schiller-wine

Picture: Riesling Guru Stuart Pigott at the Gränd Tasting at Back Label Wine Merchants in New York City

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

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

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

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

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

Joining

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

See: Announcement:
5 Exciting ombiasy WineTours in 2016 - BURGUNDY BORDEAUX GERMANY
Coming-up: 2016 Spring Tours by ombiasy WineTours to Germany and the Bourgogne, Germany/ France

Pictures: Arriving at the Gränd Tasting in New York City

Rieslingfeier Gränd Tasting

Last year, during the day leading up to the Rieslingfeier Gala Dinner, there was a German wine seminar series and the Riesling Crawl, where the participating winemakers were pouring their wines at different wine stores during different times over the course of the afternoon. It was a fun idea, but a bit cumbersome to rush from one store to the next.

This year, there were no seminars and the winemaker poured their wines together at one location: The Gränd Tasting at Back Label Wine Merchants.

Pictures: The Back Label Wine Merchants

“Taste more than 60 wines from Germany's greatest growers for only $29. For 2016 we are thrilled to announce the first-ever "Gränd Tasting" featuring ALL of the Rieslingfeier growers in one place. While this walk-around tasting will focus on the 2014 vintage, growers will be bringing back-vintage wines for context. While the complete list is still being finalized, selections include 1997 Egon Müller Auslese, 1992 Lauer Sekt, 1983 Immich-Batterieberg Spätlese, 2004 Schlossgut Diel Pittermänchen Spätlese and many more. For those interested in a more intimate experience, there are a limited number of tickets for the VIP session - these tickets are $50.”

Pictures: Rieslingfeier Gränd Tasting

Picture: Stephen Bitterolf at the Gränd Tasting

Picture: Lars Carlberg, Pascaline Lepeletier, Rouge Tomate, and David Schildknecht at the Gränd Tasting

Stuart Pigott, in the announcement of the 2016 Rieslingfeier on his blog, provided good, precise descriptions of the attending winemakers, which I am copying below.

The Winemakers

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

Jochen Beurer of Weingut Beurer of Stetten in Württemberg

Pictures: Jochen Beurer at the Gränd Tasting

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

In the Eichelmann WeinGuide Deutschland 2015, Weingut Jochen Breuer won the "Best Wine Collection of the 2015 Award".

Eichelmann (my translation): Gerhard Eichelmann: This award will not please everybody. Those consumers who look for fruity wines that can be consumed rather young, will not find these kind of wines at Weingut Beurer. But those who are looking for authentic wines will find them at Weingut Beurer.

Last year, we visited 4 German elite producers in Württemberg on the Germany-East Art and Wine Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015). See: Germany-East Wine and Art Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Caroline Diel of Schlossgut Diel in Burg Layen in the Nahe Valley

Pictures: Caoline and Sylvain Diel at the Gränd Tasting

Caroline was accompagnied by her husband Sylvain Diel.

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

We visited Schlossgut Diel in 2014. See:
Tasting with Sylvain Taurisson Diel at Schlossgut Diel, Nahe – Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2014)
New Vintage Tasting at Schlossgut Diel, with Armin and Caroline Diel, Germany, 2014

Picture: Christian Schiller with Armin and Caroline Diel at Schlossgut Diel in the Nahe Valley

Pictures: In the Vineyards with Caroline Diel and Anouk

Gernot Kollmann of Weingut Immich Batterieberg in Enkirch on the Mosel

Picture: Picture: Gernot Kollmann, Weingut Immich-Batterieberg, and Alexandria Cubbage, Zachy's Wine Auctions, at the Gränd Tasting

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

We will visit Gernot Kollmann during the forthcoming Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2016). See: Announcement: 5 Exciting ombiasy WineTours in 2016 - BURGUNDY BORDEAUX GERMANY

Picture: Gernot Kollmann, Weingut Immich-Batterieberg, Annette Schiller, ombiasy WineTours, Dominik Sona and Franzi Schmitt, Weingut Koehler-Ruprecht and Clemens Busch, Weingut Clemens Busch, at Bart Vandaele's BToo in Washington DC, see: Post-Rieslingfeier and Pre-Big Glou Dinner with 3 Top Winemakers from Germany at BToo in Washington DC: Clemens Busch, Immich-Batterieberg and Koehler-Ruprecht, USA

Florian Lauer of Weingut Peter Lauer in Ayl on the Saar

Pictures: Florian Lauer, Weingut Peter Lauer, and Tobias Rower, vom Boden, at the Gränd Tasting

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

Florian Lauer - Gault Millau Collection of the Year 2016: Germany’s Best Winemakers and Wines – Gault Millau WeinGuide Deutschland 2016 Awards: The Awards Ceremony in Mainz, Germany

During the award ceremony in Mainz, I arranged with Florian Lauer a visit of his estate during the forthcoming Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2016): Announcement: 5 Exciting ombiasy WineTours in 2016 - BURGUNDY BORDEAUX GERMANY

Pictures: Florian Lauer, Weingut Peter Lauer, and Christian Schiller in Mainz

Johannes Leitz of Weingut Josef Leitz in the Rheingau

Pictures: Johannes Leitz at the Gränd Tasting

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

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

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

Weingut Dr. Loosen on the Mosel

Weingut Dr. Loosen was represented by Ian Dick.

Stuart Pigott: Ernst Loosen of Weingut Dr. Loosen on the Mosel is an unlikely Riesling Hero. Completely unknown when he took over control of his family estate in 1987 he is now a German Riesling Superstar and one of the nation’s most successful quality wine exporters.

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

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

Weingut Egon Müller-Scharzhof in Wiltingen on the Saar

Weingut Egon Müller was representy by it Export Manager.

