it was introduced into Spain and was used there as a medicine for scurvy. It was introduced into England in 1066 when William the Great brought some from France into England.

See:
Apple Wine in Frankfurt am Main, Germany and Cider in the World

Schiller’s Favorites

The Premium Apple Wines of Andreas Schneider

A few years ago, a number of apple wine producers ventured into the art of apple wine making by starting to produce vintage apple wines and special variety apple wines. While the choice of apple wine in an apple wine tavern is as basic as it can get (the house apple wine), the apple wine portfolios of the artisan apple wine producers resemble very much those of the Rheingau or Rheinhessen wine makers a few miles away: There is a variety of different apple wines, with the vintage, apple variety, alcohol level, and other information indicated. One of the leaders of this new generation of artisan apple wine producers is Andreas Schneider.

It all started in 1965, when his parents Albert and Waltraud Schneider founded the Obsthof am Steinberg in Nieder-Erlenbach at the outskirts of Frankfurt am Main. Andreas took over from his parents in 1993 and began to convert to organic farming. Since 1996, he has been certified by ABCERT AG, Esslingen. In 1999, he opened his apple wine tavern and garden. On Andreas’ 13 hectares of land, not only apples are planted, but 14 different fruits, mainly of course apples.

Picture: Christian G.E. Schiller and Andreas Schneider

Andreas Schneider currently sells several non-vintage, uncomplicated apple wines (Apfelweine ab Fass) directly from the barrel for Euro 2 per liter. He also offers a dozen or so still vintage apple wines (Jahrgangsapfelweine) in the Euro 4 to 12 per 0.75 liter range. In terms of remaining sweetness, they come as trocken, fast trocken and halbtrocken. Most of them are in the 7% to 8% alcohol range. The top wines are 2 sparkling apple wines (Apfelschaumweine), both made in the traditional champagne method and both brut.

See also:
The Premium Apple Wines of Andreas Schneider - Obsthof am Steinberg - in Frankfurt am Main, Germany

Apple Wine Sommelier Michael Stoeckl

Another icon in the apple wine world of Frankfurt am Main is Michael Stoeckl. He runs the country restaurant Landsteiner Muehle in the Taunus, about ¾ of an hour north of Frankfurt by car. Michael Stoeckl’s passion is apple wine. He calls himself “Apple Wine Sommelier” and his restaurant “Apple Wine Bistrorant”, suggesting that it is a combination of Apple Wine Tavern, Bistro and Restaurant, focusing on apple wine in terms of drinks and food. The selection of apple wines available at the Landsteiner Muehle is indeed impressive: Ranging from Michael Stoeckl’s own apple wine to the premium apple wines of Andreas Schneider in Frankfurt am Main and other German producers to ciders made in other parts of the world.

Last year, Michael Stoeckl published "Der Apfelweinschmecker", a a nice little guide to all about apple wine in the Frankfurt region.

Picture: Michael Stoeckl and Andreas Schneider

See also:
In an Apple Wine (Cider) Mecca: The Apple Wine Bistrorant Landsteiner Muehle of Apple Wine Sommelier Michael Stoeckl near Frankfurt am Main, Germany

Apple Wine Tavern Zur Buchscheer

In Frankfurt, much of the apple wine is consumed at the wooden, communal tables in the local apple wine taverns with hearty local food, like Green Sauce (made from 7 herbs and yogurt accompanied by boiled eggs and boiled potatoes), Rippchen mit Kraut und Brot (grilled pork, sauerkraut and bread). It is served in a Geripptes, a glass with a lozenge cut that refracts light. A filled Geripptes is called a Schoppen. If you drink more than a glass or are in a group, you typically order a Bembel (a specific Apfelwein jug). The different sizes of a Bembel are designated after their contents in glasses from 4-er to 10-er Bembel.

Picture: Buchscheer Owner Robert Theobald and his Wife

The apple wine tavern (Apfelweinwirtschaft) is as distinctive a Frankfurt institution as the Bierkeller is of Munich or the Weinstube of Mainz. Many of the best-known establishments are concentrated in Sachsenhausen, but others are dotted all over the city. They are strongly traditional. They offer hearty local cuisine, usually at moderate prices.

Overall, the various apple wine taverns do not differ that much one from another. However, while most of the apple wine taverns pour an apple wine bought from an apple wine producer, there are a few taverns that still make the apple wine they serve on the premise.

Zur Buchscheer in Frankfurt Sachsenhausen is one of the apple wine taverns in Frankfurt, where the apple wine you drink is also produced on the premise.

See also:
Apple Wine Tavern Zur Buchscheer in Frankfurt am Main, Germany – The Traditional Way: Apple Wine Made on the Premises 
Schiller's Favorite Apple Wine Taverns in Frankfurt am Main, Germany

Apple Wine Tavern Mainlust Desche Otto

Mainlust Desche Otto is a small and cosy apple wine tavern with a lovely garden, run by Claudia and Louie - in walking distance from where I live in Frankfurt am Main. Claudia and Louie's motto is "hard-core Hessian". They strive for the "not so usual", with delicious local fare with a modern touch, over 100 brandies (Louie's passion) and a concert series during the summer months. In addition to the regular "Haus Schoppen" they have a second, special "Haus Schoppen" that changes when the barrel is drunk up.

Picture: Christian G.E. Schiller with Claudia Olinski and Louie Hoelzinger

Zur Mainlust “Desche Otto” is a traditional apple wine tavern, with an innovative twist. For many years, it was run and owned by Otto Desch, hence the name. It opened in 1890.

Zur Mainlust “Desche Otto” is off the beaten track and thus belongs to the category of apple wine taverns in Frankfurt, where the share of tourists and foreigners is very low. Your rarely meet non-Frankfurters in this very charming apple wine tavern. In the “Schankstube” (Barroom) there are 7 tables for 8 to 10 people. On the wall, there is a picture of Chancellor Bismarck, which probably has been hanging there since the days when Bismarck was Chancellor. In addition, there is a nice and cosy garden restaurant, which is open during the summer months until 10 p.m. And then there is the “Tresen” (Bar) where people sit on barstools.

