schiller-wine

Triggered by a review of Tom Sietsema in the Washington Post, Annette, Maureen, Fuad and I had dinner at Rania in Washington DC downtown.

The food was innovative and the 19-page wine list amazing, ranging from decent enty-level wines to premium wines from all major wine regions.

2 of us had the 4-course menu and 2 of us the 3-course menu.

We had 2 bottles, a German Pinot Noir from Weingut Ziereisen, an non-mainstream producer highly regarded by German wine afficiniados but hard to find in the USA and a traditional Chianti Classico.

The restaurant was full with young to middle age people. You saw very few white shirts and ties.

Rania

We are excited to welcome you to Rania, DC's newest, hottest destination for modern Indian food. Tom Sietsema has called our food "some of the most inspired Indian cooking in DC." Here at Rania, we offer homage to the time-honored traditions, rich flavors, and spices of India in an intimate, luxurious setting. We look forward to sharing our vision with you!

Choose between our sophisticated, highly acclaimed 3 or 4-course prix-fixe menu, or a flexible à la carte option (note: à la carte available for dinner Tuesday through Thursday, and Friday & Saturday after 9 PM)

Led by Executive Chef Chetan Shetty—formerly of the critically acclaimed Indian Accent in New York and Delhi (#22 on the prestigious 2022 Asia’s 50 Best list)—RANIA will introduce our guests to a new and unexpected approach to Indian cuisine.

Eater Washington DC

Much of India’s rich history can be observed through the lens of regional cuisine. Influenced by nine major religions, a range of geographic landscapes, trade routes, and colonization, there’s more to India than vindaloo and naan (although those dishes are undeniably popular for good reason). The D.C. area is a hub for Indian immigrants, with many choosing to share their memories and family recipes in professional kitchens.

From nationally lauded, modernized fine dining venues to fast-casual counters, here are over a dozen reliable destinations for Indian food around D.C.

Rania

The palace-like Penn Quarter space that formerly housed Punjab grill reopened this spring as a luxe new Indian restaurant called Rania, which means “Queen” in Hindi and Sanskrit. Chef Chetan Shetty, who recently cooked at acclaimed New Delhi restaurant Indian Accent, guides diners through a multi-course dinner of inventive Indian cuisine that goes way beyond the expected (as in dishes like braised lamb shank accented with spinach, coconut foam, ghoda masala spice blend, and mustard frills). Prix-fixe menus of three ($75) or four courses ($90) join an a la carte menu at the restaurant’s Sundowner Bar.

Rania offers guests the option between a 3 or 4-course prix-fixe menu OR an à la carte menu. The prix-fixe menu is available for either 3 courses ($75) or 4 courses ($95), with the option to add wine pairings and cocktails as desired. The à la carte menu will be available Tuesdays thru Thursdays, and Fridays and Saturdays after 9 pm. The à la carte menu will not apply to our special holiday menus. vv

Dinner

2 of us had the 4-course menu and 2 of us the 3-course menu.

Amuse bouche

Fennel and mango chutney

Second

Chana masala panisse

Green garlic chutney, tomato tukku, shishito peppers

Amritsari hollandaise, moringa podi and finger lime

Red onion laccha, buttermilk mousse

Third

Saffron nihari, charred brassica, pickled mustard

Salli aloo, masala egg

Bread

Fennel granita

Masala chai ice cream

The Wines

We had 2 bottles, a German Pinot Noir from Weingut Ziereisen, an non-mainstream producer highly regarded by German wine afficiniados but hard to find in the USA and a traditional Chianti Classico.

Weingut Ziereisen, Baden, Germany

Weingut Ziereisen
16 hectares
45% Spätburgunder, 25% Gutedel

Pictures: Massive Tasting at Weingut Ziereisen, with Hanspeter and Edeltraud Ziereisen. See: 2 Cellar Tours and 1 Tasting at Weingut Ziereisen in Efringen, Markgräfler Land, Baden, with Hanspeter and Edel Ziereisen - Germany-South and Alsace 2018 Tour by ombiasy WineTours: Baden, Alsace, Pfalz and Rheinhessen

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Following a morning visit of Domaine Hugel in Riquewhir and an afternoon visit of Domaine Weinbach in Kaysersberg, we had a winepairing dinner at the 1-star Michelin Le Maximilien in Zellenberg.

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Le Maximilien

The restaurant sits in the heart of the vineyards in Alsace providing for panoramic views
from the terrace in the summer. Le Maximilien is a renowned dining destination. Chef
Jean-Michel Eblin presents an innovative and contemporary cuisine combining the
flavors of the Alsatian terroir.

Michelin - 1 Star

Jean-Michel Eblin, the chef-patron of this place in the pretty village of Zellenberg, is clear on one thing: he will never sell it! We can understand his almost visceral attachment to this establishment, which is built on a plot of (Pinot Noir) vineyards that belonged to his family. With impressive consistency, he creates cuisine based on solid classical foundations, with the occasional nod to modern innovation for good measure. Might you opt for his turbot, green asparagus and morels or, alternatively, the shredded scallop, truffle and baby lettuce? The produce is fresh and of excellent quality; it is all elevated by a fine wine list: they have ticked all the boxes here.

Gault Millau 15/20

Posée au pied du village en éperon, dans un écrin de vignes et de vergers, face à Riquewihr et la chaîne des Vosges, cette villa des années 1990 prodigue sans retenue l'art de vivre et l'hospitalité de la route des vins d'Alsace. Dans l'élégante salle à manger classique dotée de tables rondes agréablement espacées, on goûte la lumière et l’environnement, mais aussi la cuisine de Jean-Michel Eblin, Alsacien estampillé et artisan solide passé par L'Auberge de l'Ill.

Son expérience et sa maîtrise technique s'expriment en plats de facture classique inspirés par le terroir alsacien. On aime la vivacité de ce hors-d'œuvre à base de queues de gambas bien fermes, préparées en deux façons avec juste ce qu'il faut d'avocat pour la gourmandise et de pomme verte pour la fraîcheur. La chair du joli filet de bar est rendue soyeuse par une cuisson précise et mise en valeur par la délicate fleur de courgette farcie ainsi que par quelques truffes d’été sensibles. On ne se lassera jamais de ce grand classique qu'est cette belle poitrine de pigeon rôtie de Théo Kieffer, accompagnée d'un cromesquis de cuisse confite, coriandre et betterave, et soulignée par un jus épicé bien réduit, solide retour aux fondamentaux de la cuisine française. Les becs sucrés ne seront pas déçus avec les desserts au diapason, à l'instar de cette composition à base de griottes, chocolat et mascarpone, qui n'est pas sans nous rappeler les saveurs de la traditionnelle forêt-noire.

Ambiance distinguée, service attentionné mais détendu, dirigé par Anne Eblin.

Welcome by Owner-Chef Jean-Michel Eblin

Dinner

Menu Dégustation

Bye-bye

Germany-South and Alsace 2022 by ombiasy WineTours: All Postings (already posted and forthcoming)

Summary: Germany-South and Alsace 2022 by ombiasy WineTours

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Picture: Stephan Reinhardt at the 2019 VDP Weinbörse in Mainz, Germany. See: Attending the 2019 VDP.Weinbörse - Vintage 2018 - in Mainz - Germany-North Tour 2019 by ombiasy WineTours: Quintessential Riesling

A few days ago, Stephan Reinhardt, who covers Germany for the Robert Parker Wine Advocate, released a list of his 5 favorite wines of 2022 on the Wine Advocate Website.

This is a most interesting list, which I am re-releasing here, with the text of Stephan Reinhardt. I have added a few of my pictures.

Stephan Reinhardt - Robert Parker Wine Advocate: My 5 Favorite Wines of 2022

I am currently finishing another big Germany report with more than 700 wines that will be published here very soon. Of course, among them are many personal favorites, although that doesn’t mean these are the highest-rated wines. You could easily rank all the tasted wines by scores in our archive and wouldn’t need any further explanation. Yet here, I only recommend what I have personally bought this year or wish I would have bought early enough. 2021 was a very difficult vintage in Germany not only due to a very small crop but also due to the fact that many rainfalls let the grapes ripen only slowly and late. While the dry white wines are most likely not the best ever made, the classic predicates such as Kabinett and Spätlese brought some exceptional Rieslings, namely along the Mosel but also the Nahe and the Rhine. The naturally high but ripe acidity levels were just perfect for Rieslings that did not ferment to fully dry (or weren’t allowed to ferment dry), since the acidity combined with the mineral tension uplifts the sweetness that has rarely tasted that dry in recent years. In fact, I haven’t tasted such lean but dramatic Rieslings as the 2021s in more than 20 years, when global warming or climate change wasn’t yet on everybody’s minds. However, my favorites were not just Rieslings this year, and certainly not just 2021s.

A Wine for The Cellar:2021 Schäfer-Fröhlich Felseneck GG (Germany, Nahe)

Tim Fröhlich's Rieslings from the Bockenauer Felseneck are among the most impressive wines in Germany. The steep slope is located somewhat off the beaten path, in the valley basin of the Ellerbach, a side valley of the upper Nahe. Fröhlich owns nine hectares in the purely south-facing site, where the vines climb from 250 to 310 meters in elevation up to a high plateau. About 80% of the acreage is planted with vines that are over 40 years old, sending their roots deep into the rocky, easily warmed, but also permeable soil that is dominated by upper red clay, with conglomerates of blue Devonian slate, white-gray quartzite and basalt boulders. Miraculously, the old vines defy summer drought (as they did in 2018 to 2020) but also the abundant rainfall that occurred in 2021. The precision and finesse of the Riesling Grosses Gewächs from the Felseneck was not affected by the 2021 vintage. In any case, the wine is incredibly impressive and expresses the multilayered slate minerality of the Felseneck terroir in a focused yet currently wild and untamed way, reminiscent of crushed flint and slate stones, herbs, green leaves, chamomile, lime zest and iodine. Full-bodied and rich on the palate, this is a pure and crystalline laser sword of a dry Riesling that should be cellared for at least 10 years in order to reach the Mount Everest of German Riesling.