Stuart Pigott: Egon Müller IV of Egon Müller-Scharzhof in Wiltingen on the Saar continues the tradition of this producer for world-class sweet Rieslings that range from the delicate to the unctuous and honey-sweet.

Picture: Annette Schiller and Egon Müller, Weingut Egon Müller, at the Gala Dinner of the Rieslingfeier 2015

Katharina Prüm of Weingut J. J. Prüm in Wehlen on the Mosel

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

We will meet her again on the Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2016): 5 Exciting ombiasy WineTours in 2016 - BURGUNDY BORDEAUX GERMANY

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

Picture: Christian Schiller with Katharina Pruem at Wegmans in Virginia

Picture: Annette Schiller with Manfred Pruem, Weingut JJ Pruem.

Hansjörg Rebholz of Weingut Ökonomierat Rebholz in Siebeldingen in the Pfalz

Pictures: Hannsjörg Rebholz and Sabine Wagner, Weingut Ökonomierat Rebholz

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

We will meet him again on the Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2016): 5 Exciting ombiasy WineTours in 2016 - BURGUNDY BORDEAUX GERMANY

Picture: Hansjörg Rebholz, Weingut Ökonomierat Rebholz, with the Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), see: Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Picture: Annette and Christian Schiller with Hansjörg and Birgit Rebholz at Prowein 2015 in Düsseldorf, see:
Prowein 2015 in Düsseldorf, Germany – Schiller’s Impressions

Dr. Carl Ferdinand von Schubert of Weingut Maximin Grünhaus in Mertesdorf in the Ruwer Valley

Pictures: Annette Schiller and Carl von Schubert, Weingut Maximin Grünhaus, at the Gränd Tasting

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

Picture: Christian 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

Dominik Sona of Weingut Koehler-Ruprecht in Kallstadt in the Pfalz

Pictures: Evan Springarn, David Bowler Wine, and Dominik Sona, Franzi Schmitt, Weingut Koehler-Ruprecht, at the Gränd Tasting

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

Dominik Sona was accompagnied by Franziska Schmitt. We had an impressive wine tasting with her at Weingut Koehler-Ruprecht during the Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015).

Pictures: Visit of Weingut Koehler-Rupprecht with Franziska Schmidt during Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Christian Witte of Schloss Johannisberg in the Rheingau

Picture: Christian Witte, Weingut Schloss Johannisberg, at the Gränd Tasting

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

The tour and tasting with Christian Witte was the final highlight of the Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Pictures: With Christian Witte at Schloss Johannisberg in the Rheingau. The tour and tasting with Christian Witte was the final highlight of the Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Stefan Steinmetz of Weingut Günther Steinmetz in Brauneberg on the Mosel

Pictures: Stefan Steinmetz at the Gränd Tasting

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

Johannes Weber of Hofgut Falkenstein on the Saar

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

Weingut Robert Weil of Kiedrich in the Rheingau

Weingut Robert Weil was represented by Nicolas Pfaff, Export Manager.

Stuart Pigott: Wilhelm Weil of Weingut Robert Weil of Kiedrich in the Rheingau has taken that estate from the mid-field of that famous region to the top since he took control of it in 1987; world-famous desert wines!

See:
Christian G.E. Schiller's Review of the Book: Ralf Frenzel (ed.) - Riesling, Robert Weil. Tre Torri, Wiesbaden, Germany, 2013, in: Journal of Wine Economics, Volume 9, 2014, No. 1, Cambridge University Press
Kiedrich: Visit of the Basilica of Saint Valentine and of Weingut Robert Weil - Germany-North Wine Tour by ombiasy (2014)

Pictures: Christian Schiller with Wilhelm Weil, Weingut Robert Weil, and his Wines in Kiedrich, Germany

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

Pictures: Konstantin Weiser and Alexandra Künstler, Weingut Weiser-Künstler, at the Gränd Tasting

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

Stephen Bitterolf

Pictures: Stephen Bitterolf Opening and Closing the Gränd Tasting

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

schiller-wine: Related Postings

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

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

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

Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Bourgogne Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), France

Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), France

Coming-up: Rieslingfeier 2015 in New York City, USA

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

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

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

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

Lunch at Momofuku Ssäm Bar in New York City, USA

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

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

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

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

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

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

Prowein 2015 in Düsseldorf, Germany – Schiller’s Impressions

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

Christian G.E. Schiller's Review of the Book: Ralf Frenzel (ed.) - Riesling, Robert Weil. Tre Torri, Wiesbaden, Germany, 2013, in: Journal of Wine Economics, Volume 9, 2014, No. 1, Cambridge University Press

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

Picture: Annette Schiller, Vicki Fedor, Mark Fedor and Christian Schiller at the Anniversary Dinner

We joined North Gate owners and winemakers, Mark and Vicki Fedor, and Sebastian Oveysi, one of DC's top chefs and owner of Amoo's Restaurant in McLean, Virginia, as they brought together a special 4-course wine dinner to celebrate the 5th anniversary of North Gate's Tasting Room.

Pictures: Sold Out Anniversary Dinner

Mark and Vicki have been part of the winemaking and grape growing scene in Virginia since 2002. Together, they established North Gate Vineyard on their 26 acre farm, just north of Purcellville, in Loudoun County, Virginia. The first grapes were planted in 2002, and the winery was licensed in 2007.

Pictures: Arriving at North Gate Vineyards

What brought us together - Mark and Vicky, Chef Sebastian and Annette and Christian - is the ecological mindset. Annette and I are very much into organic food, Chef Sebastian just started to run a food truck that serves organic food and North Gate Vineyard was named “greenest winery” in Loudoun Country in Virginia.