The food is typical apple wine tavern food, with the standards such as Rippchen mit Sauerkraut (grilled pork, sauerkraut and bread) and Handkäs mit Musik - a Frankfurt cheese specialty with “Musik” (oil, vinegar and onions).

There is no English version of the menu – only very few apple wine taverns have an English version of their menu. In fact, there is not even a menu in German! The menu is in “Hessisch” – the local dialect, suggesting to the guests what Louie and Claudia have in mind – back to the local roots.

A house specialty is the Deckelcher - Louie invented them. When you sit outside in the garden restaurant, people sometimes bring little wooden lids for the apple wine glasses to prevent leaves from falling into the glass.

From time to time, the place rocks and rolls. Claudia and Louie like music and have a concert series there. The program for the first months of 2013 was just put on the web.

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

Kelterei Possmann

In terms of quantity, the most important apple wine producer in Frankfurt is Possmann. Heil from the Taunus region has gained considerable market shares in recent years. In addition, Rapps and Hoehl are two large apple wine producers in Hessen; their apple wine is very popular in Frankfurt.

Picture: Apple Wine Possmann and Frau Rauscher

Kelterei Noell

Kelterei Noell in Griesheim, Frankfurt, is a new-comer in the industry and still small in terms of volume, but has started to produce single variety apple wines and sparkling apple wines, like Andreas Schneider.

Pictures: Gerhard, Maria and Alexander Noell and their Sparkling Apple Wine

Originally, Noell was a cooperage (founded in 1976). In the 1960s, Karl Nöll and his son Gerhard (the current General Manager) converted the cooperage into an apple wine producer. Over the following years, the portfolio was gradually expanded. When Gerhard’s son Alexander came on board, he pushed the portfolio further into the premium range by including single variety and sparkling apple wines, along the lines of Andreas Schneider.

Today, in addition to the classicals, you find a range of single variety apple wines, the dessert apple wine Äppel - Dream (aged in wood) and a range of sparkling premium apple wines (dry and brut) in the portfolio of Kelterei Noell.

Mostly Wine, but also Apple Wine: Weingut von Racknitz

Weingut von Racknitz, an up and coming premium wine producer, is in Odernheim in the Nahe Valley. It is the former estate of the monastery Disibodenberg. For over 200 years, winery and monastery ruins have been owned by the von Racknitz family. Since 2003, Louise von Racknitz-Adams and Matthias Adams have been the owners of Weingut von Racknitz. The vineyard area totals 15 hectares in the Rotenfels (Traisen), Königsfels (Schloßböckelheim), Kloster Disibodenberg (almost exclusive possession)(Odernheim), Hermannshöhle, Kertz, Klamm, Kieselberg (Oberhausen) and Rosenheck (Niederhausen). They are planted with up to 60-year-old Riesling vines.

Picture: Matthias Adams

I did not know that Weingut von Racknitz also produces apple wine. But Matthias Adams explained to me that they have started to produce a non-vintage sparkling apple wine – Glasperlenspiel (Euro 9 at Weingut von Racknitz). The apples for the most come from the near-by Naturpark Soonwald-Nahe. The most was spontaneously fermented and then spent 2 years on the lees.

Cidre - France

2 French cidre producers came to Frankfurt to show their products. Le Paulmier from the Normandie and Kystin from the Bretagne.

Le Paulmier

Sowine Le Blog: En voilà une bonne nouvelle : après ses jus de pommes bio pétillants haut de gamme Pommillon et Pépinelle -pour la version rosé-, la Maison LE PAULMIER vient de lancer deux nouveaux produits : le Cidre et le Poiré du Bocage.

SOWINE_cidre_du_bocage Fidèle à l’esprit de Julien Le Paulmier, sieur de Grentemesnil en 1585 et fondateur de la pomologie, la Maison Le Paulmier travaille au renouveau du verger et à la préservation de son écosystème. A l’instar de ses contemporains, Julien Le Paulmier se plaisait à marier en secret la sauge ou l’absinthe pour créer ses cidres spéciaux. Avec son Cidre et son Poiré du Bocage, la Maison Le Paulmier invite à nouveau à la découverte de saveurs oubliées !

Pictures: Benoit Simotel and his Le Paulmier Ciders

De la poire aux baies d’aubépine pour le Poiré du Bocage, de la pomme aux baies d’églantier pour le Cidre du Bocage : la Maison Le Paulmier revisite la tradition perdue des alliances entre le verger et la haie.

Kystin

K&U – Die Weinhalle: Die nordfranzösische Normandie gilt als die Heimat des Cidre, eines moussierenden Apfelweines, der aus verschiedenen Apfelsorten vergoren und durch Karbonisierung oder Fermentation in der Flasche mit Kohlensäure angereichert wird. Doch wer sich auskennt weiß, daß der beste Cidre Frankreichs aus der Bretagne kommt. Dort entdeckten wir einen Edel-Cidre, der uns vom ersten Schluck an so begeisterte, daß wir uns sofort auf die Suche machten...

Picture: Michael Stoeckl and Sacha Crommar

Sacha Crommar, Bretone aus dem Morbihan mit unverkennbar keltischen Wurzeln, arbeitete viele Jahre als Kellermeister in der Cidre-Herstellung in der Normandie. Dort erlernte er sein Handwerk. Eines Tages, so erzählt er uns, probiert er seine Produktion durch und ist nicht zufrieden. Fast beiläufig rührt er ein mitgebrachtes Kastanien-Mus in einen seiner trockenen Cidre und ist total erstaunt, welche Veränderung in dem Gebräu vor sich geht. Sieben Jahre lang experimentiert er daraufhin mit dem Zusatz frischer Eßkastanien (Maroni) zum Apfelschaumwein und macht sich schließlich 2011 zu Hause in der Bretagne mit der einer eigenen Cidre-Produktion selbständig. »Kystin« ist geboren.