Picture: Christian Schiller and Tim Fröhlich in Wiesbaden

Pictures: At Weingut Schäfer-Fröhlich in Bockenau. See: Tasting at Weingut Schäfer-Fröhlich in Bockenau, Nahe - Germany-North Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours

A Wine That's Under the Radar:2017 Weingut Krone Assmannshausen Höllenberg GG (Germany, Rheingau)

The Höllenberg in Assmannshausen, Rheingau, is one of the most famous and best sites for Pinot Noir in Germany and has been for a very, very long time. Ewald Schug, father of Walter Schug, who grew up in the Assmannshausen domaine of the Hessische Staatsweingüter but became famous in Napa Valley and Carneros, produced some of the finest red wines in German history here between 1919 and 1959. Vintages such as 1945, 1947 and 1959 still easily hold their own alongside the most expensive grand crus from Burgundy, as so many tastings have proven. Thank goodness the treasury of the Staatsweingüter is well stocked, so that earlier this year I was again able to taste the Assmannshäuser Pinot Noirs far back into the 19th century (the report will be published in the first quarter of 2023), which once again proved the value of this steep slope on the Rhine. Nevertheless, it is neither the sought-after Höllenberg Pinots of youngster Carsten Saalwächter nor those of doyen August Kesseler or even those of the Staatsweingüter that have remained under the radar for so long, but it is the Pinot Noirs of Krone Assmannshausen belonging to the Weingüter Wegeler. Michael Burgdorf, the most reliable constant at Wegeler for 22 years, has also been responsible for these red wines growing on phyllite slate soils for 15 years. The pinnacle of his cellar master's art is the Spätburgunder Grosses Gewächs from the Höllenberg. This juicy, salty and, above all, vital red wine comes on sale late, just as it used to when Assmannshäuser was synonymous with German red wine. Currently, the two vintages 2016 and 2017 are offered. Both vintages are great, but the 2017 is perhaps a touch denser and more dramatic: it is bright red, firm and distinctive, and although it’s no charmer, it is confident and terroir-driven, a rigorous classic of German red wine literature.

A Wine for Tonight:2009 J.B. Becker Wallufer Walkenberg Riesling Auslese Alte Reben (Germany, Rheingau)

Matured Riesling, of course, because this is what Riesling is made for. If you don’t have the chance, Hans-Josef Becker has. His winery in Walluf is something of a Gallic village in the Rheingau, even though Becker is not a rebel, just because he looks like one. Rather, he is a preservationist, a mustachioed patron saint of the authentic. Becker still uses the old German Prädikate (predicates) even for dry wines, which would be forbidden if he was a member of the VDP. The message included behind terms such as Kabinett, Spätlese or Auslese: My wine is naturally pure. Not improved, not sanded down, but naturally beautiful. The Pinot Noirs anyway, but also the vast majority of Rieslings are dry; and if they are not, then nature has arranged it that way, and man, Becker knows how to accept that. After all, he has a spacious cellar and sometimes allows his wines a lot of time. When Becker's wines have matured in the bottle for some years, like the 2009 Auslese from the Walkenberg—which was not fermented completely dry and which he put back on sale in late summer—then one would prefer to drink each bottle on its own. That's a mouthful of Riesling! And while many 2009s are hanging limp and heavy on the ropes today, Becker's Walkenberg knows how to dance, smack and charm. A wine that sings the praises of the Wallufer Walkenberg and, last but to least, of matured Riesling.

Pictures: Tasting at Weingut J.B. Becker in Walluf, Rheingau, with Hajo Becker – Germany-North Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours

A Wine from a Producer That Exemplifies Sustainability: 2020 Adams Wein Chardonnay Lohpfad (Germany, Rheinhessen)

Since 2010, Dr. Simone Adams has been producing her own wines on the chalky weathered soils of Ingelheim am Rhein (Rheinhessen), predominantly from the grape varieties of the Burgundy family—i.e. Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir—as well as Chardonnay. In her first 12 years, Adams has developed what she calls "empathic viticulture." It consists of drawing conclusions from close observation in the vineyard as well as in the cellar, which continues to improve and refine the work in the field as well as in the cellar for the sake of the vine and the wine. After a few years of experience, there was no way around ecological work and, as a last consequence, biodynamics. Next year, Adams’s vineyard will be certified biodynamic, but she already tends her 10 hectares of vines like a garden. One almost gets the impression that she is on a first-name basis with every vine and is happy to be able to work and learn in this natural milieu. Adams focuses entirely on the system of soil, plant and light and is highly creative in what she does to bring out "the elegance, the pure, the finesse" in her wines, which come from the 50th latitude and should accordingly be subtle even in times of global warming, leading to certain viticultural measures. Adams’s wines are reflections of their origins, at least as much as possible and a little more each year. In the cellar, Adams can then leave her wines "on a long leash." Overripe, maximum extraction and high alcohol yield are not sought after, nor are French genetics. Simone Adams, a warmly cheerful as well as down-to-earth and obliging person, produces subtle, highly authentic Ingelheim Burgundies. They are certainly not yet the most spectacular in the country, but that is exactly what they are in any case: fine and lively unique Ingelheim wines that are simply a joy to drink. In addition to her Pinot Noirs (which she calls Spätburgunder and not Pinot Noir), the 2020 Chardonnay Lohpfad from the Ingelheim Schlossberg stands out. Grown in clayey marl, the wine is powerful and intense yet pure, complex and full of tension, as the fruit is joined by salt and even iodine notes, as well as lively acidity and fine tannin structure. If there are producers who continue the great Ingelheim Pinot Noir tradition of the 19th century, then it is Simone Adams and also Carsten Saalwächter, from whom we will also have much to report in the coming years.

Pictures: Stefan Braunewell (Weingut Braunewell), Stephan Attmann (Weingut von Winning), Frankfurt/Wein, Nadine Poss (Deutsche Weinkönigin), Frankfurt/Wein, Markus Berres (Weingut C.H. Berres), Simone Adams ( Weingut Simone Adams), Carmen von Nell (Dominikanerweingut von Nell-Breuning). See: Frankfurt/Wein Celebrated with the German Wine Queen Nadine Poss and 5 Winemakers: Simone Adams, Weingut Simone Adams, Markus Berres, Weingut C.H. Berres, Stefan Braunewell, Weingut Braunewell, Carmen von Nell-Breuning, Dominikaner Weingut, and Stephan Attmann, Weingut von Winning

A Wine That’s Especially Good Value: 2021 Willi Schaefer Graacher Domprobst Riesling Kabinett (Germany, Mosel)

Ever since I have been drinking wine, I have been drinking Rieslings from Willi Schaefer. No Riesling is brighter, finer, more heavenly or more incomprehensible and yet stands with its feet in the slate that produces unmistakable wines of absolute world class in the Graacher Himmelreich and even more so in the Domprobst. One would recognize their smoky spiciness even in one's sleep and immediately want to open a bottle of Kabinett! The 2021 vintage was small in volume, but the qualities were superb! I didn’t study any wines longer this year than the 2021s from Christoph and Andrea Schaefer. Namely, the Kabinett Rieslings from this cool vintage are terrific. Although not dry, I first understood the darker-toned Domprobst in particular as a full-blown food wine, as deep and complex as it is for all its lightness. Great art, distributed over two fuders: AP #1 and AP #3. That is too little for the world, but to never forget the wine again, one sip is enough.

Pictures: Christian Schiller, Christoph Schaefer and Annette Schiller. See: Rieslingfeier 2018 in New York City: Gränd Tasting and Gala Dinner

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

Carl Willner, Christian Schiller and Ken Bensley of the German Wine Society/ Washington DC Chapter (Re-)elected to the National Board, USA, Germany

"Silent Winds, Dry Seas" - Literary Salon: Book Reading and Discussion with the Author Vinod Busjeet Followed by Dinner at the Schiller Residence in Virginia, USA

The American Wine Society National Conference 2022 in Bellevue/ Seattle, Washington State - Seen through Christian Schiller`s Camera Lens

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

2022 Holiday Party of the German Wine Society (Washington DC Chapter) at the Cosmos Club in Washington DC Downtown, USA/ Germany

Announcement: Annette Schiller Presenting "All Sorts of Sparklers: How do the Bubbles get into that Bottle" at the Northern Virginia Chapter of the AWS on Friday, January 6, 2023

Nicolas Quillé (MW): Overview of German Wine - Regions, Grape Varieties and Labeling Rules

The Vinum Weinguide Germany 2023 was released a few weeks ago, presenting Vinum's choice of Germany’s best 1 000 wine producers and reviewing more than 10 700 wines on 1118 pages.

5 out of 5 stars („world class“) were awarded to 18 estates. In addition, there are 31 estates with 4.5 stars, and 66 estates with 4 stars.

See here: Germany's 18 Top Winemakers (With 5/5 Stars) - Vinum WeinGuide Deutschland 2023

This posting is the tenth in a series of postings that provide more details on individual wine regions.