A Brief History of North Gate Vineyard

Mark and Vicki Fedor: We started in 1997 by caring for a few neglected grape vines on the North Gate property we had just purchased. That small effort has led us down a path which we are still walking. Along the way we have learned by doing. We’ve made some mistakes, had some successes, worked hard, and had a lot of fun. More importantly, we’ve met some smart, wonderful people who have helped mentor us and cultivate the passion and dedication for excellence that we have for growing grapes and making wine.

Pictures: Annette Schiller, Mark Fedor and Christian Schiller at the Anniversary Dinner

From 2003-2006 we were working as winemakers for Corcoran Vineyards, another vineyard in Loudoun County, where our vintages won over 50 medals in both national and international competitions. In 2007, North Gate became a fully licensed Farm Winery and we began operating from our garage. We sold our North Gate wine at several farmers’ markets 5-6 days a week, festivals, restaurants, and other retailers, and also opened to the public for farm tours twice a year. Soon we reached the garage’s production capacity, so we built a tasting room and production facility on our property to LEED gold certification standards.

Pictures: Anniversary Dinner at North Gate Vineyards

Winemaking Style

Mark and Vicki Fedor: Our goal is to make wines that show the character of the varietal that is making up a majority of the wine. For instance, we do not want to try to make a big Bordeaux red out of a Chambourcin grape.

In general, we use less oak in our wines so the fruit characters of the grape show through and are not masked. The amount of oak we use depends on the variety and style of that specific wine.
We like to make white wines as much as we like to make reds. Our whites tend to be crisp, fruit-forward, stainless steel fermented with varying degrees of oak-time, specific to the variety, to soften up and balance against the alcohol and acids.

We believe that blending allows us to kick our wine up to another level and allows us to achieve our final goals on a wine. However, we are cognizant of #1 above and are careful not to overblend!

Mark and Vicki Fedor

Mark and Vicki Fedor: Prior to starting North Gate, Mark and Vicki were co-winemakers at Corcoran Vineyards from its inception (as Waterford Vineyards) until 2007. Before adventuring into winemaking, Mark was a data communications and network engineer where he was one of the early pioneers in developing the network technology which formed today’s Internet. Vicki was a systems programmer at Syracuse University, and then Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, working with supercomputers. Mark and Vicki received BS degrees in Computer Science from the State University of New York, College at Oswego.

Pictures: Vicki and Mark Fedor

A Green Business

Mark and Vicki Fedor: Here at North Gate, we pride ourselves on our environmentally friendly practices – concerning both wine production in the vineyard and our Tasting Room itself. North Gate Vineyard is 100% solar powered and it is one of only two wineries in Virginia built to LEED standards. However, North Gate is the only production winery in the state certified as LEED gold. We worked hard to make sure our building is efficient and as green as it can be.

Picture: North Gate Vineyards - Loudon'd Greenest Winery

Chef Sebastian Oveysi, Amoo’s Restaurant in McLean and Saffron Gourmet Truck

Chef Sebastian Oveysi is the Owner and Chef at the Persian Restaurant Amoo in McLean, Virginia. Recently, he created a food truck that focuses on organic cuisine. He came with his food truck to North Gate Vineyards. All the cooking was done in the food truck.

Pictures: Chef Sebastian Oveysi and Christian Schiller

Washingtonian: Half a lifetime ago, Masoud Oveysi was the pilot for the shah of Iran. When the government collapsed, Oveysi fled to Northern Virginia, eventually opening a successful Persian restaurant, Cafe Rose. Amoo’s is a worthy successor, and Oveysi has handed over operations to his charismatic son Sebastian, who runs the kitchen and works the dining room. Though the younger Oveysi was born too late to have any memory of the royal family, he has brought a triumphal flair to this strip-mall effort. The humble kebab is exalted here—witness the magnificent kubideh, its minced, onion-flavored meat so light you could lay your head on it at night, or the hunks of lightly charred salmon (wild, not farmed). No visit is complete without an order of shirin polo, its delicate rice perfumed with saffron and strewn with candied orange peel and currants.

Chowhound.com: … Ammo’s is now owned by the family that ran (but has sold) Rose Kabob in Vienna. Rose Kabob was maybe the best Persian restaurant in the DC area, and now that is probably true of Amoo's. It is stellar. … Finally, Mclean has a terrific restaurant.

Pictures: Chef Seb Gourmet Truck at North Gate Vineyard

Saffron Gourmet Truck is an extension of Amoo’s kitchen. This food truck typically features 3 of Amoo’s signature dishes such as the Chilean sea bass, the chicken breast filet, and the lamb tenderloin filet kabobs along with specialties that change every day. “The goal is to serve some of the healthiest organic cuisine that is influenced by different regions of the world” says Chef Seb.

Menu

Appetizer

Roquefort Parcels - Brown sugar roasted figs topped with aged cheese on a bed of clay oven baked pita

2014 Chambourcin

Chambourcin is a very prolific French-American hybrid grape that has found a home in Virginia. Don’t let the deep, purple hue fool you – it’s not as big and bold as the color suggests. This wine is bursting with fresh sweet fruit flavors, but has very soft, smooth tannins, making it a very approachable wine. Great with BBQ or anything chocolate.

Vineyard: Colucci Vineyards
Alcohol Content: 11.8%
Case Count: 317

Soup

Zuppa Di Zucchine - Organic pistachio creamed zucchini, topped off with caramelized onions

2014 Chardonnay

This lighter, “fruit-forward” Chardonnay was fermented and aged in a combination of older (neutral) and new oak. The barrel aging augments the stone fruit and citrus flavors of the Chardonnay grape with soft tannins and a bit more depth. With a sophisticated balance of acidity, alcohol, and fruit flavors, this wine provides a unique complexity from the initial taste on the palette through a bright, lemony finish. Pairs well with many poultry dishes, or try with a salmon burger, hot off the grill.