Seine Obstschaumweine schlagen ein wie eine Bombe. Binnen kürzester Zeit ist seine winzige Produktion ausverkauft. Heute stehen sie bei den besten Küchenchefs Frankreich auf der Karte und gehen weg wie warme Semmeln.

Sacha Crommar ist ein quirliger, kreativer Typ. Ein Spinner im positiven Sinne und das aus Überzeugung, Seine Obstschaumweine jedenfalls haben es in sich. Sie sind kleine Meisterwerke, auf deren Entdeckung wir richtig stolz sind.

Sidra - Spain

The Spanish variant of cider was represented by 3 sidra producers from Asturias and Pais Vasco: Sidra Trabanco, Sidra Viuda de Angelon and Berenziartua.

Pictures: The Sidra Producers

Handkaes’ mit Musik

Finally, there were a number of booths, which served food. My favorite was the Kaesehaus im Hessenpark, which offered Handkäs’ mit Musik (literally: hand cheese with music).

Pictures: Manfred Seuss, Kaesehaus am Hessenpark, and his Handkaes' mit Musik

Handkaese is a German regional sour milk cheese. It is a culinary speciality of the Frankfurt am Main region. It gets its name from the traditional way of producing it: forming it with one's own hands. It is a small, translucent, yellow cheese with a pungent aroma that many people find unpleasant. It is sometimes square, but more often round in shape.

Handkaes’ mit Musik is served in a dressing of vinegar and oil, topped with chopped onions and caraway seeds, plus bread and butter. The “Musik” refers to the "gas" that raw onions usually generate.

schiller-wine - Related Postings

Impressions from the Apple Wine Festival 2013 in Frankfurt am Main, Germany

Frankfurt Top Trendy Restaurants– Feinschmecker 2012, Germany

The Best Restaurants in the Greater Frankfurt am Main Region, Germany

Wine in Frankfurt am Main? - Weingut der Stadt Frankfurt, Germany

In the Glass: Gluehwein at Frankfurt am Main Christmas Market

The Premium Apple Wines of Andreas Schneider - Obsthof am Steinberg - in Frankfurt am Main, Germany

Apple Wine Tavern Zur Buchscheer in Frankfurt am Main, Germany – The Traditional Way: Apple Wine Made on the Premises

Apple Wine in Frankfurt am Main, Germany and Cider in the World

Schiller's Favorite Apple Wine Taverns in Frankfurt am Main, Germany

In an Apple Wine (Cider) Mecca: The Apple Wine Bistrorant Landsteiner Muehle of Apple Wine Sommelier Michael Stoeckl near Frankfurt am Main, Germany

An Apple Wine Tavern as Traditional as can be in Frankfurt am Main: “Zu den 3 Steubern” of Wolfgang Wagner, Germany

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

Picture: Wolfgang L. Feierfeil, Frankfurt/Wein, Frank Schubert, Weingut Battenfeld Spanier, Michael Staedter, Weingut Chat Sauvage, Werner Doepfner and Doepfner Junior

With its contemporary, light and fresh cuisine with a regional accent and a highly respected and renowned wine cellar, "Döpfner's im Maingau" is among the top restaurants in the Frankfurt am Main region.

Frankfurt/Wein is one of the best wine retail stores in Germany. It just won second place in the 2014 Best Wine Retail Shop Competition, organized by the German Wine Institute (DWI) in cooperation with the trade magazine WINE + MARKT.

Doepfner’s im Maingau and Frankfurt/Wein teamed up to present 2 of the leading German wine producers: Weingut Battenfeld-Spanier and Weingut Chat Sauvage.

Frankfurt/Wein

Frankfurt/Wein is owned and managed by Gernot Dorsch and Wolfgang L. Feierfeil. It is a stylish, chic wine store with a portfolio concentrating on German and French premium wines. In the German portfolio, you find all the big names like Doennhoff, Kuenstler, Dr. Loosen and many more, such as Battenfeld-Spanier and Chat Sauvage, well represented.

Picture: Gernot Dorsch, Frankfurt/Wein and Christian G.E. Schiller

Doepfner’s im Maingau

"Döpfner's im Maingau" is the hotel restaurant of Hotel Maingau, which has been owned and run by the Döpfner family for more than 60 years. In fact, 3 generations of the Döpfner family were present at the winemaker dinner. Werner Döpfner was in charge of the restaurant service, his son Joerg Doepfner was in charge of the cooking, Joerg’s wife received the guests and their young son was helping out in the kitchen and in the service. With its contemporary, light and fresh cuisine with a regional accent and a highly respected and renowned wine cellar, "Döpfner's im Maingau" is among the top restaurants in the Frankfurt am Main region.

Pictures: Hotel im Maingau, Christian G.E. Schiller, Chef Joerg Doepfner with his Father and his Son

See also:
The Best Restaurants in the Greater Frankfurt am Main Region, Germany
Frankfurt Top Trendy Restaurants– Feinschmecker 2012
Schiller's Favorite Apple Wine Taverns in Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Schiller’s Favorite Wine Bars in Frankfurt am Main, Germany

Weingut Battenfeld Spanier

Weingut Battenfeld-Spanier is in Hohen-Sülzen (Wonnegau area) close to the city of Worms in Southern Rheinhessen. The Spanier family has been making wine for generations. The vineyard area totals 18 hectares, with holdings in: Kirchenstück, Rosengarten und Sonnenberg (Hohen-Sülzen), as well as Frauenberg (Flörsheim). More than 50% of the area is planted with Riesling, as well as with Pinot Noir (20%), Pinot Blanc (8%), Silvaner, Chardonnay and other varieties.