Ahr: The Top Winemakers - Vinum WeinGuide Deutschland/ Germany 2023

Baden: The Top Winemakers - Vinum WeinGuide Deutschland/ Germany 2023

Franken: The Top Winemakers - Vinum WeinGuide Deutschland/ Germany 2023

Hessische Bergstrasse: The Top Winemakers - Vinum WeinGuide Deutschland/ Germany 2023

Mittelrhein: The Top Winemakers - Vinum WeinGuide Deutschland/ Germany 2023

Mosel: The Top Winemakers - Vinum WeinGuide Deutschland/ Germany 2023

Nahe: The Top Winemakers - Vinum WeinGuide Deutschland/ Germany 2023

Pfalz: The Top Winemakers - Vinum WeinGuide Deutschland/ Germany 2023

Rheingau: The Top Winemakers - Vinum WeinGuide Deutschland/ Germany 2023

Rheinhessen: The Top Winemakers - Vinum WeinGuide Deutschland/ Germany 2023

Saale-Unstrut: The Top Winemakers - Vinum WeinGuide Deutschland/ Germany 2023

Sachsen: The Top Winemakers - Vinum WeinGuide Deutschland/ Germany 2023

Württemberg: The Top Winemakers - Vinum WeinGuide Deutschland/ Germany 2023

In the Saale-Unstrut region, there are no producers with 5/5, 4.5/5 or 4/5 stars in the Vinum WeinGuide Deutschland/ Germany 2023. There is 1 producer with 3.5/5 and there are 4 producers with 3/5 stars.

Annette Schiller, ombiasy WineTours, and I have met 4 of these 5 producers at various occasions over the past years, often at their estate during a Germany wine tour by ombiasy WineTours, which is owned and run by Annette Schiller and based in Washington DC, USA.

Saale Unstrut

(London Wine Competition)

The German wine region of Saale-Unstrut, located almost entirely within the federal state of Saxony-Anhalt, is defined primarily by two rivers – the Saale and the Unstrut. It is also the northernmost of all of Germany’s wine regions, meaning that the most popular wines here are those that thrive in cooler climates.

In terms of white and red wines, white grape varietals account for nearly three-quarters (74%) of all wine production in Saale-Unstrut. The most popular white grape varietals include Müller-Thurgau (18.4%), Pinot Blanc (12.1%), Silvaner (8.3%) and Blauer Portugieser (6.7%). Popular red varietals include Dornfelder (7.3%).

Unlike in many of Germany’s other wine regions, Riesling wines do not account for the dominant share of wine production. According to the most recent available estimates, Riesling only accounts for 7.3% of all wines from this region.

Due to the cooler climate and shorter growing season, wines from Saale-Unstrut are known for their acidity, which many wine drinkers describe as refreshing. Many of the most popular vineyards are growing along the hill slopes of the river valleys.

Winemaking in Saale-Unstrut has existed since the 990s, when the Memleben Abbey was a famed producer of white wines. As in other areas of Germany, wine villages along the major river valleys sprung up in response to the demand for wines. Saale-Unstrut, though, has been largely overshadowed by other larger and more popular German wine regions, such as Mosel. In 1993, the Burgenlandkreis district within Saale-Unstrut opened a wine route for tourists to sample the wines of this northern German wine region.

Visiting Rheingau Producers

Pawis - 3.5/5 Stars

Picture: Weingut Pawis in the Saale Unstrut Region: Tour and Wine Tasting with Marcus Pawis – Germany-East Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours

Picures: Annette Schiller and Bernhard Pawis, Weingut Pawis, at Kloster Eberbach, Rheingau

Pictures: Christian Schiller with Bernhard Pawis at Weingut Pawis in the Saale Unstrut Region

Picture: Christian Schiller and Kerstin Pawis at Weingut Pawis: Riesling!!!

Picture: Christian Schiller and Ina Paris. See: Weingut Klaus Boehme in Saale Unstrut in Germany

Picture: 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)

Pictures: Vineyard Walk with Matthias Hey. See: Germany-East Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Art, Culture, History - Berlin, Saale-Unstrut, Sachsen, Württemberg, Franken

Pictures: Visiting Weingut Hey- See: Germany-East Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Art, Culture, History - Berlin, Saale-Unstrut, Sachsen, Württemberg, Franken

About an hour away by car from Bordeaux City is the Bassin d'Arcachon.

The Bassin d’Arcachon is one of the most beautiful regions in France. This region is a perfect mix of the earthy traditions of the Landes region and the seaside joys of the Atlantic coast of France. It has a special atmosphere with stunning landscapes and culinary traditions.

On the Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours, we always spent one day at the Bassin d'Arcachon. Our favorite place for lunch is Pinasse Café, Cap Ferret, with a gorgeous view over the bay, the oyster farms and the village of Arcachon and the Dunes de Pilat, the largest in Europe, in the distance.

The Bassin d'Arcachon

The Bassin d'Arcachon is a bay of the Atlantic Ocean on the southwest coast of France, located just a few kilometres away from Bordeaux. The bay covers an area of 150 km² at high tide and 40 km² at low tide. Just south of the entrance is the Great Dune of Pyla. Nearly in the middle of the bay is a very particular island: L'île aux Oiseaux (Isle of the Birds).

Cap Ferret is a narrow strip of land between the Bay of Arcachon and the Atlantic Ocean where numerous no frills wooden oyster shacks line the beach (cabanes de pecheurs). The menu simply lists different kinds of oysters and their prices. It’s here that a large part of France’s 130,000-ton oyster harvest is produced. Cap Ferret is a fishing village with numerous oyster and seafood places.

Michelin - Pinasse Café

With its idyllic terrace overlooking the waves, this restaurant is an ode to Arcachon Bay and the Dune du Pilat. Local fish and shellfish take pride of place (oysters above all) and, as for the name, a "pinasse" is the traditional boat of the Arcachon coast.

Oyster Banks in Front of the Pinasse Café

From the Pinasse Café you have a good view of the oyster banks .

When we arrived, it was low tide and we could see the oyster banks. We even could have gone there as we have done before.

During lunch the water came in and the oyster banks disappeared in the water.

Restaurant Chez Hortense

With the group, we always have lunch at Pinasse Café, for a number of reasons, including the more central location and the view of the oyster banks. Another fine seafood place is Restaurant Chez Hortense, closer to the tip of Cap Ferret.

Avenue du Semaphore, 33950, Lege-Cap-Ferret, France

Picture: Lunch at Chez Hortense in Cap Ferret, with 4th Generation Owner Bernadette Lescarret

Paris Match: Face à eux, les plus belles vues : l’île aux Oiseaux, le banc d’Arguin, la dune du Pilat. Et, pour lieu de rendez-vous, Chez Hortense, une institution. On n’y respire pas seulement l’iode mais aussi l’Histoire. Au départ, il y eut Hortense Lescarret, qui ouvrit l’établissement à la fin de la Première Guerre mondiale. Depuis, quatre générations se sont succédé, dont la dernière représentante est Bernadette, sans aucun doute une des femmes les plus connues de la commune. Impossible de la louper, dans une robe à fleurs multicolore. Auprès d’elle, François et Olivier, ses deux fils, et Frédéric, son neveu. Midi et soir, la terrasse affiche complet. Les tables sont réservées dix jours à l’avance.

Pictures: At Chez Hortense

lexpress.com: Bernadette Lescarret, la patronne de Chez Hortense. Qui ne connaît pas Chez Hortense n'est pas... du bassin d'Arcachon ! Cette institution de Cap-Ferret a vu quatre générations d'habitués se succéder. Aux fourneaux, les troisième et quatrième générations des Crampé oeuvrent de concert : Bernadette Lescarret, 60 ans, ses fils François, 35 ans, en cuisine, et Olivier, 30 ans, en salle, ainsi que son neveu Frédéric, 40 ans. C'est en 1914 qu' Hortense Crampé (grand-mère de Bernadette) rachète avec son mari l'hôtel-restaurant de la pointe de Cap-Ferret. Attaqué par l'érosion, l'hôtel s'effondre en 1936. Pour rouvrir à quelques mètres de là deux ans plus tard. On y sert moules, huîtres rôties au foie gras et poissons grillés, dans une atmosphère familiale.

Pictures: Langoustines, Oysters on the Half Shell and Moules avec des Frites

Bye-bye

Bordeaux Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours, France (Published and Forthcoming Postings)

Total Immersion in Bordeaux: World Class Wines and Exquisite French Gourmet Cuisine - Bordeaux Tour 2019 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Total Immersion in Bordeaux: World Class Wines and Exquisite French Gourmet Cuisine - Bordeaux Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Total Immersion in Bordeaux: World Class Wines and Exquisite French Gourmet Cuisine - Bordeaux Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2016, France

Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), France

Bordeaux Wine Tour 2013 by ombiasy

Bordeaux Wines and their Classifications: The Basics

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

What is a Bordeaux Cru Bourgeois? France

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

How Does the Negociant System in Bordeaux Work? Tour and Tasting at Millésima - Bordeaux Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours, France

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

Dinner with a View: At Restaurant L’Estacade in Bordeaux City - Bordeaux Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Schiller’s Favorite Wine Bars in Bordeaux City - An Update

Schiller’s Favorite Seafood Places in Bordeaux City, France - An Update

Tour and Tasting at Château La Conseillante, Appellation Pomerol - Bordeaux Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Tour and Tasting at Château La Conseillante, Appellation Pomerol, with General Manager/ Winemaker Marielle Cazaux - Bordeaux Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Vineyard Tour, Cellar Tour and Tasting at Clos Puy Arnaud with Owner Thierry Valette, Appellation Côtes de Castillon - Bordeaux Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Lunch at Restaurant L’Atelier de Candale in Saint-Laurent-des-Combes - Bordeaux Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Tour and Cellar Tasting at Tertre-Rôtebœuf with Owner/ Winemaker François Mitjavile, Appellation Saint-Emilion - Bordeaux Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Saint Emilion Wines and their Classification, Bordeaux, France