Vineyard: Wild Meadow
Alcohol Content: 13.5%
Case Count: 592

Entrées

Surf and Turf - Montana free range bison tenderloin filet and Chilean sea bass served on a bed of roasted asparagus and wasabi mashed potatoes

Sebastian Oveysi on Instagram: Picked up the freshest wild caught Chilean sea bass that was flown in overnight unfrozen, unprocessed, and without any color dye for visual enhancements. This is purely good seafood from the heart of the ocean! Will be serving it this evening next to a free range Montana bison tenderloin filet as my "Surf & Turf" portion of the prix fixe dinner menu which is being paired with North Gate Vineyards award winning wines!

2013 Meritage

Science gives way to art when a winemaker puts together a blend of wines that is greater than the sum of its parts. We evaluate the characteristics of the parts we have to work with and then create a blend that shows the best of our Merlot (60%), Petit Verdot (22%), and Cabernet Franc (18%). This wine really shows the grace and elegance of this vintage’s star player – Merlot. Each component is aged in predominantly French oak for a year, and then blended and aged for another year in barrel before bottling, so the pieces can integrate. The nose starts with bright, almost tart Morello cherries and red raspberries, then opens to a clean but lightly charred oak component. Layers of darker sweet cherries, currants, and anise fill the palate, while a licorice spiciness lingers on the tongue.In the winery, we pair this wine with a dark chocolate cherry truffle, made with tart Morello cherries. It pairs equally well with Steak au Poivre or a pork loin roast, accompanied by a hash of peppered potatoes and Granny Smith apples.

Vineyards: North Gate (Petit Verdot), Russ Mountain (Merlot), Philadelphus (Cabernet Franc)
Alcohol Content: 13.6%
Case Count: 306

Dessert

Bastani Saffron pistachio and rosewater ice cream, drizzled with pomegranate molasses

Sparkling Apple Wine Cocktail

2013 NV Apple

Apple Wine - This is a return to our roots – the first wine we ever made. We think it tastes just like biting into a crisp, sweet, juicy apple! We used a nice mix of sweet and tart apples, so there’s a good balance of flavors. Just a touch of sugar remains to make this a pleasant aperitif, table wine, or even dessert wine with a fresh fruit tart or angel food cake. The perfect picnic or patio wine. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this wine are being donated to Blue Ridge Greyhound Adoption.

Alcohol Content: 12%
Case Count: 738

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

More wine is consumed in Württemberg (per capita) than anywhere else in Germany - actually twice as much as in the rest of Germany. The German poet Friedrich von Schiller wrote already several centuries ago: “A Württemberger without wine--is that a real Württemberger?” Yet, the wines of Württemberg are very difficult to find outside of Germany. This is changing slowly, as the world is discovering the outstanding German red wines.

On the Germany-East Wine and Art Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), we visited 4 of Württemberg’s leading producers: von Neipperg, Dautel, Herzog von Württemberg and Rainer Schnaitmann.

This posting covers the visit of Weingut Rainer Schnaitmann. He took us with his car to his vineyards. We continued in the tasting room of Weingut Rainer Schnaitmann and finished in the barrel cellar.

Pictures: Vineyard Tour and Tasting with Rainer Schnaitmann in Fellbach, Württemberg

Wine Region Württemberg

Baden-Württemberg is one of the 16 German states that make up Germany. Baden-Wuerttemberg is one of the growth centers of Germany due to its booming export industries. Mercedes-Benz and Porsche are prime examples. Baden-Württemberg comprises two wine growing areas, Baden and Württemberg.

Wine from Württemberg is mainly red wine. The main production area is along the Neckar River between Stuttgart and Heilbronn. There are also vineyards on Lake Constance that belong to Württemberg.

The Trollinger is the most popular variety, which is grown almost exclusively in Württemberg. It is a nice table wine that goes well with the local food. If you are looking for a premium wine, Lemberger (known as Blaufränkisch in Austria and Kékfrankos in its Hungarian homeland) is the grape variety to go for. The Lemberger made by Weingut Dautel and Weingut Wachstetter, which we had during the tour, can compete with the best red wines in the world.

With 11,000 hectares under vine, Württemberg is Germany's fourth largest wine region. Winemaking cooperatives are very common in Württemberg, number around 70, and are responsible for almost 75% of the region's production.

Wines from Württemberg are hard to find in the US. This is partly explained by the production structure, which is dominated by co-operatives. These co-operatives are known for producing top class wines. But they tend to be less aggressive in terms of penetrating new markets.

Pictures: Tasting with Rainer Schnaitmann in the Tasting Room of Weingut Rainer Schnaitmann in Fellbach, Württemberg

Weingut Rainer Schnaitmann

Weingut Rainer Schnaitmann is in Fellbach (close to Stuttgart) in Württemberg. For over 500 years the Schnaitmann family has been making wine in the Rems and Neckar valleys. Rainer Schnaitmann took over the family’s wine business in 1997 and immediately pulled out of the co-operative with the aim of taking his wines into a quite different, quality register. The 1997 vintage was the first vintage that Rainer Schnaitmann produced under his own name.

Pictures: Weingut Rainer Schnaitmann in Fellbach, Württemberg

In 2000, the winery was certified as organic winegrowing estate according to the EEC regulation on ecological winemaking.