Annual production is around 70.000 bottles of wine. The estate is a member of the VDP association. H. O. Spanier has been a member of the ECOVIN organic growers association since 1996. Weingut Battenfeld-Spanier is now fully biodynamic.

H.O. Spanier took over Weingut Spanier from his parents in 1993. In 1997, Weingut Spanier was merged with the neighboring Weingut Battenfeld to become Weingut Battenfeld-Spanier. Over the following years, H.O. Spanier singlehandedly transformed Weingut Battenfeld-Spanier into one of the most preeminent wine producers in Germany.

Pictures: Michael Staedter, Weingut Chat Sauvage, and Frank Schubert, Weingut Battenfeld-Spanier

Since 2006, H.O. Spanier has been married to Carolin Spanier-Gillot, also a gifted wine maker. She is a graduate of the famous Geisenheim College wine maker school, a co-founder of the Message in a Bottle association of young winegrowers and a member of the Vinissima. She is sometimes referred to the whirlwind among the young, women winegrowers in Germany. Carolin came with Weingut Kuehling-Gillot (Weingut Kuehling-Gillot came about by marriage in 1970 of Carolin’s parents, Roland Gillot and Gabi Kuehling).

Carolin and H.O have two children, who they hope will carry on the tradition of producing great wines. The family lives in Hohen-Suelzen.

Although both estates continue to produce wine under their respective names – Weingut Kuehling-Gillot and Weingut Battenfeld-Spanier - certain functions have been pooled. The tasting room and sales office for both estates is in Bodenheim at Weingut Kuehling-Gillot. As wine makers, both have stamped their wines with a unique signature, but it seems that H.O. is taking the lead in in terms of winemaking at both estates, while Carolin will be more active in terms of marketing and sales. Essentially, when it comes to the wines of Weingut Kuehling-Gillot and Weingut Battenfeld-Spanier, they carry the signature of H.O. Spanier.

At the dinner, the wines of Weingut Battenfeld-Spanier were presented by Frank Schubert, a former sommelier, who has been working with H.O. and Carolin for a number of years now.

See also:
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

2014 Germany (North) Wine and Culture Tour by ombiasy

The upcoming Germany North Tour by ombiasy will include a visit of Weingut Kuehling-Gillot, where we will taste the whole range of the wines of H.O. Spanier with Frank Schubert again. For more information, see:

3 Wine Tours by ombiasy Coming up in 2014: Germany-North, Germany-South and Bordeaux
ombiasy Public Relations 

Weingut Chat Sauvage

Weingut Chat Sauvage is a relatively new wine producer in the Rheingau. It was founded in 2001. The vineyard area of Chat Sauvage totals 7 hectares. 4/5 of the production is Pinot Noir and 1/5 is Chardonnay. 2/3 of the vineyards are steep slopes. The Chat Sauvage vineyards are scattered around in the western part of the Rheingau.

Weingut Chat Sauvage is the baby of Günter Schulz and Michael Städter. The former has made his money and still is making his money outside of the wine industry. Wine, in particular Bourgogne varieties, is his passion. The latter has been running the winery right from its initial days.

Pictures: Michael Staedter, Weingut Chat Sauvage, Frank Schubert, Weingut Battenfeld-Spanier, and Gernot Dorsch, Frankfurt/Wein

The history of Weingut Chat Sauvage began in 1992, when Guenther Schulz started to make regular visits from Hamburg, where he lives, to the Rheingau in order to visit his daughter. He quickly fell in love with the region and began to think about making wine himself in the Rheingau. His first wines – couple of barrels - were made at Weingut Schamari-Mühle in Johannisberg, in cooperation with Erik Andersson.

Right from the beginning, the Chat Sauvage wines were sought after by wine lovers in Germany, which encouraged Guenter Schulz to push ahead with his passion. The next important step was the construction of a winery. He auctioned off his collection of fine wines at Christie’s in London and used the proceeds to buy more vineyard land and to construct a winery in Johannisberg in the Rheingau. Weingut Chat Sauvage moved into the new winery in August 2010.

While Guenter Schulz is the owner and the brain behind Weingut Chat Sauvage, the man on the ground is Michael Staedler, who is in his early 30s. He is the Managing Director and the Cellar Master of Weingut Chat Sauvage. He has been with Guenter Schulz from early on in the Chat Sauvage undertaking. His mother is from Oestrich Winkel in the Rheingau.

Michael started his career in the wine industry at Schloss Johannisberg, where he did a 3 years apprenticeship in winemaking. This was followed by studies in viticulture and oenology at the famous Geisenheim College. During his studies, Michael worked at the Weingut Schamari-Mühle, were Guenter Schulz started his Chat Sauvage journey in 2001. Thus, right from the beginning, Michael was part of the project. When Guenter Schulz decided to have his own winery, he asked Michael if he would be interested in joining him as Managing Director and Winemaker. Michael accepted. Before that, Michael had spent a year in the Bourgogne and ½ a year in Australia.

See also:
Weingut Chat Sauvage – Bourgogne in the Middle of the Rheingau: Meeting Chat Sauvage’s Winemaker and General Manager Michael Staedter, Germany
Chat Sauvage Versus Peter Querbach – An Impromptu Pinot Noir Wine Tasting with Kai Buhrfeind at His Grand Cru Wine Bar in Frankfurt, Germany

Das Menü

2008er Battenfeld-Spanier, Blanc de Blanc brut


Greetings from the Chef


Rettichcarpaccio mit grünem Spargelgitter, Ingwervinaigrette und gebratenen Scampi


2012er Chat Sauvage, Lorcher Pfaffenwies Riesling
2012er Battenfeld-Spanier, Eisbach Riesling trocken


Kaninchenrücken in Südtiroler Speckmantel auf Bachkresserisotto


2011er Chat Sauvage, Chardonnay “Clos de Schulz“
2010er Battenfeld-Spanier, Moelsheim Riesling trocken


Geschmorte Zickleinschulter auf Leipziger Allerlei


2010er Chat Sauvage Assmannshäuser Frankenthal Pinot Noir
2009er Battenfeld-Spanier, Kichenstueck Riesling Großes Gewächs aus der Magnum


Rosa gebratener Hirschrücken auf getrüffeltemn Blumenkohlpüree und Kräuterpolenta


2010er Chat Sauvage, Rüdesheimer Drachenstein Pinot Noir
2009er Battenfeld-Spanier, Kichenstueck, Spätburgunder Großes Gewächs


Trio vom Nougat und Passionsfrucht


2008er Chat Sauvage Rüdesheimer Berg Roseneck Auslese Riesling
2011er Battenfeld-Spanier, Zellerweg am Schwarzen Herrgott Riesling TBA


A Lively Conversation at the Table 

Great table.