Vineyard Tour in a Golf Cart and Tasting at Château Beau-Séjour Bécot, Premier Grand Cru Classé, Appellation Saint-Émilion - Bordeaux Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Winery Tour and Tasting at Château Dassault with the Managing Director, Grand Cru Classé, Appellation Saint-Émilion - Bordeaux Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Gourmet Wine-pairing Lunch at Château Le Bon Pasteur, Pomerol, with Dany Rolland - Bordeaux Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Cellar Tour and Tasting at Couvent des Jacobins, Grand Cru Classé, Appellation Saint-Émilion - Bordeaux Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours, France

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

Saint Emilion Wines and their Classification, Bordeaux, France

3 Days and Nights in the Spectacular Medieval Town of Saint-Émilion - Bordeaux Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Vineyard Tour, Cellar Tour, Lecture and Tasting at Château Reynier with Owner/ Winemaker Marc Lurton, Appellation Entre-Deux-Mers - Bordeaux Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Vineyard Tour, Cellar Tour and Tasting at Château Coutet, Premier Grand Cru Classé, Appellation Sauternes, with Technical Director Laurier Girardot - Bordeaux Tour 2019 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Lunch at Restaurant L’Entrecœur in Preignac, Sauternes - Bordeaux Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Winery Tour and Tasting at Château Smith-Haut-Lafitte, Grand Cru Classé Appellation Pessac-Léognan - Bordeaux Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Lunch at the Dordogne River at Restaurant Le Bord d’Eau in Fronsac - Bordeaux Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Winery Tour and Seated Tasting at Château de la Rivière, Appellation Canon-Fronsac - Bordeaux Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours, France

What we did for Dinner: 5 Nights in Bordeaux City - Wine More Time Wine Bar, Restaurant L‘Estacade, Restaurant La Terrasse Saint Pierre, Château Bouscaut, Grand Cru Classé de Graves - Bordeaux Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Lunch at Pinasse Café, Cap Ferret, at the Bassin d'Arcachon - Bordeaux Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Schiller's Favorite Seafood Restaurants in Arcachon and Cap Ferret (Bassin d'Arcachon/ Bordeaux)

L’Herbe: Visit of an Oyster Farmer - Bordeaux Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Oysters in Bordeaux: Visiting the Oyster Farmer Raphael Doerfler and his Earl Ostrea Chanca Oyster Farm in Grand Piquey/ Bassin d'Arcachon - Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2019, France

Winery Tour and Vertical Tasting at Château Cos d’Estournel, Appellation Saint-Estèphe, 2ième Grand Cru Classé, Appellation Saint-Estèphe - Bordeaux Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Tour and Tasting at Château Cos d’Estournel, Appellation Saint-Estèphe, 2ième Grand Cru Classé, with Managing Director Aymeric de Gironde - Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2016, France

Lunch at La Maison d’Estournel in Saint-Éstèphe - Bordeaux Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Tour and Tasting at Château Phélan-Ségur in Saint-Éstèphe, with Winemaker Fabrice Bacquey - Bordeaux Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Tour, Tasting and Lunch at Château Phélan-Ségur, with General Manager Véronique Dausse and Winemaker Fabrice Bacquey - Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2019, France

Tour and Tasting at Château Ferrière, 3ième Grand Cru Classé, Appellation Margaux - Bordeaux Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours, France

How a Barrel is Made: Visit of the Cooperage Berger & Fils in Vertheuil - Bordeaux Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours, France

How a Barrel is Made: Visit of the Cooperage Berger & Fils in Vertheuil– Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2017, France

Winery Tour and Tasting at Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande, 2ième Grand Cru Classé, Appellation Pauillac, with Nicolas Glumineau, Managing Director - Bordeaux Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Wine-pairing Lunch at Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande, 2ième Grand Cru Classé, Appellation Pauillac, with Nicolas Glumineau, Managing Director - Bordeaux Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Massive (16 Vintages) Tasting of Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande with MD/ Winemaker Nicolas Glumineau and Panos Kakaviatos in Washington DC, USA

Tour and Tasting at Château Pichon Longueville Baron in Pauillac - Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2017 France

Wine-Pairing Lunch at Château Pichon Longueville Baron in Pauillac - Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2017 France

Winery Tour and Tasting at Château Gruaud-Larose, 2ième Grand Cru Classé, Appellation Saint-Julien - Bordeaux Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Winery Tour and Tasting at Château Lynch-Bages, 5ième Grand Cru Classé, Appellation Pauillac - Bordeaux Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Vineyard Tour, Cellar Tour and Picnic-style Lunch at Château Kirwan, 3ième Grand Cru Classé, Appellation Margaux - Bordeaux Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Lunch, Tasting and Tour at Château Kirwan, Appellation Margaux, 3ième Grand Cru Classé, with Owner Natalie Schyler - Bordeaux Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours, 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

Dinner in the Private Quarters of the Château Bouscaut, Grand Cru Classé de Graves, Appellation Pessac-Léognan, with Owner Sophie Lurton Cogombles and Winemaker/ Owner/ Husband Laurent Cogombles

Winery Tour and Dinner at Château Bouscaut, Appellation Pessac-Léognan, Cru Classé de Graves, with Owner Sophie Cogombles-Lurton and her Husband Laurent Cogombles - Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2019, France

The most visited ancient monument in France, listed a world heritage site by Unesco, the Pont du Gard aqueduct remains one of humankind's great masterpieces. A marvel of Antiquity and a true technical feat, it is also a stupendous site that has regained its unspoiled state since its refurbishment.

We had lunch at Restaurant Les Terrassesat at Pont du Gard and spent about an hour touring the Pont du Gard.

Pont du Gard

Pont du Gard is an impressive ancient Roman aqueduct that served as the main component of the 50km-long canal that carried water between the spring at Uzès to the Roman colony of Nemausus (Nîmes). Created 2000 years ago in the 1st century AD, this aqueduct to this day remains the highest elevated Roman aqueduct of all time, and together with Aqueduct of Segovia one that was best preserved.

Built over the period of just around 15 years in 50AD using 30 million shelly limestones, Pont du Gard aqueduct has the form of three arched bridges placed one atop of other. The top of the bridge features water-carrying channel with a constant gradient of just 2.5cm from one side of the bridge to another. The Roman architects had access to very impressive construction techniques, which enabled them not only to create this 50-kilometer Nîmes aqueduct network in short period but also to have it loose only 17 meters in height over its entire structure that passes via underground passages and through numerous mountains. The overall gradient of the entire Nîmes aqueduct network is just 1 in 18,241, which is much lower than many other Roman aqueducts.

Pont du Gard today stands 48 meters (160 feet) tall and 275-meter-long, but in its original state, it was much longer at 360 meters (1,180 feet). Its three-tiered arched design was revolutionary for its time, managing to span Gardon river below it with a central arch that is 24.5m wide, a record for any structure that was built in 1st century AD. The entire construction featured 64 spans (6 in the lowest section, 11 in mid and 47 in highest), although the top section is today missing 12 of the arches.

The aqueduct was in use between 1st to 4th century AD, with some part of the network remaining operational even to the 6th century. By that point entire structure fell into disuse, and natural clogging and lack of maintenance caused a buildup of natural material that blocked the flow of water. Instead of falling to ruin like the majority of the original Nîmes aqueduct network, Pont du Gard managed to survive due to its ability to be used as a pedestrian bridge. Local lords and bishops were required to preserve the bridge in the operational state, collecting tolls and keeping this structure in the good state.

By 17th century bridge was still operational, but some of its stones were damaged, missing or were looted. By the 18th century, this historic aqueduct started gaining more and more attention from both the local governments and the international community, and it eventually became a popular tourist landmark. After the 18th century, several organized efforts by the French state and local authorities led to restoration and preservation of the Pont du Gard bridge structure. In 2000, Pont du Gard was finally fully transferred into a site of historic heritage, transferring pedestrian traffic from it and into a nearby visitor’s center. The aqueduct and the scenic area immediately surrounding Pont du Gard are protected by French “Monument Historique” (1840), French law (1930) and as UNESCO World Heritage Site (1985), where it was described as a mark of masterpiece of human creation, in the same way as Taj Mahal and Great Wall of China.

Lunch at Restaurant Les Terrasses at Pont du Gard

The Restaurant Les Terrasses is perhaps 100 meters from the Pont du Gard.We had a lovely lunch there, with a view of the Pont du Gard.