Rainer Schnaitmann was chosen newcomer of the year in 2007 by Gault-Millau/German Wine Guide just 10 years after he founded the estate.

What he has accomplished in barely 15 years, taking 2 ½ hectares from the local Fellbach co-op to the top of the Württemberg wine region with now 25 hectares, is an amazing accomplishment in German Wine. Today, Weingut Rainer Schnaitmann belongs to the larger (privately owned) estates in Württemberg. Rainer Schnaitmann definitely helped putting Württemberg on the map for the serious wine aficionado outside of Germany.

His most important holding is the Grosse Lage (Grand Cru) Fellbacher Lämmler with gypsum keuper, colored marl and sedimented red sandstone depending on elevation in the vineyard. The other Grand Cru, the Uhlbacher Götzenberg, Rainer Schnaitmann’s holdings are in the heart piece which is a red sandstone quarry – easy to warm up, poor water maintenance – lighter soil produces looser knit but refined Rieslings.

Grape varieties: 25% Riesling 25% Lemberger 20% Pinot Noir 8% Sauvignon Blanc 6% Pinot Gris 16% other. Weingut Schnaitmann produces 11,000 cases annually and is a member of the VDP since 2006.

Pictures: Tasting with Rainer Schnaitmann in the Wine Cellar of Weingut Rainer Schnaitmann in Fellbach, Württemberg

Tasting

The tasting took place in 3 phases: During the vineyard tour, in the tasting room and in the wine cellar.

2011 Weingut Rainer Schnaitmann Evoé! Blanc de Noirs Brut Sekt

2014 Weingut Rainer Schnaitmann Riesling Steinwiege trocken VDP.Gutswein

2014 Weingut Rainer Schnaitmann Riesling Schnait trocken VDP.Gutswein

2014 Weingut Rainer Schnaitmann Schnaiter Altenberg Riesling trocken VDP.Erste Lage

2013 Weingut Rainer Schnaitmann Uhlbacher Götzenberg Riesling trocken GG VDP.Grosse Lage

2013 Weingut Rainer Schnaitmann Fellbacher Lämmler Bergmandel Riesling trocken GG VDP.Grosse Lage

2014 Weingut Rainer Schnaitmann Sauvignon Blanc trocken VDP.Gutswein

2012 Weingut Rainer Schnaitmann Sauvignon Blanc trocken VDP.Gutswein

2014 Weingut Rainer SchnaitmannGrau-Weiss trocken VDP.Gutswein

2013 Weingut Rainer Schnaitmann Fellbacher Lämmler Bergmandel Grauburgunder trocken GG VDP.Grosse Lage

2014 Weingut Rainer Schnaitmann Trollinger trocken VDP.Gutswein
Faithful to his Württemberger roots, Rainer Schnaitmann still makes Trollinger, the local red that Rainer Schnaitmann describe as “the worker’s wine – light and thirst-quenching” – typically you’ll find it offered by the glass or Viertel (quarter litre) in any little Gasthof.

2012 Weingut Schnaitmann Simonroth Cuvee MC

2012 Weingut Schnaitmann Simonroth Lemberger

2012 Weingut Rainer Schnaitmann Fellbacher Lämmler Bergmandel Spätburgunder GG VDP.Grosse Lage
The top wine, which has won him countless medals and accolades, is the Fellbacher Lämmler Bergmandel Spätburgunder Grosses Gewachs. It sells ex-cellar for 42 euros – “expensive for Württemberg”, he acknowledges cheerfully, “but less than top Pinots from Baden”.

Bye-bye

Thanks Rainer Schnaitmann for a wonderful afternoon.

Pictures: Bye-bye

Evening: A Streetcar Named Desire

In the evening, we saw a fascinating ballet performance at the Stuttgart Theater (Stuttgart Ballet Company): "A Streetcar named Desire", Ballet in two parts by John Neumeier based on the play by Tennessee Williams. Music by Sergej Prokofjew and Alfred Schnittke. World Premiere at the Stuttgart Ballet on December 3, 1983.

The Stuttgart Ballet, founded in 1609 as court ballet of the Dukes of Württemberg, was made world famous by South-African born dancer John Cranko after he was appointed director of the ballet in 1961. It is known for its exciting and visually arresting style and for creating full-length narrative ballets. We saw a fascinating, thrilling, suspense-laden performance of “A Streetcar named Desire”, a production by American dancer and choreographer John Neumeier. the leading global figure of the dance scene. His interpretation was cutting edge, very modern, athletic but at the same time very emotional, and the music by Prokofjew and Schnittke underscored beautifully the choreography. This evening reinforced my penchant for modern ballet.

Picture: At Stuttgart Ballet

Postings: Germany-East Wine and Art Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015) (Published and Forthcoming)

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

The Art Marketer: OMBIASY PR & WINE TOURS - Germany-East

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Vineyard Tour, Cellar Tour and Tasting with Rainer Schnaitmann at Weingut Rainer Schnaitmann in Fellbach, Württemberg

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

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

Picture: Didier Cuvelier, Annette Schiller, Anne Cuvelier and Christian G.E. Schiller at Château Leoville Poyferre

Led by Annette Schiller, the Bordeaux Wine Tour 2013 by ombiasy took place from September 9 to 19, 2013. The group comprised 12 wine lovers from the United States, including Annette and Christian Schiller. This posting provides a listing of all postings that I issued concerning the Bordeaux Wine Tour 2013 by ombiasy, in chronological order.

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 and Fils: How is a Barrique Made? Bordeaux, France

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

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

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

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

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

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

Château Pichon Longueville Baron

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

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

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

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

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

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

The property is currently managed by Christian Seely.