Pictures: Gernot Dorsch, Frankfurt/Wein, Michael Staedter, Weingut Chat Sauvage, Frank Schreiber, Weingut Battenfeld-Spanier, Wolfgang L. Feierfeil, Frankfurt/Wein, Oliver Hess, Slow Food, Claudia Rehm and Christian G.E. Schiller

The Kitchen Team

A big thank you for a wonderful dinner.


Absacker

One of two.


schiller-wine: Related Postings

3 Wine Tours by ombiasy Coming up in 2014: Germany-North, Germany-South and Bordeaux

German Wine and Culture Tour by ombiasy, 2013

Weingut Pawis in the Saale Unstrut Region - A Profile, Germany

Tasting at Weingut Balthasar Ress, Hattenheim, Rheingau, with Stefan Ress, Germany

Impromptu Winetasting with Alexander Jung, Weingut Jakob Jung, Erbach, Rheingau, Germany

A Tasting at Weingut Peter Jakob Kühn, Rheingau, with Angela and Peter Jakob Kühn, Germany

Tasting with Rita Busch at Weingut Clemens Busch in the Mosel Valley, Germany 

Ernst Loosen Presented his Wines at Weingut Dr. Loosen, Bernkastel-Kues, Mosel Valley, Germany

Cellar Tour, Vineyard Tour, Tasting and Lunch with Georg Rumpf, Weingut Kruger-Rumpf, Nahe Valley, Germany

An Afternoon with Riesling Star Winemaker Helmut Doennhoff at Weingut Doennhoff in Oberhausen in the Nahe Valley, Germany

The World Meets at Weingut Weegmueller, Pfalz, Germany

Tasting with Johannes and Christoph Thoerle, Weingut Thoerle in Saulheim, Rheinhessen, Germany

Impressions from the Mainz Wine Market 2013, Germany

The Best Restaurants in the Greater Frankfurt am Main Region, Germany

Frankfurt Top Trendy Restaurants– Feinschmecker 2012

Schiller's Favorite Apple Wine Taverns in Frankfurt am Main, Germany

Schiller’s Favorite Wine Bars in Frankfurt am Main, Germany

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 Chat Sauvage – Bourgogne in the Middle of the Rheingau: Meeting Chat Sauvage’s Winemaker and General Manager Michael Staedter, Germany

Chat Sauvage Versus Peter Querbach – An Impromptu Pinot Noir Wine Tasting with Kai Buhrfeind at His Grand Cru Wine Bar in Frankfurt, Germany

Pictures: All taken from ombiasy PR and WineTours Website

Ombiasy PR and WineTours is a wine events/tours company, based in Washington DC, US, and Frankfurt am Main, Germany. The company was founded and is run by Annette Schiller. Ombiasy PR recently redesigned its web site and incorporated the wine blog schiller-wine in its web presence.

Here is the link to the redesigned website: Ombiasy PR and WineTours

Ombiasy PR and WineTours – What We Offer

Expert, all-inclusive tours to wine regions in France and Germany.

Custom tailored tours to wine regions in France, Germany, and other wine regions around the world.

Planning and implementation of wine pairing dinners in the Washington DC area and Germany for wineries / châteaux.

Educational presentations on the wines of France and Germany (with and without accompanying tastings).

Conceptualization and organization of promotional events for the food and beverage industry.


Ombiasy PR and WineTours - What you get when you Travel with us

Guidance and instruction throughout the trip by Annette and Christian Schiller, a husband and wife team. We both are wine enthusiasts, seasoned wine tasters and know the wine regions like the back of our hands. We are fluent in English, German, and French.

Travel in the wine regions by luxury air-conditioned motor coach.

Accommodation in 3-star, 4-star, or 5-star hotels depending on availability in the regions, including breakfast buffets.

Lunches and dinners at excellent restaurants.

Wine pairing gourmet lunches and dinners at wineries / châteaux guided by the owners or sommeliers.

Winery tours of top estates and châteaux.

Access to wine estates normally not open to visitors.

Expert tastings of wines of the highest quality at top wine estates and châteaux.

The opportunity to meet with many of the wine estate and châteaux owners and winemakers.

Guided city tours and sightseeing tours of spectacular historical sites.

A very personal, authentic experience and total immersion in the particular wine region.

Ombiasy WineTours in 2014

3 wine tours to Germany and Bordeaux are planned for September – October 2014. As in previous years, the husband and wife team Annette and Christian Schiller will personally guide the tours throughout the trip. Through our friendships with many winemaker and owners, the tours are a very intimate, personal experience for everyone in the small group (10 people maximum) traveling with us.

Quintessential German Whites (Germany-North)

From September 04 – September 13, 2014, we will explore six (Saale-Unstrut, Franken, Rheingau, northern Rheinhessen, Mosel, Nahe) German wine regions with visits to 19 top wineries and cultural gems. We will get intimate insights into a selection of Germany’s best of the best wineries, normally closed to visitors. A cruise on the romantic Rhine River with its castle- and vine-ribboned banks, the Mosel valley with its dizzying steep vineyards, delving into 2000 years of history, and tasting first class wines under the guidance of great winemakers will be among the highlights. Special treats include wine pairing lunches and dinners with the owners and winemakers at prominent estates.