Rhône Valley Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours (Issued and Forthcoming Postings)

Rhône Valley Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France

Rhône Valley Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France

Rhône Valley Tour December 2017: From Lyon to Avignon - Wine, Food, Culture, History

Understanding the Wines of the Rhône Valley: The Classification - AOC/ Vin de Pay/ Vin de France

The Rhône Wine Region in Southern France and its Wines: History, Classification, Northern and Southern Rhône

Dinner at a Historic (Second Empire) Café-Brasserie in Lyon: Grand Café des Négociants - Rhône Valley Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France

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

Lunch at Le Bistro de Serine in Ampuis, Northern Rhône - Rhône Valley Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France

Visit and Tasting at Domaine de Boisseyt in Chavany, Northern Rhône - Rhône Valley Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France

Wine-pairing Dinner at Hôtellerie Restaurant Beau Rivage in Condrieu, Northern Rhône - Rhône Valley Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France

Tasting at Vins Jean-Luc Colombo with Anne Colombo in Cornas, Northern Rhône - Rhône Valley Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France

Visit and Tasting at Domaine du Tunnel with Owner/ Winemaker Stéphane Robert in Saint-Peray, Northern Rhône - Rhône Valley Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France

Lunch at Restaurant Le Quai (Michelin/ Bib Gourmand) in Tain-l’Hermitage, Northern Rhône - Rhône Valley Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France

Vineyard Walk and Tasting at Paul Jaboulet Aîné in Tain-l’Hermitage, Hermitage, Northern Rhône - Rhône Valley Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France

Tasting and Cellar Tour with Owner/ Winemaker David Reynaud at Domaine Les Bruyères in Beaumont-Monteux, Northern Rhône - Rhône Valley Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France

Lunch at Maison Chabran - La Grand Table with Chef Louis Chabran and his Father Chef Michel Chabran in Pont d l’Isère, Northern Rhône - Rhône Valley Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France

Tasting at Domaine Chaume-Arnaud with Owner/ Winemaker Valérie Chaume-Arnaud in Vinsobres, Southern Rhône- Rhône Valley Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France

Vineyard Tour, Cellar Visit and Tasting with Alexandra Berthet-Rayne at Domaine André Berthet-Rayne in Cairanne, Southern Rhône - Rhône Valley Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France

Tasting the Wines of Château de Beaucastel at Domaine du Clos des Tourelles in Gigondas with Alexandre Fréguin, UK Best Sommelier 2018 - Rhône Valley Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France

Wine-pairing Dinner at Restaurant L’Oustalet, 1 Star Michelin, in Gigondas, with Owner-chef Laurent Deconinck and Alexandre Fréguin, UK Best Sommelier 2018 - Rhône Valley Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France

Visit and Tasting at Domaine des Pasquiers in Sablet, Southern Rhône, with Owner/ Winemaker Philippe Lambert in Sablet, Southern Rhône - Rhône Valley Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France

Tasting at Domaine la Bouïssière, Gigondas, Southern Rhône, with Josiane Faravel - Rhône Valley Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France

Lunch at Restaurant La Maison de Celou (Michelin Bib Gourmand) in Châteauneuf-de-Cadagne - Rhône Valley Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France

In Les Baux de Provence: Visit of the Olive Oil Mill Moulin Castelas and Overnight Stay and Dinner Hôtel Le Mas de l’Oulivier - Rhône Valley Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France

Arles: Roman History and van Gogh - Rhône Valley Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France

At the Pont du Gard: Lunch at Restaurant Les Terrasses and Sightseeing at the Pont du Gard - Rhône Valley Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France

Lunch at Pont du Gard - Rhône Valley Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France

Avignon: Guided Tour of Pont Saint-Bénézet, the so-called ‘Pont d’Avignon’, and the Palace of the Popes - Rhône Valley Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France

Tasting at Domaine de La Solitude in Châteauneuf-du-Pape - Rhône Valley Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France

Vineyard and Cellar Tour at Vignobles Alain Jaume, Domaine Grand Veneur, with Hélène Jaume in Courthézon, Châteauneuf-du-Pape - Rhône Valley Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France

Wine-pairing Lunch at La Table d’Alain Jaume with Hélène Jaume at Domaine Grand Veneur in Courthézon, Châteauneuf-du-Pape - Rhône Valley Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France

Cellar Tour and Tasting at Domaine Beaurenard in Châteauneuf-du Pape - Rhône Valley Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France

Cellar Tour and Tasting at Domaine du Pegau in Châteauneuf-du-Pape - Rhône Valley Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France

Cellar Tour and Tasting at Domaine du Pégau in Châteauneuf du Pape, with Owner/ Winemaker Laurence Féraud and Winemaker Andreas Lenzenwöger - Rhône Valley Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France

Châteauneuf-du-Pape: Sightseeing of the Ruins of the Summer Palace of the Popes and Lunch - Rhône Valley Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France

Tasting of Châteuneuf-du-Pape Wines at La Cave de Mathias with Mathias in Châteauneuf-du-Pape - Rhône Valley Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France

Wine-pairing Dinner and Overnight-stay at Hôstellerie du Château des Fines Roches in Châteauneuf du Pape - Rhône Valley Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France

Dinner and Overnight-stay at Hôstellerie du Château des Fines Roches in Châteauneuf du Pape, with Chef Hugo Loridan-Fombonnet - Rhône Valley Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France

Pictures:Dresden is the New Unlikely Place for Fine Barolo Wine: Weingut Martin Schwarz– Germany-East Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours

The VDP, Verband deutscher Prädikatsweingüter, is the association of currently 202 elite winemakers in Germany. Admission is by invitation only. Earlier this year, 2 winemakers in Sachsen and in Saale-Unstut, in the area of the former GDR, were invited to join the VDP, Weingut Martin Schwarz in Sachsen and Weingut Böhme und Töchter in Saale Unstrut.

We plan to visit both of them on the forthcoming Germany-East Tour 2023 by ombiasy WineTours.

See: ombiasy WineTours: Wine Tour Schedule 2023 - Austria, Germany/East, Burgundy/ Champagne, Germany/ North

We have already visited Weingut Martin Schwartz on the Germany-East Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours.

See: Dresden is the New Unlikely Place for Fine Barolo Wine: Weingut Martin Schwarz– Germany-East Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours

Weingut Martin Schwarz (Sachsen)

Owner: Martin Schwarz

Cellarmaster:Martin Schwarz

Member: Since 2022

Wine Area: 6,00 acres

Grape Varieties: 27% Pinot Noir, 19% Blaufränkisch, 19% Riesling, 11% Pinot Blanc & Pinot Gris, 7% Chardonnay, 6% Müller Thurgau, 5% Traminer

Geology: Granite and syenite weathered rock

Growing Area: Sachsen

Interview: Site, Terroir, Quality, Wooden Barrel. It is Worth the Effort to Push the Envelope in the Steep Sites

Martin Schwarz about his wines ans his wine estate in Meissen

VDP: What is so special about your winery?

Martin Schwarz: We are lateral entrants and the 1st generation as winemakers. Without family tradition, but unbound and free of conventions, we see ourselves as wine pioneers of the East. We began very enthusiastically 20 years ago with just under half a hectare of steep slopes in the MEISSNER KAPITELBERG. After the first few years, we were disillusioned: no vineyards to lease, no affordable building, we had almost emigrated... Then a stroke of luck: we were able to revive a historic vineyard, clear trees, put up dry stone walls and finally plant Chardonnay, Pinot, Riesling and a little Nebbiolo. Today it is our most important and also most beautiful vineyard, the FRIEDSTEIN in Radebeul, where our great growths will be produced in the future. In the meantime, we have been able to expand to 6 hectares and vinify in our own winery, a historic 18th century vineyard in Meißen, beautifully situated directly on the Elbe.

VDP: What is your winery philosophy?

Martin Schwarz: Everything needs time to develop, not only the wine. You have to endure that and still remain in suspense.

VDP: For what wine style do you strive?

Martin Schwarz: Site, terroir, quality, wooden barrel. It is worth the effort to keep pushing the limits of what is possible in the steep sites. Then come finesse, elegance and character. Our favourite grape varieties are the Rieslings, which wonderfully reflect the site characteristics of our granite weathered soils. The Burgundies, which are endowed with minerality and animating freshness in our climate zone.

VDP: Which of your wines would you recommend to someone who does not yet know your winery – as an introduction, so to speak?

Martin Schwarz: Due to the initially small vineyard area with many different grape varieties, we started with Cuveés back then, Weiß & Grauburgunder, Riesling & Traminer, Spätburgunder & Portugieser. To this day, they are one of our trademarks, as they show that by combining two grape varieties, independent wines full of character and complexity can be created.

VDP: Of which wine are you particularly proud?

Martin Schwarz: We are particularly proud of our Pinot Noir FRIEDSTEIN, which shows that great red wines can also be produced in Saxony. This is repeatedly confirmed by blind tastings in which we were able to achieve very good rankings.

VDP: Why did you become a vintner?

Martin Schwarz: The beginning was probably the Château Margaux 1975, which I preferred to Latin back in my school days and drank with a good friend in the Karlsaue in Kassel. Since then, I have been intensively involved with everything concerning winemaking and the wine world. Then, when I read about Geisenheim in "All about Wine" during my electrical engineering studies, it was clear to me that I only wanted to become a winegrower.

VDP: Do you have role models or mentors?

Martin Schwarz: In the 80s, the big wineries in Bordeaux and especially in Burgundy were the icons. That changed in the 90s when I discovered the top Rieslings and top Burgundies of German winemakers. My mentor was undoubtedly Joachim Heger, who had a lasting influence on me.

VDP: What are your next goals?

Martin Schwarz: They are very demanding and essential. To put the business, in which we have invested a lot, on stable feet. To fully exploit the high potential of viticulture in Saxony and to make it better known to the outside world.

VDP: How do you combine tradition and innovation?

Martin Schwarz: "Tradition is yesterday's innovation" hit the nail on the head by a well-known winemaker. However, tradition also contains a lot of well-selected experience that needs to be preserved. And the wheel is always being reinvented anyway... The core elements remain unchanged for us: Steillage, manual labour, low yields, selection, wooden barrel, long yeast storage.

VDP: Why should people still visit your winery?

Martin Schwarz: Here, in our region, there is so much to discover: the old town of Meissen with the porcelain manufactory and Albrechtsburg Castle, Moritzburg Castle and Park, of course the baroque city of Dresden, the slopes of the Elbe in Dresden and Saxon Switzerland and much much more...