The AXA Wine Portfolio

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

Tasting

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

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

Picture: Walking over for Lunch

Champagne Reception

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

Picture: Reception

Lunch

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

Pictures: Lunch

The Wines that were Poured

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

Bye-bye

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Runners-up were Sindy Kretschmar and Robert Zeller

Lifetime Achievement: Peter Jakob Kühn (Lebenswerk)

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

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

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

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

Wine Ambassador of the Year: Ernie Loosen, Bernkastel

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

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

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

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

schiller-wine - Related Postings

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

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

Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

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

Peter Jakob Kühn, Weingut Kühn, Rheingau – Germany's Winemaker of the Year (Gault Millau WeinGuide Deutschland 2016)

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

The Doctor Made a House Call - A Tasting with Ernst Loosen, Weingut Dr. Loosen, at MacArthur Beverages in Washington DC, USA

Riesling Revolution in China: Weingut Dr. Loosen, Germany, Domaine Hugel et Fils, Alsace and Jim Barry, Australia - China Tour to Promote Riesling

The World of Riesling in Seattle - Fourth Riesling Rendezvous in Washington State, USA

Riesling, Pinot Noir and Indian Cuisine: A tête-à-tête Dinner with Winemaker Ernst Loosen, Weingut Dr. Loosen, at Rasika in Washington DC, USA

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

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

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

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

Pictures: Welcome at Sektkellerei Bardong in the Rheingau

Sekt in Germany

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sektkellerei Bardong

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Sekts Norbert and Renate Bardong Poured

2010 Sektkellerei Bardong Erbacher Honigberg brut Rheingau Riesling

2008 Sektkellerei Bardong Weissburgunder brut Rheingau

2006 Sektkellerei Bardong Chardonnay brut Rheingau

2010 Sektkellerei Bardong Blanc de Noir brut Spätburgunder Assmannshausen

Was almost 10 years on the lees.

2005 Sektkellerei Bardong Assmannshäuser Frankenthal extra brut Spätburgunder Rheingau

2008 Sektkellerei Bardong Hölder brut Saale Unstrut

1998 Sektkellerei Bardong Bardong Riesling Reserve brut Rheingau

Bye-bye

Thanks for a wonderful experience, Norbert.

Pictures: Bye-bye

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

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

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

Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), Germany

Tour and Tasting at Weingut Baron Knyphausen in Erbach, Rheingau - Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Wine and Music at Eberbach Abbey in the Rheingau - Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Tour and Wine Tasting with Lunch, with Mark Barth at Wein- und Sektgut Barth in Hattenheim, Rheingau– Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Tour and Tasting at Weingut Spreitzer in Oestrich, Rheingau, with Bernd Spreitzer – Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Wine Tasting at Weingut Toni Jost in Bacharach, Mittelrhein, with Cecilia Jost– Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Cruise on the Rhein River in the Mittelrhein Valley, an UNESCO World Heritage Region – Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Wine Tasting at Weingut J.J. Adeneuer in Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler, Ahr, with Marc Adeneuer - Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Vineyard Walk and Tasting at Weingut Meyer-Näkel in Dernau, Ahr, with Dörte Näkel– Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

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

Wining in Bernkastel-Kues in the Mosel Valley: Wine Tavern “Spitzhaeuschen”, Germany

Tasting at Weingut St. Urbans-Hof in Leiwen, Mosel, with Nik Weis – Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Lunch, Tasting and Vineyard Walk at Weingut Van Volxem with Owner Roman Niewodniczanski – Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Wine Tasting at Weingut Hexamer in Monzingen, Nahe– Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Tour and Tasting at Weingut Gut Hermannsberg in Niederhausen, Nahe– Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Wine Dinner with Tour at Weingut Kruger-Rumpf in Münster-Sarmsheim, Nahe, with Georg Rumpf – Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), Germany

Tour and Tasting at Sektmanufaktur Bardong in Geisenheim, Rheingau

Tour and Tasting at Schloss Johannisberg, Rheingau, with Christian Witte, Domaine Director– Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), Germany

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

Picture: At Weingut von Winning in Deidesheim, Pfalz

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

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

Jessica Schönberg was our host.

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

Picture: Arrivinh at Weingut von Winning in Deidesheim, Pfalz

History

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

Pictures: Lunch at Restaurant Leopold (Weingut von Winning)

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

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

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

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

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

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

Weingut von Winning

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

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

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

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

•Vineyard area: 40 hectares

•Annual production: 23,000 cases

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

Farming Practice: Practicing Organic

The Wines we Tasted

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

2014 Weingut von Winning WIN WIN Riesling trocken VDP.Gutswein

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

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

2012 Weingut von Winning Pinot Noir I trocken VDP.Gutswein

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

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

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

Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pictures: Welcome at Evo Bistro

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

Invitation

Hello wine friends in the Washington DC area,

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

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

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

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

MENU

FIRST

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

SECOND

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

THIRD

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

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

À la votre!

Annette

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

Pictures: Wine Pairing Dinner with Sophie Schÿler at Evo Bistro

Château Kirwan

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

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

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

Pictures: The Charming Sophie Schÿler at Evo Bistro

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

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

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

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

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

RdV

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

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

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

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

Weingut Clemens Busch

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

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

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

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

The Luncheon

Picture: The Wines

FIRST

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

2012 Charme de Kirwan, Château Kirwan, Margaux

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

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

Wine-Searcher average price: US$ 27

2009 Rendezvous, RdV, Virginia

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

US$75 ex-winery at release.