The tour follows the 2013 German Wine and Culture Tour by ombiasy, with the Franken region added, the Mosel Valley portion extended and the Pfalz region deleted (and included in the Sun-kissed German South Tour) and includes the following wineries: Pawis, Gussek, Kloster Pforta, Juliusspital, Bickel-Stumpf, Robert Weil, Kloster Eberbach, Jakob Jung, Thoerle, Kuehling-Gillot, Kuenstler, Peter Jakob Kuehn, Clemens Busch, Dr. Loosen, Maximin Gruenhaus (Von Schubert), Reichsgraf von Kesselstadt, Doennhoff, Kruger-Rumpf, Diel, Schaetzel.

The Sun-kissed German South (Germany-South)

From September 14 – September 20, 2014, we will explore three wine regions (Baden, Pfalz, southern Rheinhessen) in the south of Germany and will experience the German red wine revolution. We will visit 16 crème de la crème wineries in southern Germany, normally not open to visitors. We will cross the Rhine River and visit the Maison Trimbach in Alsace to taste the difference between German and Alsatian wines despite the geographic proximity. Among the highlights will be tasting first class Pinot Noirs with the winemakers, and experiencing the culinary South. A special treat will be wine pairing lunches at 1-Michelin-star restaurants.


This is a new tour, with a large number of southern producers of ultra-premium German wine included: Schloss Neuweier, Karl H. Johner, Freiherr von Gleichenstein, Fritz Keller, Huber, Dr. Heger, Zaehringer, Maison Trimbach, Friederich Becker, Rebholz, Bassermann-Jordan, Christmann, Weegmueller, Markus Schneider, Wittmann, Klaus Peter Keller, Gunderloch.

Immersion in Bordeaux

From September 22 – October 02, 2014, we will travel to the Bordeaux wine region with visits to 18 top Chateaux (15 are classified growth), closed to the normal passers-by, in Pessac-Léognan, Saint-Emilion, Pomerol, Entre-Deux-Mer, Sauternes, Médoc, Saint-Estèphe, Pauillac, Saint-Julien, Margaux. The harvest celebration at Château Phélan-Ségur, the in-depth visit of an oyster farmer, and witnessing the art of barrique making at a first class family run cooperage are among the highlights. Very special treats are the many gourmet wine pairing lunches and dinners in a very private setting at famous chateaux where we will be welcomed by the owners.


The tour follows closely the Bordeaux Wine Tour 2013 by ombiasy, with a few estates changed: Pape-Clément, Domaine de Chevalier, Angélus, Canon La Gaffelière, Beauséjour, Figeac, Le Bon Pasteur, Tertre-Rôteboeuf, de Fargues, du Cros, Millésima, Earl Ostrea Chanca oyster farm, Le Reysse, Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalande, Léoville Poyferré, Phélan Ségur, Lafon-Rochet, Latour, Cooperage Berger and Fils, Brane-Cantenac, Haut-Bailly.

Postings - 2013 German Wine and Culture Tour by ombiasy 

I have published a series of postings on the 2013 German Wine and Culture Tour by ombiasy. See here:

Ombiasy Wine Tours: Wine and Culture Tour to Germany Coming up in August 2013

German Wine and Culture Tour by ombiasy, 2013

Weingut Pawis in the Saale Unstrut Region - A Profile, Germany

Tasting at Weingut Balthasar Ress, Hattenheim, Rheingau, with Stefan Ress, Germany

Impromptu Winetasting with Alexander Jung, Weingut Jakob Jung, Erbach, Rheingau, Germany

A Tasting at Weingut Peter Jakob Kühn, Rheingau, with Angela and Peter Jakob Kühn, Germany

Tasting with Rita Busch at Weingut Clemens Busch in the Mosel Valley, Germany

Ernst Loosen Presented his Wines at Weingut Dr. Loosen, Bernkastel-Kues, Mosel Valley, Germany

Cellar Tour, Vineyard Tour, Tasting and Lunch with Georg Rumpf, Weingut Kruger-Rumpf, Nahe Valley, Germany

An Afternoon with Riesling Star Winemaker Helmut Doennhoff at Weingut Doennhoff in Oberhausen in the Nahe Valley, Germany

The World Meets at Weingut Weegmueller, Pfalz, Germany

Tasting with Johannes and Christoph Thoerle, Weingut Thoerle in Saulheim, Rheinhessen, Germany

Impressions from the Mainz Wine Market 2013, Germany

Postings - 2013 Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy

I have published a series of postings on the 2013 Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy. See here:

Ombiasy Wine Tours: Bordeaux Trip Coming up in September 2013

Bordeaux Wine Tour 2013 by ombiasy

An Afternoon at Château Pape-Clément (in 2013), Appellation Pessac-Léognan, Bordeaux

Dinner at Château Canon La Gaffeliere, Appellation Saint-Emilion, Premier Grand Cru Classé, France

Visiting a “Holy” Construction Site: Château Angélus in Saint-Emilion, France

Lunch at Château Le Bon Pasteur with Winemaker/Owner Dany Rolland, Pomerol, France

Tour, Tasting and Lunch at Château Beausejour in AOC Puisseguin-St.Emilion, France

Visit of an Ultra-premium Non-mainstream Bordeaux Producer: Tertre Rôteboeuf, with Owner and Winemaker François Mitjavile

Visiting and Tasting at Château Climens, with Owner Bérénice Lurton, Bordeaux, France 

Lunch, Tour and Tasting with Owner Catherine Thibault d'Halluin (nee Boyer) and Winemaker Julien Noel - Château du Cros, Château Mayne du Cros, Château Courbon and Clos Bourbon, Bordeaux, France

Visiting an Oyster Farm at Arcachon Bay, Bordeaux: Raphael Doerfler at Earl Ostrea Chanca , France

Tour and Tasting at Château Pontet-Canet, with Owner Alfred Tesseron, Bordeaux

Tour, Tasting and Lunch at Château Léoville-Poyferré, with Didier Cuvelier and Anne Cuvelier, France  

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

A Tour and Tasting at Château Coufran, Haut-Médoc, with Co-owner Frédéric Vicaire, France

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

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

Wine Dinner at Château Haut-Bailly, Cru Classé de Graves, France

Picture: Annette Schiller and Bettina Keller, Weingut Franz Keller, Oberbergen, Baden

From September 14 – September 20, 2014, we will explore three wine regions (Baden, Pfalz, southern Rheinhessen) in the south of Germany and will experience the German red wine revolution.