Weingut Böhme und Töchter

Owner: Familie Böhme

Cellarmaster: Marika & Sandro Sperk

Member: Since 2022

Wine Area:6,56 acres

Grape Varieties:Riesling (17 %), Pinot Blanc (12.5 %), Pinot Noir (7 %), Chardonnay (7 %), Müller-Thurgau (14 %)

Geology: Freyburger Edelacker: The mild microclimate of the south-facing and partly heavily terraced steep slopes is determined by the Unstrut. The overlying shell limestone, which often meets grown limestone after only 50 centimetres, serves as an ideal heat reservoir. Mediterranean plants such as wild thyme and rock sorrel grow here. The wines are characterised by a recognisable minerality and filigree fruitiness, with a small but distinct herbal component. Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)

Growing Area: Saale Unstrut

Interview: A Great Wine doesn´t grow just Anywhere

Marika & Sandro Sperk about their wines and their wine estate in Gleina

VDP: What is so special about your winery?

Sandro Sperk: "A great wine does not grow just anywhere". – At the end of our years of wandering, we realised: It's still best at home - that's where we belong, that's where we are needed. Our family has been making wine in Gleina since 1986 - and that is why Gleina remains the centre of our work. This is where we live, this is where we press our wine. But the place where our greatest growths mature is the Freyburger Schweigenberg (single vineyard site Freyburger Edelacker). With soils of mineral-rich shell limestone and its steep southern exposure, this mountain is made for the grape varieties that are close to our hearts: Pinot Blanc, Chardonnay, Riesling and Pinot Noir. Here they are at their best.

VDP: What is your winery philosophy?

Sandro Sperk: "The region is in the nature of our wines."– We are curious and want to explore the potential of the Saale-Unstrut region and our vineyards. Because great things can be created through respectful treatment of our nature and manual labour. Böhme & Töchter stands for honest character wines from classic grape varieties and a down-to-earth approach to the craft. The small winery always has its finger on the pulse of the times and leads the way in the community.

VDP: For what wine style do you strive?

Marika Sperk: We value tradition. In addition to working with steel tanks, in the cellar we rely more and more on long maceration periods, spontaneous fermentation, oak barrels - and on our gut feeling. This is rewarded with wines that tell of the microclimate and the soils of our vineyards, and which are a pleasure to drink again. Saale-Unstrut stands for grape variety diversity. Personally, however, we are particularly fond of Burgundy, especially Chardonnay.

VDP: Which of your wines would you recommend to someone who does not yet know your winery – as an introduction, so to speak?

Marika Sperk: Our Weißburgunder Ortswein is the perfect "Böhme & Töchter for beginners". A classic Burgundy from Saale-Unstrut: dry, taut and straightforward, paired with fresh chalky minerality and lots of drinking pleasure.

VDP: Of which wine are you particularly proud?

Sandro Sperk: To our Chardonnay from the Freyburger Schweigenberg. With determination and pioneering spirit, we planted the grape variety for the first time in this challenging steep slope in 2008. Since then, we have enjoyed the potential and positive development of the vines with each new vintage. The wine brings the complexity of the site and the terroir to the glass in a special way.

VDP: Why did you become a vintner?

Marika & Sandro Sperk: In principle, wine has always been a family affair and thus a formative part of our lives. We also feel a strong connection to our homeland. During our professional training in Geisenheim, we recognised the high value of the Saale-Unstrut wine region and our small family winery. Gleina is a diamond in the rough and we see it as our task to further develop the winery and the vineyards through new ideas - with family ties that support us in the process.

VDP: Do you have role models or mentors?

Marika & Sandro Sperk: By nature, we are very curious and enjoy moving forward. However, for every innovation of our own, we also need inspiration. Through the cooperation and constructive exchange with our colleagues from Breitengrad51 over the past years, we have received many impulses and have been able to further sharpen our profile.

VDP: What are your next goals?

Marika Sperk: The careful further development of the winery. In the next few years, this will primarily involve the renovation of the 4-side farm in Gleina and the preservation and promotion of the steep terrace culture in the Saale-Unstrut region.

VDP: Why should people still visit your winery?

Sandro Sperk: Viticulture, culture and history are certainly the most formative building blocks of the Saale-Unstrut region. They are very multifaceted and tangible everywhere. But it is not only that. For us, it is rather the small things that make this region an exciting place. These include, among other things, the special punch of people, the diverse winegrowing businesses or the varied nature, which you should definitely get to know.

VDP: How do you combine tradition and innovation?

Marika Sperk: For us, both belong inseparably together. We like to rely on the tried and tested and experience of the two previous generations and combine these with new ideas and technologies.

schiller-wine: Related Postings

ombiasy WineTours: Wine Tour Schedule 2023 - Austria, Germany/East, Burgundy/ Champagne, Germany/ North

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

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

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

Carl Willner, Christian Schiller and Ken Bensley of the German Wine Society/ Washington DC Chapter (Re-)elected to the National Board, USA, Germany

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

2022 Holiday Party of the German Wine Society (Washington DC Chapter) at the Cosmos Club in Washington DC Downtown, USA/ Germany

Announcement: Annette Schiller Presenting"All Sorts of Sparklers: How do the Bubbles get into that Bottle" at the Northern Virginia Chapter of the AWS on Friday, January 6, 2023

Nicolas Quillé (MW): Overview of German Wine - Regions, Grape Varieties and New Labeling Rules

Domaine Schoenheitz is located in the valley of Munster, where the famous Munster Cheese come from, south of Colmar.

We were hosted by Adrien Schoenheitz, who I had met and arranged with the tour before the covid period at a winemaker dinner Northern Virginia.

Adrien toured with us the wine cellar before sitting down in the tasting room for a tasting. At the end of the wine tasting we were served some Munster cheese and a Gugelhupf.

Gugelhupf is a yeasted cake dotted with raisins that’s baked in a tall, creased, circular mold with a circular hole in the middle. The names comes from the old German words gugel (“hood” or “bonnet”) and hupf (“hop” or “jump”). It is thought that the name refers to the shape of the cake and the rising (or “jumping”) action of the yeast. It’s a very old, traditional cake that is especially popular in Germany, France, Switzerland and Austria.

Picture: Winemaker Dinner with Adrien Schoenheitz, Owner/ Winemaker, Domaine Schoenheitz in Alsace and Chef Chef Jacques Haeringer at L'Auberge Chez Francois in Great Falls/ Northern Virginia/ USA

Domaine Schoenheitz

Vines have grown in this region of Alsace since medieval times.

In the 1970s, Henri Schoenheitz, passionate about history and love of this land where he was born, undertakes to give new life to this beautiful vineyard, whose legacy was almost forgotten. Slowly, while this is still a mixed farming region, he redraws the original contours of the Wihr-au-Val vineyards and clears and replants the steep hillsides. In 1980, Henri Schoenheitz and his wife Dominque, graduates in viticulture and oenology, vinified their first vintage.

Today they cultivate 45 acres of vineyards which are entirely concentrated on the steep slopes of the magnificent Valley of Munster, at the beginning of the Vosges Mountains and are the highest vineyards in Alsace. The slopes are so steep that using machinery is impossible and everything has to be worked by hand. Granitic soils and extreme conditions of vine growing develop pure and great expression of the noble grape varieties of Alsace.

The Schoenheitz follow a sustainable agriculture respectful to the environment: minimizing the pollution of waters, air and soil, preserving and supporting the long-term balance of soil, planting natural grass between the rows, using no chemical fertilizers, limiting all treatments to those strictly necessary, a strict selection on the vine, and considering the carbon footprint.

Arriving

Cellar Tour

Tasting

Guglhupf and Munster Cheese

Germany-South and Alsace 2022 by ombiasy WineTours: All Postings (already posted and forthcoming)

Cellar Tour and Tasting with Daniel Wagner at Weingut Wagner-Stempel (VDP) in Siefersheim, Rheinhessen - Germany-South and Alsace 2022 by ombiasy WineTours

Tasting with Helmut Dönnhoff and Sascha Johannes Schömel at Weingut Dönnhoff (VDP) in Oberhausen, Nahe - Germany-South and Alsace 2022 by ombiasy WineTours

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

Dinner in a Typical Old Town Mainz Wine Tavern: At Weinhaus Bluhm and at Weinhaus Schreiner - Germany-South and Alsace 2022 by ombiasy WineTours

Schiller’s Favorite Wine Taverns in Mainz, Germany

Cellar Tour and Tasting in the Courtyard with Owner/ Winemaker Gesine Roll at Weingut Weedenborn Weedenborn in Monzenheim, Rheinhessen - Germany-South and Alsace 2022 by ombiasy WineTours

Weingut Jülg (VDP): Lunch in the Wine Tavern with Karin and Werner Jülg and Tasting in the Vineyard with Johannes Jülg - Germany-South and Alsace 2022 by ombiasy WineTours

Vineyard Tour, Cellar Tour and Tasting with Sven Nieger at Weingut Sven Nieger in Baden-Baden-Varnholt, Ortenau - Germany-South and Alsace 2022 by ombiasy WineTours

Lunch at Waldgasthaus Scherrhof - Deep in the Black Forest, Local Badenser Cuisine at its Best - Germany-South and Alsace 2022 by ombiasy WineTours

Vineyard Tour and Tasting with Owner/ Winemaker Robert Schätzle at Weingut Schloss Neuweier (VDP) in Baden-Baden-Neuweier, Baden - Germany-South and Alsace 2022 by ombiasy WineTours

Cellar Tour and Tasting with Martin Bercher at Weingut Bercher (VDP) in Burkheim, Kaiserstuhl, Baden - Germany-South and Alsace 2022 by ombiasy WineTours

Vineyard Tour, Cellar Tour and Tasting with Matthias Höfflin and Kaylie Magestro at Weingut Höfflin in Bötzingen, Kaiserstuhl, Baden - Germany-South and Alsace 2022 by ombiasy WineTours

The World Class Wines of Alsace

In the world class white wine region Alsace

Guided Tour of Château du Haut-Kœnigsburg in Alsace - Germany-South and Alsace 2022 by ombiasy WineTours