SECOND

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

2013 Château Kirwan, Margaux

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

US$ 38.50 Sherry-Lehmann (New York City)

2012 Lost Mountain, RdV, Virgina

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

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

US$ 95 ex-winery

THIRD

Fresh Berries Tiramisu

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

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

Around US$ 55 retail in the US

Annette Schiller and ombiasy PR and WineTours

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

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

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

Bye-bye

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

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

schiller-wine - Related Postings

Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), France

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pictures: Arriving at the Rieslingfeier in New York City

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

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

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

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

Joining

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

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

Rieslingfeier Gala Dinner 2016

“Dear Rieslingfeier guest,

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

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

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

We look forward to seeing you Saturday!”

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

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

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

Sekt Reception

The evening started with a Sekt reception

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

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

Picture: Jochen Beurer, Weingut Beurer

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

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

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

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

The Gala Dinner

Picture: Stephen Bitterolf Asking Guests to take their Seats

Picture: Gala Dinner Starts

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

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

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

The Menu

Madai Crudo
Citrus, Black Olive

Beef Tartare
Bulgur, Labneh, Grilled Bread

Monkfish Cheeks
Clams, Butter Beans, Bacon, Parsely

Quail
Celery Root, Chicory, Kumquat Mostarda

Stompetoren Grand Cru (Cow, NL)
Pear Butter

Hannsjörg Rebholz, Weingut Ökonomierat Rebholz

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

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

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

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

Pictures: Annette Schiller, David Schildknecht and Hannsjörg Rebholz

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

Picture: Caleb Ganzer, Hannsjörg Rebholz, Annette Schiller

Picture: Bourgogne Rouge being Poured at the Rieslingfeier

Pictures: Tasting

Picture: Last Course - Cheese

Johannes Leitz, Weingut Leitz

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

Picture: The Table of Weingut Leitz with Josi Leitz

Gernot Kollmann, Winemaker, Weingut Immich Batterieberg

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

Picture: The Table of Weingut Immich Batterieberg with Gernot Kollmann

Stefan Steinmetz, Weingut Günther Steinmetz

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

Picture: The Table of Weingut Günther Steinmetz with Stefan Steinmetz

Carl von Schubert, Weingut Miximin Grünhaus

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

Picture: The Table of Maximin Grünhaus with Carl von Schubert

Christian Witte, Domaine Director, Weingut Schloss Johannisberg

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

Picture: The Table of Schloss Johannisberg with Christian Witte

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

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

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

Jochen Beurer, Weingut Beurer

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

Picture: The Table of Weingut Beurer with Jochen Beurer

Johannes Weber, Hofgut Falkenstein

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

Picture: The Table of Hofgut Falkenstein with Johannes Weber

Katharina Prüm, Weingut JJ Prüm

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

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

Caroline and Sylvain Diel, Schlossgut Diel

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

Pictures: The Table Schlossgut Diel with Caroline and Sylvain Diel

Florian Lauer, Weingut Peter Lauer

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

Picture: The Table of Weingut Peter Lauer with Florian Lauer

Konstantin Weiser and Alexandra Künstler of Weingut Weiser-Künstler

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

Mingling

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

Picture: Josi Leitz and Florian Lauer

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

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

The End

Pictures: It's Over

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

Rooftop Bar

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

Picture: Manhattan

Stephen Bitterolf

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

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

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Picture: Château du Clos de Vougeot

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

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

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

Pictures: Arriving at Château du Clos de Vougeot

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

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

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

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

Pictures: Tour of Château du Clos de Vougeot

Clos de Vougeot (Clive Coates)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Picture: Arriving at Château Mouton-Rothschild, Pauillac

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

Château Mouton Rothschild in Pauillac

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

Pictures: Tour at Château Mouton-Rothschild, Pauillac,

Baron Philippe de Rothschild

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

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

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

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

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

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

Baroness Philippine de Rothschild and her 3 Children

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

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

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

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

The Mouton-Rothschild Portfolio

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

Château Mouton-Rothschild (grand vin)

Pictures: Tasting at Château Mouton-Rothschild, Pauillac

Petit Mouton (second wine): 6,000 cases

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

Château Clerc Milon: 13,000 cases

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

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

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

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

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

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

Picture: The House of the Rothschilds in Frankfurt am Main

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

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Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), France

Bordeaux Wines and their Classifications: The Basics

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

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

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

Schiller's Favorite Wine Bars in Bordeaux City, France

Schiller's Favorite Seafood Places in Bordeaux City, France

Saint Emilion Wines and their Classification, Bordeaux, France

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What is a Bordeaux Cru Bourgeois? France

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SPRING TOURS 2016

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

FALL TOUR 2016

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

CHEERS

Annette

schiller-wine: Related Postings

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

Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Bourgogne Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), France

Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), France

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Germany-North Wine Tour by ombiasy (2014)

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

Germany-North Wine Tour by ombiasy, 2014

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Germany-South Wine Tour by ombiasy (2014)

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

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

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

Bourgogne Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), France

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

Germany-North Wine Tour by ombiasy, 2014

Germany-South Wine Tour by ombiasy, 2014

German Wine and Culture Tour by ombiasy, 2013

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Picture: Christian Schiller, Phil Bernstein and Annette Schiller

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

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

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

Grosses Gewächs (GG), Kabinett, Spätlese and Auslese

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

Pictures: The Tasting

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

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

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

Pictures: Phil Bernstein

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

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

Tasting

The 2014 Vintage in Germany

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

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

Starter

Picture: Annette Schiller Pouirng the 2014 Dragonstone Riesling Weingut Leitz

2014 Dragonstone Riesling Weingut Leitz (US$ 15.99)

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

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

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

Flight 1

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

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

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

Flight 2

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

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

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

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

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

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

Flight 3

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

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

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

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

Flight 4

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

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

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

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

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

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

Flight 5

2014 Rausch Riesling Weingut Zilliken Auslese (US79.99)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

For previous years, see:

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

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

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

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

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

Pictures: President Carl Willner Closing the 2016 Event

schiller-wine: Related Postings

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

Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pictures: Austin

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

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

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

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

Pictures: Reception

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

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

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

Pictures: Dinner

Traubenhaus

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

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

Pictures: Chris Comfort and Abigail Perry, both Traubenhaus

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

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

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

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

About Chef Alice Gonzalez

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

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

Pictures: Chef Alice Gonzalez and MD Bob Peckenpaugh

Celebrating the Wines and Foods of Germany

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

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

dinner

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

Pictures: Dinner - A Celebration of Germany

first course
Skate Schnitzel
Wine Pairing: 2012 Weegmüller Pinot Blanc

Pictures: first course and 2012 Weegmüller Pinot Blanc

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

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

Pictures: second course and 2012 Nauert-Gnagy Pinot Gris

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

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

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

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

coffee

Picture: coffee

The German Wine Culture: Dry or Sweet or Both?

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

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

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

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

Pictures: Annette Schiller and Chris Comfort

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

schiller-wine: Related Postings

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

Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Program

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Auctions

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bordeaux Producers at Heart’s Delight 2016

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

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

Château du Tertre, Margaux, Alexander van Beek

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

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

Château Giscours, Margaux, Alexander van Beek

Château Guiraud, Sauternes, Luc Planty

Château Kirwan, Margaux, Sophie Schÿler

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

Château Lafon-Rochet, Saint-Estèphe, Lucas Leclercq

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

Château Lagrange, Saint-Julien, Charlotte Denjean

Château Lascombes, Margaux, Karine Barbier

Château Lynch-Bages, Pauillac, Stephen Bolger

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

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

Château Montrose, St.-Estephe, Hervé Berland

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

Château Phélan Ségur, Saint-Estèphe, Pamela Wittman

schiller-wine - Related Postings

Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), France

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Picture: Annette and Christian Schiller in Texas

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

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

Pictures: Austin

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

Picture: Map of Texas

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

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

Pictures: Fredricksburg in the Texas Hill Country

American Viticultural Areas (AVA)

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

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

Pictures: At Tasting Room of Narrow Path Winery in Fredericksburg

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

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

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

Pictures: At Tasting Room of Fiesta Winery in Fredericksburg

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

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

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

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

Grape Varieties

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

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

Pictures: At Tasting Room of Grape Greek Vineyards in Fredericksburg

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

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

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

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

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

Sparkling Wine

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

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

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

Johannes Bürkle was our host.

Pictures: Arriving at Weingut Simon-Bürkle

Weingut Simon-Bürkle

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

Pictures: Annette Schiller with Dagmar Simon and Johannes Bürkle

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

11 hectares

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

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

Pictures: Tasting with Johannes Bürkle

The Wines we Tasted

2009 Weingut Simon-Bürkle Zwingenberger Steingeröll Riesling Sekt brut

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

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

Postings: Germany-East Wine and Art Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015) (Published and Forthcoming)

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

The Art Marketer: OMBIASY PR & WINE TOURS - Germany-East

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Domaine Nicolas Rossignol

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

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

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

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

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

Pictures: Nicolas Rossignol

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

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

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

La Bergerie

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

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

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

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

Importer and Distributor: Elite Wines

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

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

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

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

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

Reception

Hors D’Oeuvres

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

Pictures: Reception

Dinner

Pictures: Dinner

First Course

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

Picture: Le Crab Mou aux Anchois et Lardons

2013 Domaine Rossignol Savigny les Beaune

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

Picture: 2013 Domaine Rossignol Savigny les Beaune

Second Course

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

Picture: Les Tagliarinis à l’Huile de Truffe Blanche

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

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

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

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

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

Third Course

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

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

2013 Domaine Rossignol Pommard “Les Vignots”

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

Picture: 2013 Domaine Rossignol Pommard “Les Vignots”

Fourth Course

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

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

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

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

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

Café Gourmand

Picture: Sweets

Thanks ... and See You in Beaune

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

Pictures: Nicolas Rossignol and Laurent Givry

schiller-wine - Related Postings

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

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

Bourgogne Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), France

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

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

Rieslingfeier 2016 in New York: The Gränd Tasting - The Winemakers of the Rieslingfeier 2016, USA

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

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

ombiasy WineTour 2013: Bordeaux - All Postings

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

Best German Winemakers - Falstaff Deutschland Wine Trophies 2016

Visit of a Small, Premium Sekt Producer: Sektkellerei Bardong in the Rheingau, Germany – Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), Germany

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

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

Rieslingfeier 2016 in New York – Gala Dinner, USA

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

Tour and Tasting at Château Mouton-Rothschild, Pauillac, 1ière Grand Cru Classé – Bordeaux-Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), Bordeaux, France

Coming up: Dr. Loosen Winemaker Dinner and Tastings in the Washington DC Area and ombiasy Wine Tours in Germany, USA/ Germany

ombiasy WineTours 2014: Germany-North and Germany-South - All Postings

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

German Wine and Food in Texas: A German Wine and Food Dinner in Austin with Justin Bryan, Traubenhaus, USA/ Germany

Bordeaux Rendezvous in Washington DC: Heart’s Delight Wine Tasting and Auction (2016), USA/ France

Wine Producer Texas, USA

Tasting at Weingut Simon-Bürkle, Zwingenberg, Hessische Bergstrasse – Germany-East Wine and Art Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), Germany

Winemaker Dinner with Nicolas Rossignol, Domaine Rossignol in the Bourgogne, at La Bergerie in Alexandria, Virginia