For the exact itinerary, prices and other questions, visit the ombiasy Public Realtions website:
ombiasy Public Relations.

See also:
Upcoming in September 2014: Germany Wine and Culture Tour by ombiasyPR - The Sun-kissed German South (Germany-South)

This tour is one of 3 tours by ombiasyPR coming up in 2014:
3 Wine Tours by ombiasy Coming up in 2014: Germany-North, Germany-South and Bordeaux

In preparation of the tour, Annette and I visited some of the wineries a few days ago. We focused on the wineries in Baden this time. Later in the year, and before the tour, we will also visit the wineries in the Pfalz and in Rheinhessen.

Below, I have copied the itinerary of the trip and supplemented it with pictures taken on the pre-tour visits and additional comments.

The Sun-kissed German South (Germany-South)

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

DAY 1: Sunday, September 14

09:30 am Departure by coach from Frankfurt am Main.
11:30 am Visit at winery Schloss Neuweier (VDP) in Baden-Baden-Neuweier.

Wine has been produced at this impressive 13th century castle for more than 700 years. About 100 years ago Riesling became the dominant grape and passion. Still today, winemaking takes place in the vaulted cellars that date back to the 17th century. The Rieslings grown in the steep vineyards produce sumptuous, racy wines with delicate fruit. In 2012 the Schätzle family bought the estate and continues to produce wines of uncompromising quality. Robert Schätzle, the winemaker, studied oenology and comes from a family with a long tradition of winemaking in the Kaiserstuhl region to the south.

Pictures: Annette and Christian Schiller with Robert Schaetzle, Weingut Schloss Neuweier - Robert Schaetzle

01:00 pm Wine pairing lunch at Röttele’s Restaurant in Schloss Neuweier.

Armin Röttele is a 1-Michelin star chef and I am sure that our lunch will be fabulous.

04:30 pm Cellar tour and tasting at winery Karl H. Johner in Bischoffingen, Baden, Kaiserstuhl.
07:00 pm Arrival and check-in at Mercure Hotel in Freiburg im Breisgau.

Evening on your own. Explore the 700 year old city and admire the Gothic Cathedral completed in 1513. Enjoy the view of the Black Forest Mountains to the East. If you are lucky you can also glimpse the Vosges Mountains to the West. Dinner on your own.

DAY 2: Monday, September 15

09:45 am Visit and tasting at winery Freiherr von Gleichenstein (VDP) in Oberrotweil, Kaiserstuhl, Baden.

Since 1634, this estate has been in the hands of the family of the Baron von Gleichenstein. The estate comprises 75 acres of the finest vineyards exclusively planted with the classic Burgundy grapes. Baron Johannes and Baroness Christina von Gleichenstein manage the estate in the 11th generation. They aimed at producing top level wines: through consistent yield reduction and other measures to optimize quality, they produce wines that have won several awards, in particular the spectacular Pinot Noir.

Pictures: Annette and Christian Schiller with Christina von Gleichenstein, Weingut Freiherr von Gleichenstein, Oberrotweil

12:00 pm Wine paring lunch at Restaurant Schwarzer Adler in Oberbergen, Kaiserstuhl, Baden.

This 1-Michelin star traditional restaurant run by the Keller family of winegrowers offers a harmonious mix of Baden country charm and elegance. The menu is a successful marriage of French and German cuisine reflecting the frontier on the nearby Rhine River, which is the border between Germany and France. The impressive wine list boasts 2 600 different wines, including a good selection of bottles from both Baden and France.

Pictures: Lunch at Restaurant Schwarzer Adler

02:00 pm Visit and tasting at winery Franz Keller (VDP) in Oberbergen, Kaiserstuhl, Baden.

With the Keller family, which can trace its roots as winemakers and hoteliers back to the Thirty Year War in the early 17-hundreds, everything started with producing and offering outstanding food. Franz and his wife Irma, parents of the current owner, were among the first generation of chefs to start the German revolution in the kitchen more than forty years ago. Well beyond the immediate post WWII era, the urge to simply have enough food on the table – quantity over quality- lingered on. In 1969 Franz and Irma Keller and their restaurant Schwarze Adler were awarded one Michelin star, which the restaurant defends until today. For Franz Keller, the central idea of winemaking was to produce top quality wines that perfectly accompanied the creations in the kitchen. The current generation, Fritz and Bettina Keller have brought the winery to a new level. They just finished construction of a brand new winery that is an architectural landmark, beautifully integrated in the landscape. Their efforts to produce top wines, among them stunning Pinot Noirs, were acknowledged by their selection as new member of the VDP in 2013.

Pictures: Visit of Weingut Franz Keller

04.00 pm Visit and tasting at winery Huber (VDP) in Malterdingen, Breisgau, Baden.
06:30 pm Back at hotel in Freiburg.

DAY 3: Tuesday, September 16

09:30 am Visit and tasting at winery Dr. Heger (VDP) in Ihringen, Kaiserstuhl, Baden.