Tasting at Domaine Zind-Humbrecht in Turckheim, Alsace - Germany-South and Alsace 2022 by ombiasy WineTours

Vineyard Tour and Tasting with Jean Pierre Dirler at Domaine Dirler-Cadé in Bergholtz, Alsace - Germany-South and Alsace 2022 by ombiasy WineTours

Cellar Tour and Tasting with Frédéric Hugel at Domaine Hugel & Fils in Riquewhir, Alsace - Germany-South and Alsace 2022 by ombiasy WineTours

Touring Riquewihr/ Alsace - Germany-South and Alsace 2022 by ombiasy WineTours

Vineyard Tour, Cellar Tour and Tasting with Owners Catherine Faller and Eddy Leiber-Faller at Domaine Weinbach in Kaysersberg, Alsace - Germany-South and Alsace 2022 by ombiasy WineTours

Visiting Colette Faller at Domaine Weinbach in Kaysersberg in Alsace

Wine-pairing Dinner with Owner/ Chef Jean-Michel Eblin at 1-star Michelin Restaurant Le Maximilien in Zellenberg, Alsace - Germany-South and Alsace 2022 by ombiasy WineTours

Cellar Tour and Tasting with Adrien Schoenheitz at Vins Schoenheitz in Wihr-au-Val, Alsace - Germany-South and Alsace 2022 by ombiasy WineTours

Lunch at Restaurant 1-star Michelin Restaurant La Nouvelle Auberge in Wihr-au-Val, Alsace - Germany-South and Alsace 2022 by ombiasy WineTours

Tasting with Rémy Gresser at Domaine Rémy Gresser in Andlau, Alsace - Germany-South and Alsace 2022 by ombiasy WineTours

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

Pictures: Annette Schiller and Gunter Künstler at Weingut Künstler. See: 40th Anniversary of the Weinfreundeskreis Hochheim, Rheingau, Germany

James Suckling has released his annual list of the Top 100 Wines of the World. See here.

Interestingly, the #2 on this list - covering the whole world - is a white wine from Germany, the 2021 Weingut Künstler, Riesling, Hölle GG.

Even more interestingly, it is not a fruity-sweet Kabinett, Spätlese or Auslese wine, for which the nation has long been famous, but a, ultra-premium dry Riesling.

In fact, 10 of Suckling's Top 100 Wines of the World 2022 are white wines from Germany and all, except for one wine, are ultra-premium dry wines. Even the only wine from the Mosel on the list is not a fruity-sweet or noble-sweet wine, but an ultra-premium wine.

This "...says so much about the radical transformation German wine has undergone during recent years and about what makes high-end offerings from the country such a great choice today" writes Senior Editor Stuart Pigott.

And he goes on: "At first these new substantial dry wines looked pretty radical, but as the 1990s progressed the trend away from light-bodied wines with obvious unfermented grape sweetness toward serious dry wines took hold in Germany. Together with the achievements of winemakers like Kunstler, that laid the foundations for the German wines of the 21^st century.

This ... showcases the fruits of this transformation and celebrates the way most high-end German white wines remain excellent value for money. The contrast to the often astronomical prices for the white wines of Burgundy could hardly be more extreme. In Germany, the Holle GG 2021 typically costs just under 40 euros, but there are a bunch of places around Planet Wine where it won’t cost you much more than that. Yet it is a world-class dry white!"

German Wines on James Suckling's List of the Top 100 Wines of the World (2022)

1 Künstler Riesling Rheingau Hölle GG 2021

2 Dönnhoff Riesling Nahe Niederhäuser Hermannshöhle Spätlese 2021

3 Wittmann Riesling Rheinhessen Morstein GG 2021

4 Thörle Riesling Rheinhessen Hölle trocken 2021

5 Schlossgut Diel Riesling Nahe Burgberg GG 2020

6 Heymann-Löwenstein Riesling Mosel Uhlen Roth Lay GG 2020

7 Eva Fricke Riesling Rheingau Schlossberg 2021

8 Emrich-Schönleber Riesling Nahe Halenberg GG 2021

9 Schäfer-Fröhlich Riesling Nahe Felseneck GG 2021

10 Gut Hermannsberg Riesling Nahe Kupfergrube GG Reserve 2017

Weingut Künstler

Here is a posting on schiller-wine about Weingut Künstler, which I released 3 years ago: Weingut Franz Kuenstler, Hochheim, Rheingau, Joins Terry Theise Portfolio, USA/Germany

Picture: Gunter Kuenstler and Christian G.E. Schiller at Restaurant Kronenschloesschen in the Rheingau (2013)

Last year, at one of the larger wine tastings in Germany, Gunter Kuenstler, Weingut Franz Kuenstler in Hochheim, Rheingau, told me that he was in the process of changing his American importer. He had already terminated the contract and was looking for a new importer. We talked a bit about his motives and options. This year, at the Weinboerse in Mainz, Gunter told me that he had decided to join the portfolio of Terry Theise.

Picture: Christian G.E. Schiller at Weingut Kuenstler in Hochheim (2013)

The German Terry Theise Portfolio

Terry Theise is one of the leading importers, if not the leading importer of German wine in America. He has a large portfolio, comprising 40 German winemakers or so, including Doennhoff, Kruger-Rumpf, Diel, Selbach-Oster, Mueller-Catoir, Von Winning, to name a few.

Among the vast number of his followers, he has gained something like a cult status. He publishes a thick catalogue once a year with extensive comments. In addition to the compendium of exciting wine reviews, the Terry Theise’s annual catalogue is a very good introduction to German wine, both to the basics and to the current trends and issues.

Pictures: The late Franz Kuenstler with Annette Schiller at a Weinfreundeskreis Hochheim Tasting (2009)

His wines are imported by Michael Skurnik, an importer and distributor of fine wines based in Syosset, New York. Terry also imports Austrian wine and Champagnes, including excellent grower Champagnes.

Picture: Annette and Christian G.E. Schiller with Gunter Kuenstler at Weingut Franz Kuenstler (2009)

If you want to learn more about Terry, the Washington Post carried an excellent article about him some time ago. See here.

2008 James Beard Outstanding Wine and Spirits Professional
2005 Food & Wine Magazine Importer of the Year

A few comments on the German Portfolio of Terry Theise: First, there are no red wines, although they now account for 1/3 of the German wine output. Terry is clearly focusing on Germany’s white wines. Second, nor have I seen a category for sparkling wines; for sparklers, you have to go to his excellent portfolio of Champagnes, including many grower Champagnes. Third, Terry is known for having a preference for sweet-style wines, as far as German white wines are concerned, although his portfolio also includes dry wines. Remember, Terry also imports Austrian white wines and they are all dry. Fourth, his portfolio does not include any noble-sweet wines (Beerenauslese, Trockenbeerenauslese, Eiswein).

See also:
Terry Theise: German 2013 Vintage Wines - Highlights and Superlatives, Germany
Terry Theise: 2012 Vintage Wines - Highlights and Superlatives, Germany
Terry Theise’s Top German Wines of the 2011 Vintage, Germany, USA
2011: Terry Theise’s Top German Wines of the 2010 Vintage
Terry Theise's Top German Wines of the 2009 Vintage

Weingut Franz Kuenstler

Weingut Franz Kuenstler is one of Germany’s world class wine producers. It has 5 F’s (out of 5) in the Feinschmecker WeinGuide ranking. The Wine Estate is currently run by Gunter Kuenstler, who took over from his father Franz a number of years ago. Basically, until the late 1980s Franz was in charge and from the early 1990s on, the Kuenstler wines were made by Gunter. Before founding his own winery in 1965, Franz Kuenstler worked for other wineries in Hochheim for 15 years.

Pictures: Gunter Kuenstler and Gregor Breuer at Weinboerse in Mainz, Germany (2014). See also: 2014 Weinboerse in Mainz– The VDP Producers of the 2014 ombiasy Germany North Tour

The wine growing tradition of the Künstler family can be traced back to Southern Moravia in 1648. After the Second World War, the Künstlers had to leave their home in what is now the Czech Republic and the head of the family, Franz Künstler, laid the foundations in Hochheim for what was to become one of the most successful family businesses in the Rheingau.

I remember very well the small row house in Hochheim that was the initial home of the Kuenstler winery. And I remember very well the wonderful tastings we had at the Kuenstler estate. All my life I have been buying Kuenstler wines and there is quite a number of Kuenstler bottles in my wine cellar in McLean, Virginia.

Gunter Künstler bought the Geheimrat Aschrott'sche Erben wine estate in Hochheim in 1996 and in doing so acquired a major share in the very best vineyard locations in Hochheim (12 hectares). A few years ago, as another giant leap, the Kuenstler estate moved into the former Burgeff Sektkellerei, just at the entrance of Hochheim, when you come from Mainz. It is very impressive.

Pictures: Annette and Monika Kuenstler (2013)

Most recently, Gunter Kuenstler started a cooperation with a winemaker in Ruedesheim and began to offer wines from vineyards in Ruedesheim. This cooperation, however, is coming to an end. In the future, you will not see any wines from Ruedesheim in the Kuenstler portfolio.

Picture: Annette and Gunter Kuenstler in Wiesbaden (2013)

The vineyard area totals 37 hectares in the Domdechaney, Herrnberg, Hölle, Kirchenstück, Reichestal, Stein and Stielweg (Hochheim) as well as Weiß Erd (Kostheim), excluding vineyards in Ruedesheim. Riesling accounts for the bulk of it (29 hectares) but there is also Spätburgunder, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.