This estate is also one of the young wineries by German standards. It was founded in 1935 by Dr. Max Heger, a country doctor. Today the winery is in the hands of the third generation. Joachim Heger and his wife Silvia are in charge of 50 acres planted primarily with Pinot Noir and the white Burgundy grapes. The winery lies in the Kaiserstuhl, a small volcanic group of hills in the Upper Rhine Valley in southwest Germany. The town of Ihringen enjoys the highest average temperature in Germany. While some fine Riesling and Silvaner gets made here, it is really Pinot country. The wines are rich, very well-structured, compact, but nevertheless elegant and subtle.

Pictures: With Winemaker Markus Mleinek, Weingut Dr. Heger and Weinhaus Heger in Ihringen

12:15 pm Lunch (beverages on your own) at restaurant Löwen in Heitersheim.
01:45 pm Cellar tour and tasting at winery Zähringer in Heitersheim, Markgräflerland, Baden.

Since 1844 the Weingut Zähringer makes wine in the Markgräflerland, in southern Germany right across the Rhine River from the Alsace region. This area benefits from lots of sunshine, a good terroir, and a mild climate that favors varietals such as Chardonnay and Pinots. In 1986 Walter Zähringer rigorously pursued quality control and was convinced that this can only be achieved through organic winemaking. In those days this philosophy was unimaginable, but as time went by Walter Zähringer and the estate manager Paulin Köpfer won regocnition. Today their long experience has become an asset in marketing organic wines, and they count among the pioneers of organic wine in Germany.

05:00 pm Visit and tasting at winery Maison Trimbach, Alsace, France.
07:00 pm Arrival and check-in at Hotel de la Tour in Ribeauvillé, Alsace.

DAY 4: Wednesday, September 17

10:00 am Visit and tasting at winery Friedrich Becker (VDP) in Schweigen, Pfalz.
12:00 pm Lunch (beverages on your own) at restaurant Deutsches Weintor in Schweigen.
03:30 pm Cellar tour and tasting at winery Ökonomierat Rebholz (VDP) in Siebeldingen, Pfalz.
06:15 pm Arrival and check-in at Hotel Ritter von Böhl in Deidesheim, Pfalz.

DAY 5: Thursday, September 18

09:40 am Visit and tasting at winery Geheimer Rat Dr. von Bassermann-Jordan (VDP) in Deidesheim, Pfalz.
11:45 am Walk to center of Deidesheim, lunch on your own.
02:20 pm Cellar tour and tasting at winery A. Christmann (VDP) in Gimmeldingen, Pfalz.
04:30 pm Visit at winery Weegmüller in Neustadt-Haardt, Pfalz.
06:00 pm We will have dinner paired with Weegmüller wines at the restaurant Eselsburg in Neustadt-Mussbach.

DAY 6: Friday, September 19

09:30 am Visit and tasting at winery Markus Schneider in Ellerstadt, Pfalz.
12:15 pm Arrival in Westhofen, Rheinhessen.
02:15 pm Visit and tasting at winery Wittmann (VDP) in Westhofen, Rheinhessen.
04:30 pm Visit and tasting at winery Klaus Peter Keller (VDP) in Flörsheim-Dalsheim, Rheinhessen.
07:15 pm Arrival and check-in at Hotel Merian in Oppenheim, Rheinhessen.

DAY 7: Saturday, September 20

09:30 am Guided sightseeing tour in Oppenheim.
12:00 pm Cellar tour, tasting and lunch at winery Gunderloch (VDP) in Nackenheim, Rheinhessen.
03:00 pm Arrival at Frankfurt airport.

Wineries

Wineries

This is a new tour, with a large number of southern producers of ultra-premium German wine included:

Schloss Neuweier

Karl H. Johner
Visiting Winemaker and Web 2.0 Guru Patrick Johner - Weingut Karl Heinz Johner and Johner Estate - in Baden, Germany
German Wine Makers in the World: Karl Heinz Johner in New Zealand

Freiherr von Gleichenstein
In the Glass: A 2007 Pinot Noir from the Gault Millau Shooting Star of the Year - Estate of Baron Gleichenstein

Fritz Keller

Huber
One of the Fathers of the German Red Wine Revolution: Weingut Huber in Baden

Dr. Heger
Joachim Heger, Weingut Dr. Heger: Winemaker of the Year, Gault Millau WeinGuide Deutschland 2013, Germany

Zaehringer

Maison Trimbach
A Feast with Jean Trimbach, Maison Trimbach in Alsace, and Chef Bart M. Vandaele at B Too in Washington DC, USA/France
Back in the Washington DC Area: Jean Trimbach Presented Maison Trimbach Wines at a Winemaker Dinner at Open Kitchen, USA (2013)
Visiting Jean Trimbach at Maison Trimbach in Ribeauville in Alsace (2011)
With Jean Trimbach from Domaine Trimbach, Alsace, at Bart M. Vandaele’s Belga Café in Washington DC (2011)
Jean Trimbach and the Wines of Maison Trimbach in Washington DC (2010)

Friederich Becker
5 Top Wine Makers at Premier Cru Wein Bistro in Frankfurt am Main, Germany

Rebholz

Bassermann-Jordan

Christmann
The German Winemakers at the 4th Riesling Rendezvous in Seattle, USA
Steffen Christmann (Weingut A. Christmann) and Wilhelm Weil (Weingut Robert Weil) Presented the New Wine Classification of the VDP, Germany

Weegmueller
The World Meets at Weingut Weegmueller, Pfalz, Germany

Markus Schneider
The Wines Chancelor Merkel Served President Obama and Michelle Obama in Berlin (and the Wines she did not Serve), Germany
German Riesling and International Grape Varieties – Top Wine Makers Wilhelm Weil and Markus Schneider at Kai Buhrfeindt’s Grand Cru in Frankfurt am Main, Germany

Wittmann
Germany's Top 16 Winemakers - Feinschmecker WeinGuide 2012

Klaus Peter Keller
Germany's Top 16 Winemakers - Feinschmecker WeinGuide 2012

Gunderloch
Visiting Agnes and Fritz Hasselbach at their Weingut Gunderloch in Nackenheim, Rheinhessen, Germany