Winemaking: Gunter Künstler, Rolf Schregel
Marketing: Gregor Breuer, Monika Künstler
Production: 20000 cases

schiller-wine: Related Postings (Weingut Franz Kuenstler)

Germany's Top 18 Winemakers - Feinschmecker WeinGuide 2013

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

The Wines of Franz Kuenstler from Hochheim, Rheingau, Germany

Franz Kuenstler, Founder of the Renown Franz Kuenstler Estate in Hochheim, Rheingau, Germany, dies at Age 84

Franz Kuenstler, the founder of the Weingut Franz Kuenstler, was awarded an Honorary Lifetime Membership of the Weinfreundeskreis Hochheim, Germany

Wine Video: German Top Wine Maker Gunter Kuenstler interviewed by Hendrik Thoma

World Class Wines in Hochheim, Rheingau, Germany - Weingut Kuenstler

Five Hochheim (Rheingau) Winemakers Presented their Vintage 2011 Wines in Hochheim, Germany

schiller-wine: Related Postings

ombiasy WineTours: Wine Tour Schedule 2023 - Austria, Germany/East, Burgundy/ Champagne, Germany/ North

Dinner at a Historic (Second Empire) Café-Brasserie in Lyon: Grand Café des Négociants - Rhône Valley Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France

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

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

How Does the Negociant System in Bordeaux Work? Tour and Tasting at Millésima - Bordeaux Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Cellar Tour and Tasting with Daniel Wagner at Weingut Wagner-Stempel (VDP) in Siefersheim, Rheinhessen - Germany-South and Alsace 2022 by ombiasy WineTours

Tasting with Helmut Dönnhoff and Sascha Johannes Schömel at Weingut Dönnhoff (VDP) in Oberhausen, Nahe - Germany-South and Alsace 2022 by ombiasy WineTours

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

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

The Wines of Germany: Presentation by Annette Schiller at the German Embassy in Washington DC/ Consular Conference December 2021

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

Carl Willner, Christian Schiller and Ken Bensley of the German Wine Society/ Washington DC Chapter (Re-)elected to the National Board, USA, Germany

"Silent Winds, Dry Seas" - Literary Salon: Book Reading and Discussion with the Author Vinod Busjeet Followed by Dinner at the Schiller Residence in Virginia, USA

The American Wine Society National Conference 2022 in Bellevue/ Seattle, Washington State - Seen through Christian Schiller`s Camera Lens

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

2022 Holiday Party of the German Wine Society (Washington DC Chapter) at the Cosmos Club in Washington DC Downtown, USA/ Germany

Announcement: Annette Schiller Presenting "All Sorts of Sparklers: How do the Bubbles get into that Bottle" at the Northern Virginia Chapter of the AWS on Friday, January 6, 2023

Nicolas Quillé (MW): Overview of German Wine - Regions, Grape Varieties and Labeling Rules

After lunch at Pinasse Café, Cap Ferret, with a gorgeous view over the bay, the oyster farms, the village of Arcachon, and the Dunes de Pilat, the largest sand dune in Europe, in the distance

See: Lunch at Pinasse Café, Cap Ferret, at the Bassin d'Arcachon - Bordeaux Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours, France

we drove on the small strip between the Atlantic Ocean and the Bassin d'Arcachon to the North (with Pauillac being the final destination) and stopped twice.

First, we stopped shortly after Cap Ferret and went to the beach of the Atlantic Ocean.

Second, after a few miles, we stopped at L'Herbe for a visit of an oyster farmer and an oyster tasting. Unfortunately, the rendezvous with the oyster farmer did not take place. Instead, we walked around in L'Herbe and sat down at La Baraque à Huîtres and had some fresh oysters and white wine.

L'Herbe - André Rebsomen (1870 - 1963)

".… we arrive at L’Herbe, the first of the picturesque little fishing and oyster farming villages that we will encounter on our way. We will notice in the middle of the small huts, old pontoons which serve as henhouses, bonfires or even dwellings and which look like stranded whales. In the streets of this peculiar hamlet grow trellises laden with grapes or various plants with bright flowers. If you want to enjoy a superb view of the Basin, you will climb the low dune which dominates it.”

Almost 100 years later, the description still fits. Not much has changed and you feel that the time stands still here.

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

On all previous Bordeaux Tours by ombiasy WineTours, we had visited Raphael Doerfler, a young and dynamic small production oyster farmer. Unfortunately, he has closed down and moved awway. See below for background unformation on oyster farming.

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

At the Beach

Touring L´Herbe

Oysters at La Baraque a Huitres

Bordeaux Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours, France (Published and Forthcoming Postings)

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

What is a Bordeaux Cru Bourgeois? France

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

How Does the Negociant System in Bordeaux Work? Tour and Tasting at Millésima - Bordeaux Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Schiller’s Favorite Wine Bars in Bordeaux City - An Update

Schiller’s Favorite Seafood Places in Bordeaux City, France - An Update

Vineyard Tour, Cellar Tour and Tasting at Clos Puy Arnaud with Owner Thierry Valette, Appellation Côtes de Castillon - Bordeaux Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Lunch at Restaurant L’Atelier de Candale in Saint-Laurent-des-Combes - Bordeaux Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Tour and Cellar Tasting at Tertre-Rôtebœuf with Owner/ Winemaker François Mitjavile, Appellation Saint-Emilion - Bordeaux Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Saint Emilion Wines and their Classification, Bordeaux, France

Vineyard Tour in a Golf Cart and Tasting at Château Beau-Séjour Bécot, Premier Grand Cru Classé, Appellation Saint-Émilion - Bordeaux Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Winery Tour and Tasting at Château Dassault with the Managing Director, Grand Cru Classé, Appellation Saint-Émilion - Bordeaux Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Gourmet Wine-pairing Lunch at Château Le Bon Pasteur, Pomerol, with Dany Rolland - Bordeaux Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Cellar Tour and Tasting at Couvent des Jacobins, Grand Cru Classé, Appellation Saint-Émilion - Bordeaux Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours, France

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

Saint Emilion Wines and their Classification, Bordeaux, France

3 Days and Nights in the Spectacular Medieval Town of Saint-Émilion - Bordeaux Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Vineyard Tour, Cellar Tour, Lecture and Tasting at Château Reynier with Owner/ Winemaker Marc Lurton, Appellation Entre-Deux-Mers - Bordeaux Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Vineyard Tour, Cellar Tour and Tasting at Château Coutet, Premier Grand Cru Classé, Appellation Sauternes, with Technical Director Laurier Girardot - Bordeaux Tour 2019 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Lunch at Restaurant L’Entrecœur in Preignac, Sauternes - Bordeaux Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Winery Tour and Tasting at Château Smith-Haut-Lafitte, Grand Cru Classé Appellation Pessac-Léognan - Bordeaux Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Lunch at the Dordogne River at Restaurant Le Bord d’Eau in Fronsac - Bordeaux Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Winery Tour and Seated Tasting at Château de la Rivière, Appellation Canon-Fronsac - Bordeaux Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Lunch at Pinasse Café, Cap Ferret, at the Bassin d'Arcachon - Bordeaux Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Schiller's Favorite Seafood Restaurants in Arcachon and Cap Ferret (Bassin d'Arcachon/ Bordeaux)

At La Baraque à Huîtres in L’ Herbe: Visit of an Oyster Farmer at the Bassin d'Arcachon - Bordeaux Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Oysters in Bordeaux: Visiting the Oyster Farmer Raphael Doerfler and his Earl Ostrea Chanca Oyster Farm in Grand Piquey/ Bassin d'Arcachon - Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2019, France

Winery Tour and Vertical Tasting at Château Cos d’Estournel, Appellation Saint-Estèphe, 2ième Grand Cru Classé, Appellation Saint-Estèphe - Bordeaux Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Tour and Tasting at Château Cos d’Estournel, Appellation Saint-Estèphe, 2ième Grand Cru Classé, with Managing Director Aymeric de Gironde - Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2016, France

Lunch at La Maison d’Estournel in Saint-Éstèphe - Bordeaux Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Tour and Tasting at Château Phélan-Ségur in Saint-Éstèphe, with Winemaker Fabrice Bacquey - Bordeaux Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Tour, Tasting and Lunch at Château Phélan-Ségur, with General Manager Véronique Dausse and Winemaker Fabrice Bacquey - Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2019, France

Tour and Tasting at Château Ferrière, 3ième Grand Cru Classé, Appellation Margaux - Bordeaux Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours, France

How a Barrel is Made: Visit of the Cooperage Berger & Fils in Vertheuil - Bordeaux Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours, France

How a Barrel is Made: Visit of the Cooperage Berger & Fils in Vertheuil– Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2017, France

Massive (16 Vintages) Tasting of Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande with MD/ Winemaker Nicolas Glumineau and Panos Kakaviatos in Washington DC, USA

Winery Tour and Tasting at Château Gruaud-Larose, 2ième Grand Cru Classé, Appellation Saint-Julien - Bordeaux Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Winery Tour and Tasting at Château Lynch-Bages, 5ième Grand Cru Classé, Appellation Pauillac - Bordeaux Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Vineyard Tour, Cellar Tour and Picnic-style Lunch at Château Kirwan, 3ième Grand Cru Classé, Appellation Margaux - Bordeaux Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Lunch, Tasting and Tour at Château Kirwan, Appellation Margaux, 3ième Grand Cru Classé, with Owner Natalie Schyler - Bordeaux Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours, France

The Vinum Weinguide Germany 2023 was released a few weeks ago, presenting Vinum's choice of Germany’s best 1 000 wine producers and reviewing more than 10 700 wines on 1118 pages.

5 out of 5 stars („world class“) were awarded to 18 estates. In addition, there are 31 estates with 4.5 stars, and 66 estates with 4 stars.